The World’s Premier Balloon Event Presented by
2016 Official Program
Canon is Proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
Limited quantities available on a first come, first served basis. Free Camera and Lens Clean and Checks will be held at a separate location. Please speak to a Canon representative in the Main Street location for details.
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ALON 7-Eleven Your Convenient Stop for a Kaleidoscope of Flavors.
ALON 7-Eleven is proud to be the sponsor of the 7-Eleven Balloon Discovery Center at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.® Enjoy the “Desert Kaleidoscope” in this hands-on, interactive learning Center. After your fun-filled day at Balloon Fiesta®, stop by your neighborhood 7-Eleven for a fresh, hot coffee, cappuccino, or your favorite fountain drink.
Contents WELCOME LETTERS 4
Jay Czar, President, AIBF
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Joe Adachi, Chairman and CEO, Canon U.S.A., Inc.
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Susana Martinez, Governor of New Mexico
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Richard J. Berry, Mayor of Albuquerque
OF INTEREST 12
Your Guide to Balloon Fiesta Events
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Survival Guide Map
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Music Fiesta
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2016 AIBF Officers, Board of Directors & Staff
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2016 Officials
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Balloon Fiesta Sponsors
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Photography Tips
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Spectator Safety Tips
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Pin or Badge?
108 America’s Challenge Officials & Winners 112
2016 Balloon Fiesta Navigators
118
2016 Heritage Award
DIRECTORIES 33
2016 AIBF Balloon Directory
64
Other Participating Pilots
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Special Shape Directory
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International Pilots
102
U.S. Women’s Nationals
110
America’s Challenge Entrants
FEATURES 66
Albuquerque’s First Aeronaut
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Sponsorship Today
90
The Art and Science of the Splash-n-Dash
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Images of Modern America: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
100 U.S. Women’s Nationals – Its Time Has Come 104 Your Questions about the America’s Challenge 114
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Wall of Fame
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Prices, availability, incentives, plan features and materials are subject to change without notice and will vary by subdivision. Dimensions and square footage are approximate. Photos are representational only. Furnishings and decorative items not included with home purchase. Not all buyers will qualify for all programs. See a D.R. Horton/Express Homes sales consultant in the community for details. Express Homes is a d/b/a of D.R. Horton, Inc. 505.797.4245 4400 Alameda Blvd. Suite B Abq. NM 87113
Welcome from the President, Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta , Inc. ®
O
n behalf of the Board of Directors, the Balloon Fiesta staff, our participating pilots, and hundreds of Balloon Fiesta Navigators, welcome to the 2016 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta presented by Canon! We are planning a wonderful week, filled with traditional favorites like Mass Ascensions, Balloon Glows, Dawn Patrol and the Special Shapes Rodeo™/Glowdeo™ as well as some new surprises. Prepare yourself for a kaleidoscope of color, sound and excitement! This year we would especially like to welcome a new event to Balloon Fiesta week – the U.S. Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championship. Sixteen of the nation’s most outstanding female pilots will compete in this nation’s first stand-alone women’s championship event. It will be an exciting addition to the world’s greatest week of ballooning.
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If you drive your car or ride your motorcycle to the Balloon Fiesta, I suggest you come early in order to secure the best parking. If you choose to ride a bicycle, you can leave your bike at our Bike Valet. Or better yet, take Park and Ride from a location close to your home or accommodations. While you’re waiting for the morning festivities to begin, stroll Balloon Fiesta’s Main Street, grab a wonderful New Mexico breakfast burrito, and browse for pins, patches and other souvenirs. You can also enjoy a sit-down breakfast at the Gondola Club or Chasers’ Club, where all our guests are VIPs. Afterward, you’ll want to wander onto the launch field for an up-close and personal view of the pilots and crews preparing for launch. The mornings are usually cool and crisp until dawn, but it normally warms up fairly quickly. Be sure to dress in layers. Most of the personnel you will interface with at the Balloon Fiesta are volunteers, called Navigators. Many travel long distances each year
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
to volunteer for this event. They are by far the largest group involved in staging this world class event. Please help me thank them for helping everyone have a safe and enjoyable experience at this year’s Balloon Fiesta. There’s plenty to do when the balloons aren’t flying. Be sure to sample delicious New Mexican cuisine, ride the Sandia Peak Tramway, visit our many museums, or head north to Santa Fe, America’s oldest capital. And you won’t want to miss shopping and eating in Albuquerque’s Old Town. Established in 1706, it’s Albuquerque’s oldest neighborhood. There are also lots of great hiking and bike trails in and around Albuquerque as well as other outdoor adventures to enjoy. Thank you for coming, and have a wonderful Balloon Fiesta!
