Thursday, October 18, 2012

ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA



Watching crews inflate hot air balloons is a hoot

Seeing a PBS television special about this amazing event held annually each October since 1971 in New Mexico peaked our interest to make it a destination on our bucket list. The hot air balloon fiesta is the largest of its kind in North America with over 500 balloonists participating. It is an international event that has entries participating from countries all over the world from Europe to Asia. 




In early January we booked reservations for dry camping space in the Standard RV lot amongst 1800 other rigs near the Balloon Fiesta 
Park for two weeks. This is almost as close to a tailgate rv party as one can get. We set up lawn chairs, the BBQ, and a table outside for added enjoyment like other folks.
Our friends Bruce and Maria Wallace drove down from the Bay Area and joined us in the motor home to share in the week’s balloon fiesta. What brave souls each of us were rising to the alarm clock at 4:30 am to head off in the dark amongst thousands of spectators to watch the morning dawn patrol illuminate in the sky. RV shuttle buses ran folks daily to and from all the morning and evening events which was most convenient.



5:45 Dawn Patrol balloonists take flight 
Everything depends upon weather conditions whether balloons will go up or not each day. The Dawn Patrol pilots take off in the dark at 5:45 am and fly until it is light enough to see landing sites. Fellow balloonists appreciate the Dawn Patrol because they can watch the balloons and get an early idea of wind speeds and directions at different altitudes.






During Mass Ascensions, balloons launch in two waves. Launch directors, also known as Zebras, because of their black-and-white-striped outfits, serve as traffic cops, coordinating the launch so balloons leave the field in a safe and coordinated manner. 









What a magnificent sight it is to watch hundreds of colorful hot air balloons floating in the air.
A morning Mass Ascension
Spectators can walk on the field amongst the balloons
JR climbs atop our Chateau motorhome to enjoy a morning mass ascension overhead

With thousands of attendees, the Special Shape Rodeo brings non-traditionally shaped hot air balloons together for a morning of flying.  The whimsical event includes a variety of shapes, such as animals (a pig, dairy cow, lion, and panda), famous characters (Darth Vader, Smokey the Bear, Spidey Pig, and Humpty Dumpty), and even massive bugs, like the family of bees and an out of this world butterfly. 
 


 

Dark Vader and 9/11 Fire fighter are amongst a variety of special shapes
Balloon Glows (Twilight Twinkle Glow™ and Night Magic Glow™) is a tremendously popular event. Balloonists participating in Balloon Fiesta gather on the field after sunset. Pilots inflate balloons and fire their burners simultaneously, or flicker their fires for a twinkle effect. With hundreds of balloons on the field lit together like ornaments, it is a spectacular sight at night. On select nights, after glow fireworks are launched from the side of the field to conclude the Balloon Fiesta balloon glows. The fireworks are free to watch with admission, and guests are allowed to bring lawn chairs to watch the fireworks from anywhere on the field.
Inflating the envelope

Basket fuel tanks
Pilots flicker their balloons but don't rise during a Night Glow event
Highly Competitive Field Set for 17th America’s Challenge of Gas Balloons this year was an exciting event one morning session. JR and Bruce enjoyed them with interest. Five balloon teams representing three nations and featuring some of the world’s greatest gas balloonists lifted off. They left the field in Albuquerque heading for Georgia before turning onward to Washington, D.C.
Another morning we all watch the Race Competitions flying over the Fiesta Park field. Balloonists had three target areas to toss a streamer shot marker down as they pass over ahead with their colorful inflated balloon  (known as the envelope) and basket.  It is fun to watch the Balloon Fiesta Launch Directors (ZEBRAS) who take their jobs very seriously.  These dedicated volunteers have had hours of training before going on the field to coordinate a balloon launch.  They handle crowd control, observe pilots , and work with them to get their balloons safely off the ground every morning during Balloon Fiesta.
 

What a wonderful nine days of excitement filled with terrific memories. The camaraderie shared amongst the Wallaces, some full timer new RV friends Earl and Dot and ourselves added to the good time for everyone as well. The Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is a must do for your bucket list.