Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2009

Photography and brief by Greg Meland

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  Hot Air Balloons flew for seven of the nine days of the 2009 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Several balloon events were cancelled due to weather, including this year’s America’s Challenge gas balloon race.  Five hundred fifty balloons were registered representing 37 states and 17 countries at this year’s Fiesta.

 

  The first day of the Balloon Fiesta started out great and the mass ascension was outstanding.  The wind picked up in the afternoon and the evening balloon glow was cancelled and the America’s Challenge was initially delayed in the hopes that they could launch the next day.  However, it was finally cancelled on Sunday due to a large storm pattern that moved across the central United States.
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  The balloon competitions started on Monday and ran until Friday.  During the balloon competitions pilots launch their balloon from a mile or two off the balloon field, fly their balloon to the field and attempt to drop bean bags or some other marker on a specific target on the field. 

 

  The winds were a problem for the competitions most of the week with all events cancelled on Wednesday.  The overall winner of the balloon competitions was Frank Dickey.  He took home $10,000 and a bottle of Tequila.  Another competition is the ‘Pole Grab’.  During the ‘Pole Grab’ the pilots again launch from off the field and fly to the field aiming for one of five poles standing at a specific place on the field.  They attempt to grab an envelope containing a prize which is attached to the pole.  This year’s  “Pole Grab” competitions ended with six winners: Gary Bennett - $2000; Johnny Petrehn - $2500; Bob Mass - $5000; Steve Jones – Grand Cayman Vacation; Richard Abruzzo – Grand Cayman Vacation; Gerry Graff – a Cloudhopper hot air balloon.

 

   Four “Special Shape” balloons debuted this year along with eighty-three returning “Special Shapes”.  The four new “Special Shapes” were: Stinky the Skunk; Lady Joker; Fire Engine; and Eddie and Rickenbacker (a tribute to Army aviation).