Jay Czar, President, AIBF
CheCk out all there is to experienCe during
Balloon Fiesta®
ExpEriEncE albuquErquE only in albuquerque can you walk among more than 500 hot air balloons as they make their way from the field at Balloon Fiesta park to hundreds of feet above, painting the skies in a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. as the world’s largest event of its kind, this unique festival engages all five senses. take in images unseen anywhere else at the world’s most photographed event. stand among these peaceful giants and feel the air change as hot air balloons rise all around you. sample festival treats and listen to the unique symphony of hundreds of burners simultaneously igniting, as the smell of roasting chile floats through the crisp morning air. experience all the city has to offer during this magical time — and let albuquerque change your perspective. #trueaBQ
Visitor information on Balloon Fiesta Main street, find our albuquerque booth to learn about everything there is to experience in the duke City. stop by and pick up maps, coupons and more. We’d love to see you.
thE abq framE Commemorate your visit with a photo inside albuquerque’s life-size picture frame – and it’s Free! Find the frame at Visit albuquerque‘s information booth. Visit PictureaBQ.com for more details | #PictureaBQ
shop & dinE
EVEnts during fiEsta
shop in old town, nob hill or uptown for treasures to take home.
during Balloon Fiesta, the city is alive with special events.
there are restaurants for every palate including new Mexico’s
Check out albuquerque’s arts and craft shows, cultural
own unique southwestern cuisine. Visit the brewery district to
centers, museums and art galleries. tour the city by bike, or
sample award-winning local craft beers.
enjoy a ghost or tV/film sights tour.
andErson-abruzzo intErnational balloon musEum Just steps from Balloon Fiesta park, you’ll find fun exhibits for all ages dedicated to the worldwide history, science and art of all types of ballooning.
@ V i s i ta b q | # t r u E a b q
Welcome from the Chairman & CEO, Canon U.S.A., Inc.
I
t is my pleasure to welcome you to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta presented by Canon. We are honored to have the privilege once again to serve as the Presenting Sponsor and Official Imaging Company of one of the most photographed events in the world. As you see our “Canon See Impossible” balloon soaring through the sky, I hope you will be inspired to stop by our tent to say hello and explore the many ways that we are helping fellow photo enthusiasts achieve their impossible. Canon has all the tools you need to help you produce superb photos
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and videos. There will also be plenty of activities and photo ops for the whole family. This year we will again collaborate with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta to present the Cindy Petrehn Memorial Photo Contest, where you and others can share and submit your favorite photos of the event. Since opening our customer support center in Albuquerque two years ago, we have enjoyed the warm and welcoming hospitality we have received from the community. We are both proud and pleased to be able to reciprocate through our sponsorship of the Albuquerque International
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Balloon Fiesta presented by Canon. On behalf of the Canon family, we wish you a memorable experience at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. And, don’t forget to keep an eye out for us at the Opening Day Mass Ascension and the incredible Night Magic Glow, where Canon will be the first to rise. Here’s to soaring to new heights!
Joe Adachi Chairman & CEO Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Stop by the Canon tent to take advantage of exclusive AIBF promotions from the Canon Online Store!
shop.usa.canon.com
Welcome from the Governor, State of New Mexico
W
elcome to the Land of Enchantment for the 45th Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta presented by Canon. Bienvenidos a Nuevo Mexico! For decades, New Mexico has been a proud host to balloonists from around the country and across the world — along with their creative and colorful crafts. The Balloon Fiesta is part of what it means to be New Mexico True.
