From Its Origins With 13 Aircraft To Hundreds Today, It's On A Lot Of Peoples' Bucket List
By Bruce Brandon
Balloons (originated from ballon, a 1570 Middle French word that was "a game played with a large, inflated leather ball") are a lot more than just hot air! The Albuquerque, NM Balloon Festival began in a small way. Only 13 balloons were involved in the first gathering back in 1972. Sid Cutter and Tom Rutherford dreamed of making Albuquerque the home of the Balloon World Championship. With the help of Mayor Harry Kinney in 1974 they acquired a 360 acre alfalfa field that is now the site of the festival. There are 100 acres of grass from which to launch balloons and is the home of the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.
Fast forward to today’s festival and you’ll find it has turned into an international event that is educational, entertaining and extremely family oriented. People from all over the world attend. This past Saturday, shortly after sunrise, the 43rd festival began with the traditional “Mass Ascension” of hundreds of balloons lifting off from Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park. There are over 500 balloons in all shapes and forms participating in the festival. The festival will continue through Sunday, October 12, 2014 with balloon contests, concerts and numerous other activities. It is held annually the first week in October.
Yes, you read it correctly, shortly after sunrise is when flying begins. Therein lies one of the big differences between balloons and fixed wing. These balloon guys get up early! The Mass Ascension is actually the second launching of the day. “Dawn Patrol”, consisting of about 10 balloons, is launched before sunrise to check the atmospheric conditions prior to the massive launch which occurs around 0700 (that is 0900 body time for those from the east coast). The reason for the early flying is two-fold, (a) the winds speeds are lower and (b) like powered aircraft, balloons perform better in cool air than in warm air. And cool it is. Early October brings delightful weather but is a bit chilly before sunrise with temperatures ranging from the mid 40?s level (bring a jacket) to the extremely pleasant upper 70?s to low 80?s by midday with virtually no humidity.
The balloonists are a remarkable group of people. Like fixed wing folks, they are delightful, kind, gregarious, willing to share their knowledge, tight-knit, and fun loving. They have their pilot briefing at the festival before sunrise and, remarkably, all are awake and alert. Their approach is one of safety first and foremost. After safety is assured the next priority is to have fun, and fun they have. Visitors have full access to the launching field. They are free to walk around the balloons, talk to balloon pilots and their crews, stand in close proximity to them when they launch and be amazed at the grace and beauty of these magnificent airships as they ascend. One of the really great things is to see families with their elementary age children being in awe at the wonderfully beautiful airships.
The major difference between balloons and fixed wing is that most of the time the balloonist really doesn’t know exactly where he/she is going to land (i.e. have a predetermined fix on which to land, much less a runway). At the Festival, when the winds cooperate, the balloons can be very accurate in landing at their desired location, often on the same field from which the departed, go figure. Their path is literally determined by the wind with the balloonists only able to change altitude to seek out favorable winds that will carry him/her in the desired direction. The peace and tranquility and beauty of the flight combined with the uncertainty of landing conditions and location make for an exhilarating experience.
Of course, ballooning requires a team effort. The uncertainty of what direction the balloon eventually travels requires that a balloon have “chasers” to follow so that the pilot, passengers, balloon and gondola can be retrieved from wherever they wind up (no pun intended). Both groups have fun. The more rollicking group is the chasers. While the pilot and passengers in the gondola take things seriously and have the joy of flight, the chasers are much more relaxed and fun loving and that results in more of a party atmosphere. The chasers like what they are doing, share the workload and have wonderful camaraderie. Often the chasers and passengers will reverse roles the next flight.
The great thing about ballooning is that the whole family can participate. One can solo a balloon at 14 years old, get a private pilot certificate at 16 years old and their commercial rating at 18 years old. Since it requires many helpers in launching and recovering the balloon, a team is required. The team can be, and often is, friends and family. There is no more wholesome activity in which a husband, wife, children and friends can participate.
If the Balloon Festival wasn’t enough, New Mexico is one of the most beautiful states in the Union with a rich Native American history that dates back to as early as 1,200 BCE. There are numerous parks, hiking/biking trails, museums and other adventures outside of the Balloon Festival. Santa Fe is less than an hour away.
Ticket prices for the Balloon Festival are very reasonable. Cost for admission is $8/day and $10 for parking, a lot less expensive than AirVenture.
Attending the Albuquerque Balloon Festival is an event everyone should attend. It is fun, beautiful, educational and inexpensive. It is highly recommended you add this colorful adventure to your bucket list.
(Images provided by the Author)
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