Alberqueque balloon fiesta

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We meet the Boomers , Escapees RV Club members.

The RV park registration ladies had our details and we were escorted to the parking area for the Boomers.

On hard standing and facing one of the landing sites we were soon squashed in between a huge Country Coach and a big Winnebago!

Mark and Debbie Shavitz were the group organisers and it was nice to meet them at last as all our contact had been via email!

They are from Chicago and we had difficulty understanding them-the feeling was mutual as they joked about our accent!

They made everyone welcome and we joined the pilot briefing and visited the chase crew HQ to see the safety film and collect our handbooks and passes.

We also had to study the layout of the field as we would be arriving and leaving in the dark!

The Boomers were a mixed lot from all over the US and it was great fun to be with them for ten days!

Every day at social hour we were assigned to a pilot for the next days launches.

There were a group of pilots who each have an experienced crew chief but need lots of volunteers to help with the launch and retrieval.

5am start-breakfast burritos-dawn patrol!

Bill Jones, the groups chief pilot called at 5.30am to collect the crews and along with another pickup we all drove over to the launch field.

Bill and his wife Darlene would go to get a hot chilli breakfast burrito to share while they attended the pilot briefing at the tower.

Every morning the first balloons to launch in the dark were the dawn patrol

All eyes were on them as they rose up-this would tell all the other pilots which way the wind was actually blowing!

Now the work began at the launch peg where the basket was unloaded, burners attached, fuel pipes checked and the envelope laid out on the damp grass.

Now we had to wait for the launch director of our area, Zebra as they are called, to give Bill the go ahead to blow cold to inflate the envelope.

Al, pilot of Five Flavours waiting for the OK to launch.

The Zebras come in all shapes and sizes and try to out do one another with the fantastic outfits!

All balloons have names and Bills is aptly named 'Shebrokus'.

Jim was in charge of the big fan that filled the envelope with cold air.

Above the sky was full of colour as the first wave launched.

Now the envelope was looking more like a balloon and the sun had risen and we were getting warm!

As soon as the pilot is given the OK to 'go hot; the burners heat up the air and the envelope begins to rise up.

This is very exciting and a busy time when all the crew have to keep the crowds away form the top line and hang onto the basket.

With the passengers loaded Bill waits for the order to launch as all around the air is filled with balloons.

Launching over 500 balloons safely into the sky takes a lot of skill and organisation.

The wind took the balloon over to the RV park and when Bill landed Dot got a chance to climb into the basket!.

Flying right over our bus it was such a serene way to travel with no noise and a perfect view of the local scenery

Up up and away until it was time to come down in the old gravel pit!

The chase crew had not arrived but many willing hands we waiting to catch the basket.

Safe landings!

Now all the air has to be squeezed out of the envelope.

Then everything is loaded onto the pickup for the drive back to the launch field.

All first time fliers have to undergo a ceremony where they are christened with champagne.

Then they have to try to drink without using their hands-remember it is still only 10 am!!!!

Tradition has it that the pilot has to fasten on the coveted balloon pin badge.

Bill gave Dot here badge with his teeth!

Ballooning was turning out to be a load of laughs!

Pin badges are collected and swapped avidly

Back to bed- lunch - happy hour then the evening flight!

At 5pm we would be back on the launch field for the evening flight.

This is Rich the pilot of Humpty Dumpty, a special shape.

Humpty Dumpty is a Lindstand balloon made in Oswestry just 12 miles from our home!

We all had great fun inflating this unusual shape.

All the work has to be done again even if the balloons do not fly.

The sight of all the balloons glowing is fantastic and huge crowds gathered at the field.

Chase crew dashing around the countryside....

Next day we did it all again and had to get out on the road to follow our balloon.

Sometimes it was hard to see it amongst all the others up above.

This chase crew had a great vehicle-

everyone got out of the way when the driver rang the bell and blew the air horn!

A few RV owners were a worried on the days when all the balloons were landing in the field.

On our morning off we enjoyed breakfast as the balloons flew overhead and landed close by!

This is The Mothership over our bus!

Here is Al in Five Flavours a new balloon that was having its first flights!

Some very serious flying!

For many pilots the daily tasks that score points or win prizes were very important.

This pilot is trying to grab a key off the top of a pole-it will open the door of a new car!

Other pilots try to throw a bean bag onto a target and score points which are totalled at the end of the Fiesta.

Very competitive!

Watching the balloons coming in low and fast is quite something with the crowds cheering or groaning!

Another competition was held on Saturday evening for gas balloons.

The Coupe Gordon Bennett claims to be the oldest air race and it is held in the country of the last winner.

Pilot Abruzzo is from Albequerque so the race was hosted at the Fiesta. It was good to see many countries represented including the UK.

This is David Hembleton taking part in the America Challenge between USA and UK gas balloons.

Filled with helium the balloons lifted off to the strains of each National Anthem and will fly as long as possible.

The winners were from Belgium and landed three days later in Canada having broken the distance record.

With so many strange animals on the field Dot managed to find one small enough to stand near!

It was not all work-on Wednesday the city opened the zoo just for pilots and crews and provided lunch in the gardens.

Then we had a wander round to see the live animals!

Would we do it again?

-you bet ya!

Even though we had to adjust our schedule and wake up at 5am and go to bed at 9pm worn out it was great fun and we made lots of new friends.

Special shapes and night glows!

Many of the special shapes flew everyday and we loved to look up and see Airebelle overhead.

We did try to work out how many pints of milk would be in those huge udders!!

These Little Bees flew holding hands-quite a feet of airmanship!

Here are a few more great shapes!

Many of these specials are made in the UK and this huge Orient Express had a call sign G-LOKO.

This is the Energiser Hot Hare!

Beagle Maximus tried catching the giant tin of dog food!

The Wells Fargo Bank stagecoach is waiting for the horses to arrive!

What fun!

Back on the road again to visit Arizona, The Grand Canyon state.

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