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While you’re here, I hope you have the chance to explore our state and discover the many adventures steeped in culture. I encourage you to make the most of what New Mexico has to offer: climb the Sandias, ride the tram, find yourself a raft and head over to the Rio Grande, or just spend some relaxing time with family or friends at one of our many state parks. But whatever you do, be sure not to leave without tasting our famous red or green chile!
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
The people, places, and culture of New Mexico are sure to leave a lasting impact, with memories that will last a lifetime. I wish you a safe and enjoyable experience at the 2016 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Sincerely,
Susana Martinez Governor
MAKING AN
indelible contribution to the game isn’t easy. It’s not simply delivering scores or stories or sensationalism. It’s achieved only by being a trusted authority and a tireless champion of the game. It’s having a decades-long narrative underscored by quality, credibility and, above all else, authenticity. Anybody can have a story, but Golfweek has a legacy. And it’s one that we continue to write every day.
AUTHENTICITY is our legacy. What will yours be? #MyGolfLegacy
Welcome from the Mayor, City of Albuquerque
A
s the Mayor of Albuquerque, it is with great pleasure I welcome you to the City of Albuquerque for the 45th Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®. I am honored to join in on the excitement of the Balloon Fiesta and enjoy the natural beauty, culture, unique heritage and friendly people you will encounter in New Mexico’s largest city. The Balloon Fiesta® began in 1972 as a radio station promotion with 13 balloons — a huge number at the time. Today it features hundreds of balloons, thrilling competitions, imaginative special shapes, spectacular evening Balloon Glows, the America’s
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Challenge gas balloon race, and a “Main Street” full of whimsical souvenirs and tasty snacks. This year, we especially welcome the competitors in the U.S. Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championship, where the nation’s best female pilots will vie for top honors. The Balloon Fiesta is truly one of the world’s great aviation events and it has taken its place among our country’s largest and most spectacular festivals. While you are visiting us, I hope you get the chance to explore our great city, take in some of the sights and sounds that you may only encounter in a city as vibrant as ours. For a taste of our culture and history, the Indian Pueblo and Hispanic Cultural Centers are great places to spend
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
time. Old Town Albuquerque is a must see, where you can experience our New Mexican southwest heritage. Please don’t forget to enjoy the outdoors by visiting our beautiful Sandia Mountains and our Rio Grande River. I hope you have a wonderful experience in our great city while you are here. Best Regards,
Richard J. Berry Mayor
Bandelier National Monument A gateway to adventure.
visitlosalamos.org
VisitLosAlamos.org
MANHATTAN PROJECT NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT VALLES CALDERA NATIONAL PRESERVE
Your Guide to
BALLOON FIESTA EVENTS Here is a brief overview of what you’ll see during the world’s most colorful and spectacular festival of flying (All events, of course, are weather permitting)
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
®
MORNING EVENTS: Dawn Patrol and Dawn Patrol Show
Women’s U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship:
Daily: A “balloon glow in the sky” featuring as many as a dozen balloons. On Mass Ascension days, pilots perform the Dawn Patrol Show, a choreographed inflation and launch set to music that has been part of the Balloon Fiesta since 1996.
Sixteen of the United States’ top women pilots compete for supremacy in the first Women’s Nationals. Competition flights will take place primarily in the Rio Rancho area. Learn more about this prestigious event on page 100.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, Oct. 1 — Wednesday, Oct. 5
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 7:00am
Flight of the Nations Wednesday, October 5 The Flight of the Nations at Wednesday’s Mass Ascension especially honors pilots from all the nations participating in Balloon Fiesta, many of whom launch flying their national flag.
Mass Ascensions and Morning Glows Weekends and Wednesday: The spectacular Mass Ascensions of hundreds of hot-air balloons are the Balloon Fiesta’s signature events and are preceded by “mini” balloon glows. Mass Ascensions on Thursday and Friday October 6 and 7 feature “special shape” balloons.
Special Shape Rodeo™ Thursday and Friday, Oct. 6th and 7th These special mass ascensions especially showcase the incredible craftsmanship, creativity, and artistry that makes monsters, critters, and just about anything else you can imagine take flight.
Albuquerque Aloft™ Friday, Sept. 30 beginning at approximately 7:00 AM On the Friday before Balloon Fiesta begins, balloons will fly from select elementary schools throughout Albuquerque and from all of Rio Rancho’s elementary schools. Some school PTAs sell food and hot beverages, making the Balloon Fiesta’s visit to their school a true community event.
