Balloon Fiesta photos here.
- Thread starter dmn23
- Start date
dmn23
Duller than cardboard
Thanks!
They frequently bump into each other when they're taking off. I suppose the answer is one guy fires his burner and the other doesn't, and that's how they continually keep safe distance.
Here's the best way to get a sense of what's going on:
dmn23
Duller than cardboard
Mind if I tumblr some of these up? I could just link to this thread as the source, or whatever you'd like. Or not.
Sure, be my guest. The entire album is here.
Some are better than others.
Theodore
I gotta move
tiger roach
Urban Bovine Knievel
I like the night shot a lot.
And +1 for Spider Pig! :rawk:
And +1 for Spider Pig! :rawk:
dmn23
Duller than cardboard
There was a very real concern that one might land on my Miata as we were walking back to the car.
I've also seen them land at bowling alleys and produce markets parking lots.
Basically, they'll land wherever they can. This city has been hosting this event for more than four decades and everyone's used to this sort of thing by now. It's part of the charm.
Here's one that landed in my next door neighbor's yard two years ago:
BlockInlay
Octavate.band
something about hot air balloons, just makes me feel happy when i see them. i think the most i've ever seen up in the air at one time was maybe 3. maybe. that flotilla you witnessed is unreal.
Tig
Fucktangular
The video shows how they use the various wind directions available at different altitudes.
Sadly, the local Ballunar Liftoff Festival no longer exists.
(my old skydiving buddy, "Pecker" Parker in all green is landing/running at 1
7)
dmn23
Duller than cardboard
Here in Albuquerque we have the "box".
Albuquerque box
Part of the reason for the success of the Fiesta are the cool Albuquerque morning temperatures in October and the Albuquerque box. The "box" is a set of predictable wind patterns that can be exploited to navigate the balloons. At low elevations the winds tend to be northerly (from the north), but at higher elevations they tend to be southerly. Balloonists use these winds to navigate in a vertical box: they ascend slightly from the launch park, move south, ascend further, move north, descend, and repeat the box or land back in the launch park or quite nearby. During events involving on-field targets, such as the "Key Grab" (where pilots attempt to grab prizes, including a set of keys to a new vehicle, from atop tall, flexible poles), it's not uncommon to see the same balloon make 5 or 6 passes at the targets, simply by working the "Box" to keep returning to the field.
Part of the reason for the success of the Fiesta are the cool Albuquerque morning temperatures in October and the Albuquerque box. The "box" is a set of predictable wind patterns that can be exploited to navigate the balloons. At low elevations the winds tend to be northerly (from the north), but at higher elevations they tend to be southerly. Balloonists use these winds to navigate in a vertical box: they ascend slightly from the launch park, move south, ascend further, move north, descend, and repeat the box or land back in the launch park or quite nearby. During events involving on-field targets, such as the "Key Grab" (where pilots attempt to grab prizes, including a set of keys to a new vehicle, from atop tall, flexible poles), it's not uncommon to see the same balloon make 5 or 6 passes at the targets, simply by working the "Box" to keep returning to the field.
dmn23
Duller than cardboard
That's the Dawn Patrol. Once they get the green flag (conditions are favorable, the full mass ascension will take place) a handful of balloons will take off while it's still dark to report actual flying conditions to the organizers (and consequently, to the other pilots). You can see it in the video I posted.
Flatspotter
What?
That was AMAZING!
dmn23
Duller than cardboard
You should see it up close. Really. I think everyone should. There's 200,000 people out there and every year nobody seems to be in a bad mood. You're instantly turned back into a little kid.