World's Top Two Pilots Headline Field of Competitors

The skies of northeast Texas will be filled with every color of the rainbow this week as the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships got underway Tuesday in Longview, Texas. 52 balloonists from across the country will be competing for the title and a place on the U.S. World Team for the next World Championship to be held next summer in Brazil.

The competition will be stiff as the world's top two pilots headline the list of competitors. 2-time World Champion John Petrehn of Leawood, KS and current World Champion Nick Donner (pictured) of Louisville, KY are the world's number one and two pilots respectively according to a just released 2013 World Rankings from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. Donner's younger brother, Chase, is the defending National Champion.

Competition flights began on Tuesday morning in and around Longview, then on Friday the East Texas Regional Airport becomes race central as the Nationals competitors are joined by another ten competitors and a handful of special shape balloons to create the Great Texas Balloon Race, an annual tradition in Longview since 1978.

FMI: www.bfa.net, www.greattexasballoonrace.com