Competition flying events: Weekdays except Wednesday In a ballooning competition, pilots use winds at different altitudes to steer the balloon to a target and drop a marker so it lands as close to the center of the target as possible. The competitions also feature the Ring Toss, where pilots try fly to a pole and win fabulous prizes! The overall competition winners are determined by individual pilots’ cumulative scores during Balloon Fiesta week.
Albuquerque Aloft (at local elementary schools)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 6:00am
Dawn Patrol Show, presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:00am Laser Light Show 6:30am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 6:45am Opening Ceremonies 7:00am Mass Ascension, presented by Canon 8:30-11:30am AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 1:30-5:00pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 5:45pm Twilight Twinkle Glow™ 7:45pm Laser Light Show 8:00pm* AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented in part by Albuquerque Journal
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 6:00am
Dawn Patrol Show, presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:00am Laser Light Show 6:30am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 7:00am Mass Ascension 8:30-11:30am AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 9:00am Fiesta of Wheels Car Show (Located on launch field) 11:00am Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Group Tour Tent, north end of Main Street) 1:30-5:00pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 5:45pm Balloon Glow 7:45pm Laser Light Show 8:00pm* AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented in part by Albuquerque Journal
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3 PROPANE DAY presented by Airgas, an Air Liquide company 6:00am Dawn Patrol 6:00am Laser Light Show 7:00am Balloons Launch 8:00am Competition Flying Begins 8:00-11:00am AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations
And Don’t Miss! Music Fiesta™ Featuring Chris Young
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4
Presented by Nash FM 92.3 and Comcast Spotlight
PEPSI DAY 6:00am Dawn Patrol 6:00am Laser Light Show 7:00am Balloons Launch 8:00am Competition Flying Begins 8:00-11:00am AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations
1:00 PM Saturday, Oct. 8
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
This exciting afternoon event spotlights three of country music’s hottest superstars: Chris Young, Parmalee, and Sim Balkey. Your admission also gets you into the Night Magic Glow and AfterGlow Fireworks Show! For more on this event, visit page 19.
6:00am
Dawn Patrol Show, presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:00am Laser Light Show 6:30am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 7:00am Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension 8:00am Competition Flying Begins 8:30-11:30am AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations 2:00pm America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Inflation 6:00pm America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Launch
Desert Kaleidoscope
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Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2016 Official Program
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6 KIDS’ DAY presented by KOB-TV 5:45am Dawn Patrol 6:00am Laser Light Show 7:00am Special Shape Rodeo™, presented by Wells Fargo Bank 8:00am Competition Flying Begins 8:30-11:30am AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 1:30-5:00pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 6:00pm Special Shape Glowdeo™ 7:45pm Laser Light Show 8:00pm* AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented in part by Albuquerque Journal
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
Evening Events Balloon Glows Saturday Oct. 1st, Sunday Oct. 2nd and Saturday, Oct. 8th The static displays of illuminated balloons known as “Balloon Glows” are now among the Balloon Fiesta’s most popular events. The “All Burn,” when all the balloons fire their burners and light up at the same time, are perhaps the most spectacular single moment in all of Balloon Fiesta. Special shape balloons have their own balloon glows on Thursday and Friday of Balloon Fiesta week (see below).
Special Shape GlowdeoTM Thursday Oct. 6th and Friday Oct. 7th
The fantastic special shape balloons are even more fantastic in the glow of early evening! The Special Shape Glowdeo, features everyone’s favorite shapes, from bees to birds to bears. Come early, because the Glowdeos are some of the Balloon Fiesta’s most popular events!
The objective of the America’s Challenge distance race is simple – fly further than your competitors from the launch site in Albuquerque. America’s Challenge teams typically stay aloft for two to three days and travel as far as 2,000 miles. For balloon pilots, it is one of the toughest tests of skill and endurance in the world. Learn more about this event on page 104.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 6:00am Dawn Patrol Show, presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:00am Laser Light Show 6:30am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 7:00am Mass Ascension 8:30-11:30am AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 11:00am Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Group Tour Tent, north end of Main Street) 1:00–5:30pm Music Fiesta™ 1:30-5:00pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 6:00pm Night Magic™ Glow, presented by Canon 7:45pm Laser Light Show 8:00pm* AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented in part by Albuquerque Journal
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Wednesday, October 5 (weather permitting); inflation scheduled approximately 2 PM, launch for approximately 6:00 PM.
