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Sidney Dillon After a long battle with stomach cancer, Sid died peacefully in his sleep on May 21, 2011, at the age of 77. Sidney Dillon Cutter, born May 9, 1934, was the grandson of New Mexico Governor, R.C. Dillon (1926), and the son of aviation pioneers William P ("Wild Bill") Cutter and Virginia Dillon Cutter, founders of Cutter Aviation. Sid originally learned how to fly by sitting on his daddy's lap and by age 18 obtained his commercial and flight instructors ratings. Sid served in the United States Air Force and added single-engine jets, large cargo aircraft, and helicopters to his repertoire. Returning to civilian life, Sid became President of Cutter Flying Service, the family business, from 1963 to 1974. Sid spent the first forty years of his aviation life centered around powered aircraft. He was known for being one of the most natural pilots ever and at last estimate had accumulated over 22,000 hours of flying time. But Sid is best known as the founder of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Sid discovered ballooning in 1971. His first balloon was used as a centerpiece for a party at Cutter Flying Service. After an amazing flight with many unexpected spectators the morning after the party, Sid tapped into the "magic" of ballooning. Sid devoted the next 25 years to ballooning. Sid organized the Balloon Fiesta and the first and second Hot Air Ballooning World Championships before ceding the task to the City of Albuquerque. Sid is the founder of AAAA, the largest balloon club in the World. Sid started World Balloon Corporation, teaching and examining hundreds of pilots, running a repair station, and flying commercial balloons all over the world for a lengthy list of sponsors, such as Anheuser Busch, Kraft and Black Angus. World Balloon pilots traveled worldwide spreading that "magic" of ballooning. Sid was the United States National Hot Air Balloon Champion in 1978 and again in 1986. Among several awards Sid holds are The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in aviation, and The Diplome Montgolfier, Hot Air Balloonings highest award. Sid has been inducted into the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame, the New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame, the Balloon Federation of America Hall of Fame, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Hall of Fame and most recently the FAI International Hall of Fame. In 2002 Sid was one of the Olympic Torchbearers representing Albuquerque and ballooning. Sid considered one of his greatest accomplishments to be designing and building two of the worlds largest thermal airships for Anheuser Busch. Each airship was 229,000 cu ft of pressurized hot air, larger than Goodyear's gas airships at that time. After retiring from ballooning, Sid spent eight years in the beautiful Northwest fishing and enjoying boating. He navigated completely around Vancouver Island, all through the San Juan Islands and the Discovery Islands. He even took his beautiful Sea Jewel on a full Alaskan tour topping it off at Glacier Bay. In lieu of funeral, a living reception was held for Sid in April. Hundreds of friends from far and near attended to have "one more laugh and beer with Sid". Everyone who knew Sid appreciated his enthusiasm for life; it was contagious. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will be honoring Sid this year and has dedicated their 40th event to Sid, their founder and inspiration. Sid is survived by his wife, Jewel Cutter; grandson, Christopher Forehand; and granddaughter, Whitney Forehand in Albuquerque and predeceased by his daughter Cyd Cutter Forehand. Sid is also survived by his brother, Bill Cutter; niece, Kay Cutter; and nephew, Will Cutter, in Phoenix; his daughter, Sheryl, son-in-law, Phil; grandsons, Cody, Wade, Chad, and granddaughter, Blake Weireter; in California. Leonardo da Vinci said: "For once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Thanks for the memories, Sid, and for filling our Albuquerque skies with the colors of your life.
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