Hot Air Balloon Flight Record - 28-29Aug2010
Plainville Hot Air Balloon Festival

The weather looks good this year, but John Ninomiya was unable to attempt his CT cluster flight due to FAA difficulties.

Saturday morning surface winds are light and everyone is setting up as soon as they arrive. The center of the field was off limits to driving due to sprinkler heads. Everyone was heading SSE, but I went S-SSW over the baseball field until we climbed out and turned with everyone else. Carlos flew for a bit, got to stay proficient until his balloon gets annualed. Continued SSE until we crossed the ridge N of Meriden and dropped down. We were heading toward a clear corner of a small development, but the last spiral lost the low left and we missed. Looked like we might head for the Hospital parking lots but a homeowner asked if her back yard was big enough, and we turned toward the yard and landed!

Saturday afternoon calmed down. Bill and Patty test inflated their home-built and decided to launch. They got back to inflate the big balloon before we got off the ground. Flew E in the direction of 72, dropping into the gravel pits to play on the way through. Heading into New Britain I was aiming to drop before the Hospital and catch the left turn into the park and lots, but it wasn't there when we came down. Continued E toward an old factory just E of Rt 9. Set down next to a newer building in the parking lot.

Sunday was another great day and we took off SE, slower. Past Southington HS we met up with Jim Regan... and "blocked" his approach to another pilots house at the same time RE/MAX flew 90 degrees over us. Jim eventually climbed higher to head S faster before we also climbed. RE/MAX had taken off after us but set down in cul-de-sac in front of us. Jim landed in a school ahead of us, another balloon just W in the church parking, and we headed to the front of the school. Jim's crew came over to grab the drop line and guide us into the front driveway.