6:00am Dawn Patrol 6:00am Laser Light Show 7:00am Special Shape Rodeo™ 8:00am New Mexico Buick GMC Dealers Flying Competition 8:30-11:30am AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 1:30-5:00pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 6:00pm Special Shape Glowdeo™ 7:45pm Laser Light Show 8:00pm* AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented in part by Albuquerque Journal
AfterGlowTM Fireworks Show Presented by the Albuquerque Journal Saturday October 1, Sunday October 2, Thursday October 6, Friday October 7, and Saturday October 8, immediately after the Glows The fireworks shows at the Balloon Fiesta are some of the best performed anywhere! Plan to stay after the balloon glows to enjoy the spectacle! (AfterGlow times may change due to field and weather conditions).
6:00am Dawn Patrol Show, presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:00am Laser Light Show 6:30am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 7:00am Farewell Mass Ascension 8:30-11:00am AIBF Chainsaw Carving Q&A AfterGlow™ fireworks shows will begin as soon as the launch field is clear of balloons, thus the starting times are approximate and subject to change without notice. Additionally, local police will modify traffic flows to utilize all traffic lanes for outbound traffic only at the conclusion of each Glow event. So if you want to watch the AfterGlow™ fireworks shows from the Park, plan to arrive at the Park in time for that evening’s glow event. * AfterGlow™ times may change due to field and weather conditions ** AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational times are 8 AM – 11 AM and 5:30 PM-8 PM on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesday
Desert Kaleidoscope
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Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2016 Official Program
Desert Kaleidoscope
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THE OFFICIAL HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE
OPERATOR OF THE
ALBUQUERQUE
INTERNATIONAL
BALLOON FIESTA®
2013
20 14
2015
of
FAME
5 201
201 1
12 20
BUCKET LIST
505.359.3583
RAINBOWRYDERS.COM
Presented by
Hot Young Country Artists Drop in for the
FOURTH MUSIC FIESTA
™
Balloon Fiesta Park will be rockin’ to the hottest country sounds on Saturday, October 8 at the fourth annual Music Fiesta, headlined by Chris Young! Come for the concert and stay for the Night Magic™ Balloon Glow and the AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show! Gates open at noon, and the music gets underway at 1 PM. Chris Young At the age of 30, Chris Young has accomplished more than some artists do in a lifetime. Already a Grammynominated vocalist, he’s also a dynamic live performer who plays a powerhouse show packed with hits, including chart toppers “Gettin’ You Home,” “Voices,” “Tomorrow,” and “Who I Am With You.” With four albums to his credit, Young has amassed six #1 singles, seven Gold/ Platinum certifications and performed for audiences ranging from Good Morning America to Australia and Dublin to The Late Show with David Letterman. The RCA Records artist is an international ambassador for his genre, a talented songwriter, and a southern gentleman who is frequently declared one of country music’s sexiest men by People and Country Weekly magazines. Parmalee Even if the name of the group doesn’t ring a bell right away, chances are you’ve heard their debut single, “Musta Had A Good Time,” a top 40 hit on mainstream country radio and #1 for four consecutive weeks on SiriusXM’s The Highway “Hot 30 LIVE” countdown. The fun-loving party anthem has been featured in national
Chris Young
Desert Kaleidoscope
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sporting event broadcasts from the PGA to MLB. Parmalee also recently made history when its multi-week #1 smash “Carolina” became the longest climbing single by a duo or group in the 24-year history of the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. Sim Balkey Sim Balkey has a distinctive voice, which quite simply doesn’t sound like anyone else in country music today. There’s an edgy intensity that brings out the best in every song whether it’s a vulnerable ballad or up-tempo party anthem. Balkey infuses lyrics with a warmth and authority that draws the listener into every song and makes it memorable. His current single “How ‘Bout We Do That Tonight” hit the Texas Regional Radio scene early in 2015 and quickly plowed into the Top 100 on the Texas Charts and still moving quick. Sim Balkey has great new music, an energetic live show, and plays about 100 nights a year with an ever expanding audience.
