Hot Air Balloon Flight Record - 04-10Oct2008
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

We managed seven flights on four days this year. Three days we flew Dawn Patrol before the regular flight. During the drive out to Albuquerque we were contacted and invited to participate in the center stage Dawn Patrol Show so two of the Dawn Patrol flights were in the center for the Dawn Patrol Show.

Saturday morning the direction for the first flight / first Dawn Patrol didn't look great because it was N toward the Sandia Indian Reservation. After takeoff we found enough left to head across the river to N Rio Rancho. Initially tried for the W side of 528 but as we descended we turned right, back across 528 into a new development, between a big rock and utility box, then slid into an open lot and deflated.

We drove back down Rio Rancho Blvd (528), filled up with propane and Starbucks in Rio Rancho, then back to the field for 2nd wave mass ascension. We were about the last balloon off and headed the same direction as Dawn Patrol. We could see the corn maze in Corrales better on this flight. When we dropped near 528 we stayed on the W side this time. Lined up on a new development almost to Bernalillo and 44. Picked up some speed on approach. Touched once just across boundary wall, hopped across side street into open lot. Sliding, I kept the basket up until we slid into the 8 foot cinder block wall. Rolled right, off the corner of the wall and deflated.

Sunday morning we woke to rain and the web listed morning events canceled.

Monday morning looked better and we had a fly-in-task. Wind direction would indicate a launch from 2nd or 4th street but that gets into antenna towers and horses so we opted for the Sandia Reservation launch site. By the time we received the launch clearance on KOB 770AM radio, the winds were too strong to complete inflation. We borrowed a Squeeze Ez to pack up and found it very easy. Purchased our own stainless (NO SHARP CHROME SCRATCHES TO WORRY ABOUT!) Squeeze Ez when we got back to the field.

Wednesday Morning finally had good weather for another Dawn Patrol flight. Drainage winds picked up before launch so things were quick on departure. No box wind again, but an early north field Dawn Patrol balloon went high and turned SE toward the I-40 mountain pass. The Dawn Patrol show stayed lower to head S-SSW for downtown then Coors Blvd across the Rio Grande river. Before reaching I-40 I dropped lower, slowed and turned left prior to 2nd, edging back toward Edith. Where Edith turned right and crossed under us, I flew over the high tension lines before descending into a school and new condo development. Landed on the street and walked to on open area for deflation. Landing was real close to Ortega Propane on the way back to the field for mass ascension.

Wednesday regular flight was second wave mass ascension again, and this time we got off with the flight. Headed SSW again, but slower. Got to survey the old launch sites, smell the cookies from General Mills at Paseo del Norte, cross the active gravel pits, past the water treatment, and finally into the Costco area. Flew over FedEx before settling into a parking lot across the street for REI at Montano.

Thursday was Special Shape mass ascension and our flight was a fly-in-task. We stayed on field to watch the all the shapes launch before we left to select our launch site. We have a reasonable box wind so rather than fight the crowds N in the Sandia launch site, we went S to Jefferson and Paseo. No crowds anywhere near us. Initial direction at launch was S but quickly turned around as we climbed. Our late launch means 4 of 5 poles were already down on the field, but they reset one before we maneuvered for our target pass. Went down the center of the field between the poles on our pass but managed a 15th place golf hole baggie drop in our particular flight number. Climbed for a second pass but we were shifting too far W and the drainage appeared to be slowing so we continued NNW for Rio Rancho again. Approaching a park, we had to drop low into an arroyo to turn R toward the park. Watched a coyote running up the arroyo before we got into the park and landed on the grass. Rather than drive on the grass we tried out the balloon cart for the first time.

Friday I talked the crew into a Dawn Patrol because the weekend forecast was looking less than ideal. Took off from the north end with one balloon getting off before us. They went high and moved faster and NNE. I stayed lower and headed N-NNW toward N Rio Rancho yet again. The bend in the Rio Grande put us well into the E side for a while but it eventually crossed back. Heading into the same development as last Saturday, but into the center. Dropping low we slowed in front of a house and dropped into the driveway in front of the garage. The neighbors came out but the home owner never did. Refueled in Rio Rancho on the way back.

The Friday regular flight was fly-in-task again but this time our southern site at Jefferson and Paseo was much more crowded. By the time we started inflation, the field had cleared. Our pass on the field was too far E so we only crossed the NE corner. The recommendation was for short flights so we lined up on the Sandia launch site and dropped in with the help of a couple roving crew. Kept the balloon standing for a minute but thought better of it with other balloons coming into the site. Deflated, milked, and strapped the balloon while the crew navigated the heavy traffic from the far side of the Fiesta Park.

As forecast, the winds became too strong for the weekend although Sunday was a bit closer to flyable (only 76 knots at 12,000!).