August 13: Author Diane Ballweg has Landed her Plane at 377 Airports, and Logged Flight Time on Five Continents

  –submitted by Sharyn Alden

The name Diane Ballweg has long been synonymous with a wide number of achievements. Owner of Endres Manufacturing, founded in 1926 Waunakee by her grandfather, teacher of aviation at Edgewood High School, philanthropist, and for her deep support of the arts.

   But many know her as a private pilot, rather the “Pink Pilot,” who keeps her four-seat Cessna plane at her pink hangar in a Madison airport.

   Now, she can add another achievement to the list–and that’s author. Her extraordinary journey across global skies is fascinating reading in the newly published book, Into the Wind, Above the Clouds: Love at First Flight.

At Rotary on August 13, she pointed out misconceptions about flying starting in 1899 when Charles Duell, Commissioner of the U.S. Patent Office said, “Everything that could be invented has been invented.” She said, “It goes to show how limited innovative thinking was at the time.” Four years later, the Wright brothers invented the airplane. She added flying is safer than driving. In the sky, you are miles apart from another plane, but in a car on the road, only 8 feet or so apart.”

   It was easy for Rotarians to ‘feel’ Ballweg’s enthusiasm for flying. “My life changed when I got above the clouds,” she said.

If you missed the program, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/qk4LBV8rH4Q?si=GayVN7A6mPHcWw0L