In early October 2019, I finally got the chance to attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. I’ve always wanted to see this spectacular event. But I never lived close enough to pull it off.
Now that I’m living the nomadic RV life though, there’s no longer any excuse to miss out. It was time to see these balloons up close! And I even learned few unexpected and interesting things while at the fiesta.
#1 – The balloon fiesta is THE most photographed event on the planet!
If you’re like me, you’re probably skeptical about anyone who makes a sweeping statement like this one. I mean, how would you even go about measuring such a claim? But, trust me. People are constantly taking pictures at this 9-day event. I walked away with hundreds of photos in just a few hours. Multiply that camera-happy urge by the 750,000 visitors who attend this event each year, and perhaps it’s not such a crazy claim after all.
#2 – The balloons only tend to stay aloft for 60 to 80 minutes
The duration of a hot air balloon’s flight can vary. It depends on how much fuel the balloon is carrying, how much it weighs, and the conditions they are flying in. Balloonists have even circumnavigated the world. But, that’s an atypical flight for sure. On average, the hot air balloons participating in the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta only fly for about one hour at a time. So don’t arrive late if you want to see them in the air!
#3 – Albuquerque is the ideal place to fly because of its “box effect”
Pilots don’t actually steer their hot air balloons. Instead, they adjust the balloon’s altitude to take advantage of the wind’s speed and direction. The cool October mornings in Albuquerque are a great place to fly because they allow the pilots to take advantage of some very unique wind patterns. At lower elevations, the wind consistently comes from the south; and at higher elevations, the winds generally come from the north. Thus, the balloons can take off and travel in one direction, then ascend to a higher altitude, allowing the winds to push them back in the opposite direction, before descending again.
#4 – There are three main components to a hot air balloon
The typical hot air balloon consists of (1) the basket or gondola, (2) the burner, and (3) the envelope. The basket is usually made of a thick, but flexible wicker weave and it’s connected to a metal frame. This is what the pilot and his/her occupants stand in. The burner is connected to the frame and releases the flame above the occupants’ heads. Finally, there’s the envelope. This what most of us would refer to as the “balloon.” Envelopes are the brightly colored nylon bags that hold the hot air, allowing the hot air balloon to rise.
#5 It takes an entire ground crew to get the balloon ready to take off
Ballooning is not an individual sport. While there’s usually only one pilot, there’s an entire ground crew needed to help unroll the envelope, attach its tension lines to the basket, and get it ready for inflation. Watching this routine is almost as much fun as seeing the balloon fly. This process of inflating the balloon takes most experienced crews between 10 and 30 minutes.
#6 – Hot air balloons have chase crews
Once a balloon takes off, the pilot is subject to whatever direction the winds are blowing. Most of the time, this means the balloon isn’t going to land where it launched. And that’s where the chase crew comes in. The chase crew is responsible for maintaining visual and radio contact with the pilot during the flight, and recovering the equipment and occupants when the balloon lands. Of course, trying to drive a chase vehicle while keeping an eye on where the balloon is headed in the sky can be tricky. To prevent accidents, the crew tries to stay slightly ahead of the balloon, then watch it from a parked position before moving again. Then once the pilot lands, the crew is responsible for deflating and packing up the envelope, and loading all the equipment into the chase vehicle.
#7 – Hot air balloons use propane to fly
Ask five random people what fuel a hot air balloon uses, and you’ll probably get five stumped people. Most modern hot air balloons heat the air inside the envelope to 250 °F by burning liquid propane gas. Moreover, an average-sized balloon uses 30 gallons of propane during a 60-minute flight. This gas is stored in lightweight cylinders carried in the basket and connected to the balloon’s burner. As the pilot blasts the burner, a bright orange flame emerges to heat the air and help keep the balloon aloft.
#8 – Owning a hot air balloon is an expensive hobby
Ok, this nugget probably doesn’t come as a big surprise to anyone. However, I was curious to find out HOW expensive ballooning actually is compared to other hobbies. Let’s start with the equipment. Pilots easily can spend upwards of $40,000 for a run-of-the-mill balloon. That’s the cost of a new car!! Then there’s the propane, maintenance costs, and the cost of learning to fly it. All told, it’s way too rich for my blood!
#9 – Becoming a hot air balloon pilot isn’t easy
On average, it costs between $3,000 and $5,000 to become a licensed balloon pilot. Pilots must be a minimum age of 16, and are required to have a 10 or more hours of flight training – including a solo flight and a flight over 2,000 feet. Prospective pilots must also pass both a written test and practical (hands-on) test administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
#10 – Always watch out for power lines
When compared to airplanes and other aircraft, balloons are relatively safe. They move at slower speeds and fly at lower altitudes. Nonetheless, balloon accidents can still result in fatalities. And few things are more feared than colliding with high voltage power lines. Gusts of winds can blow even the most experienced pilot into power lines with little time to ascend. The deadliest balloon crash in U.S. history occurred in Lockhart, Texas in July 2016. The balloon struck some power lines, caught fire, and killed all 16 aboard.
#11 – Hot air balloons were used in the Civil War
In 1861, Thaddeus S.C. Lowe performed a balloon demonstration in Washington D.C., and convinced President Lincoln balloons could be a military asset. Soon thereafter, the Union Army established a Balloon Corps to perform aerial reconnaissance, report Confederate troop movements, and spot artillery. The Confederacy attempted to make their own balloons using dress-making silk filled with coal gas, but the Union’s aeronautical program was better organized and far more successful.
#12 – A balloonmeister is a pretty big deal
A ballonmeister sounds like something you’d call a clown who’s really good at twisting balloons into animal shapes and funny hats. In reality though, being a balloonmeister is quite the powerful gig! It’s the title of the person in charge of coordinating all the major details at a hot air balloon festival. He or she is responsible for ensuring all the pilots comply with FAA requirements, safety verifications, keeping tabs on the weather (a big factor in any ballon festival), and monitoring all the balloon activity during the launches. So, giggle at the name if you want. Just make sure to give the balloonmeister his/her due respect.
