Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Oct 6-12, 2007

October 14, 2007  Back to Index   September 8, 2007

This was my first visit to Fiesta, so I took hundreds of pictures. Here are just a few.

A panoramic view of Fiesta field, an 80-acre, manicured lawn built specifically for this event.  The Sandia Mountains rise in the background.


Had to have a picture of myself at the field.  Behind me is the Anderson-Abruzzo
Balloon Museum.  The large window facing the field looks like a balloon.


Here's the museum from the other side.  The white roof and brown arch beyond also
resemble a balloon when seen from above.


5:30 AM - Pilot's briefing.  The Launch Directors all wear black
and white stripes - so the Launch Official's tower is also zebra-striped.


Dawn Patrol begining to inflate behind the assembled crowd of pilots.  The Dawn
Patrol is a small group that launches 45 minutes before sunrise to scout out the
morning wind's direction.  They fly until sunrise, landing when they can see the ground.


This is Rob Skiba, an Omaha pilot, flying with the Dawn
Patrol one morning.


Cathy and Gary Luenenborg, also of Omaha, take turns flying
with the Dawn Patrol.



Glenda and Rob check out one of the 12-passenger ride baskets.


The large ride balloons begin to inflate.  Rides at Fiesta are $300 per person.


The first 400 balloons heading out during the first morning's Mass Ascencion.  We'll
join them in a few moments.


But first, we wait for a "thumbs-up" from our Launch Director.  He gives us the sign...


...and up we go, headed for the Rio Grande and Rio Rancho beyond.


Looking back at the crowd of over 100,000 spectators.  Some 750 balloons are invited
to Albuquerque each year.


Two of the "special shapes" - Darth Vader and Chesty (the
Marine Corps mascot).


Approaching the Rio Grande.  Some pilots will drop down to "splash-and-dash" in
the river.


Crossing the Rio Grande, watching the scene below.


Back on the Fiesta field, watching pilots maneuver toward the targets.


Two of the special shapes.  Mike Loy in "Off the Wall" (left) and Rich Lawhorn in
"Humpty Dumpty" on the right.


So many balloons - too few words to describe it.


"Arky" - the Noah's Ark special shape, at the Special Shapes Rodeo.


The "Energizer Bunny" - all 168 feet of him.  The drum hasn't
yet fully inflated.


An interior shot of the bunny.  The "Keep Going" is at the top
of the head, underneath the ears.


The Bees - Joey and Lily.  Their hands are joined by Velcro®, and they fly together.


"Woodrow C. Greenleaf - Woody"


More special shapes.  Yes, that's a locomotive - the "Orient Express."


"Flighthouse" - a 110 foot tall lighthouse, complete with seagulls


Once the special shapes clear the field, the remaining balloons fly in to try to reach
the pole-grab targets.


There are gas balloons too.  Ten teams competed in the America's
Challenge race.


After inflating all afternoon, the gas balloons launch at sunset, and fly for 2 or 3 days.
This year's winners flew 1054 miles and landed in Saskatchewan, 150 miles north of
Minot, ND.

October 14, 2007  Back to Index   September 8, 2007