Terry Gittemeier Collection with pics

I had the pleasure of visiting Terry Gittemeier aka TerryMO Saturday afternoon and taking a quick tour of his collection before taking a balloon flight from his place.  Terry has a fabulous collection including a couple of just refinished D21's, among others.  I think Terry said he currently has 30 in total, not all were present at his home place though.  I had tractor, shed and shop envy all in one visit, LOL!

Terry was a super gracious host, even invited us back for fried fish after the flight, wish we could have stayed longer.  I plan to come back yet this fall for a longer visit when we don't have to worry about getting the balloon flight off so I can take Terry up on that offer to drive some of those babies!

Here's some pics first of the collection.  Terry had gotten many out in field for a pose, though not near like Jason/dpower's field display!









Shop pics:





Shed pics - all put a way from the rain that came later:





Now for some ballooning pics.  We launched from the donkey pen behind the house....had to dodge some "landmines", lol.  That's Terry closing the gate.



















Here's more pics of Terry's collection:
http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e176/Skyhighballoon/2010%20Terry%20G%20Visit/

More aerial pics:
http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e176/Skyhighballoon/2010%20Terry%20G%20Flight/


Thanks again Terry! Mike

PS - By the way...there are many more aerial pics I took that will be on the DVD I'll give you with the full size originals than I loaded up to Photobucket. 

Edited by Skyhighballoon(MO) - 19 Sep 2010 at 1:23pm

Very impressive group of tractors and great pics.

Mike , It was a pleasure to meet you and your family. We were very impressed with your ballon and your crew. You took some great pictures of our tractors and our farm.   Come back and see us anytime. P S next will B B Q   Thanks again Terry

Terry if i send you our D21 Industrial can you make it look like yours and give it some TLC. LOL Nice pics.

Looks Great Terry !!!! Looks really nice how you have them all laid out. That Industrail just looks tought with the 30's on it. Was that Industrail sticker a factory style, or did you put that on there ?

Fantastic collection of tractors and also great pictures, my wife has always thought a ballon ride would be fun, I am not so sure, but I thought  helicopters were great and got her in one and she agrees with me now, thanks again for the great photos.

To answer a couple questions...

Ross - Terry is located just to west of the St. Louis, Missouri metro area near Wentzville, MO if you ever come visit!  Ponds in Missouri are most always man-made.  Generally built by bulldozing an earthen dam across an area with enough rain run-off drainage to keep it full.

Jeff - I was always interested in aviation since I was a small kid.  When I started work after college in 1989 I hired into a department at my company that happened to have not one but two balloon pilots.  Ended up crewing for one of them from 91 to 97.  Bought my own balloon new summer 1998 mainly using hardwood logging sales from my farm (also was still single at the time I bought it...important fact!!!).  Went to ground school first late winter 98 here in St. Louis, passed my FAA written on the first try then paid several commercial pilots (which also carries flight instructor privileges in ballooning) that I knew to provide the flight training over the summer and fall of 98 then passed my check ride first time too in October 98 and been flying since.  MUCH cheaper to get into aviation with ballooning than fixed wing...roughly similar costs to having a NICE boat.  Mike

Heck Ron, if I was Terry's next door neighbor, I'd help him set the tractors out for display and help put them away. Shucks, I'd even come over once a month to help exercise them. Nice pictures Mike.
 Terry, you don't need an ex machinist as part time help do ya? I can sweep floors real well too.


Edited by CTuckerNWIL - 20 Sep 2010 at 6:46pm

Great Pics. Mike,thanks for posting.
Great Collection Terry.Beautiful setting for all that ORANGE.

Nice pictures from overhead not everone can do that! From the looks of the shop a take it he likes AC just a touch LOL!