Parmalee
Advance ticket sale prices for premium reserved seating are $50, with the price increasing to $60 the day of the event. Admission to the premium lawn area is $20 if tickets are purchased in advance, and $25 the day of the show. General admission is $10. The Balloon Fiesta is also offering a very special “Ultimate Music Fiesta Package” at $499 which includes front row seating, photo opportunity with either Chris Young or Parmalee, dinner in the Gondola Club following the concert, preferred parking, and lots of other goodies. Full details and tickets are available at Balloon Fiesta gates or through the Balloon Fiesta website, www.balloonfiesta.com.
SPONSORED BY:
Sim Balkey
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Presented by
lemon-liem
PEPSI, PEPSI MAX, DIET PEPSI, the Pepsi Globe design, LIVE FOR NOW, SIERRA MIST, MTN DEW and the MTN DEW landscape are trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc. CRUSH is a trademark of ©2015 Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. MANZANITA SOL is a registered trademark of The Concentrate Manufacturing Company of Ireland .
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
2016 OFFICERS Jay Czar
Ty Young
Richard W. “Dick” Rice
Matt Guthrie
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
TREASURER
SECRETARY
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS J.R. Allison
Raymond Bair
Gary Bennett
Chuck Clark
John C. Davis IV
Barbara Fricke
Jim Garcia
Steven A. Komadina, M.D.
Cheryl Lete
Rodney A. May
Tom McConnell, M.D.
Frank A. Mezzancello
Judith K. Nakamura
John D. ‘Mike’ Rice
Harry Season
Doug Schwebach
John Sena
Mark Sullivan
Al Tetreault
Bill Walker
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
2016 STAFF Erica Hahn
Lynda Crispino
Susan Dunn
Jennifer Garcia
Tom Garrity
Shamaine Giannini
RECEPTIONIST
BOOKKEEPER
PILOT COORDINATOR & RV MANAGER
MEDIA PRESIDENT
GROUP TOURS COORDINATOR CHASERS CLUB
Alice Hanson
Janie Jordan
Mike McKnight
Amanda Molina
Lisa Mulder
Elaine Nelson
CONTROLLER
FIELD MANAGER
IS MANAGER
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE
MERCHANDISE MANAGER
TRANSPORTATION MANAGER
Paul Petrehn
Stephanie Prendergast
Laurie Riedle
Vince Saiz
Paul Smith
Sandy Wylie
EVENT DIRECTOR
CORPORATE SALES ASSISTANT
CORPORATE SALES MANAGER
ASSISTANT FIELD MANAGER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EVENT COORDINATOR
CONCESSIONS & ARTISANS MANAGER
NOT PICTURED Evalyn Back – Merchandising Bari Harvey – Merchandising Nancy James – Merchandising Renee Martinez – Merchandising Bennie Bos – Photographer Paul DeBerjeois – Photographer Marlon Long – Photographer
Angelina Peace – Photographer Raymond Watt – Photographer Glen Moyer – Announcer Art Lloyd, Jr. – Announcer Larry Ahrens – Announcer
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
2016 Officials Balloonmeister Sam Parks Assistant Balloonmeisterin Melissa Bond SAFETY OFFICIALS Neal Smith, Chief Safety Official Wally Book Thomas Bueno Neida Courtney Bueno Doug Gallagher J.D. Huss John Pata Chuck Raskob Daniel Rose Henry Rosenbaum Thomas Schroeder Maury Sullivan Steve Wilson LAUNCH DIRECTORS Bill Brennan, Chief Launch Official Michelle Healy, Assistant Chief Launch Official Michael LaPlante, South Section Lead Lynn Tillery, North Section Lead Chris Padilla, South Section Assistant Lead Cliff Holman, North Section Assistant Lead Joseph Ballengee Kenneth Beebe Margaret Billson Robin Boyer Paige Brown Elisa Bustamante Angelique Calderon Tom Christopher David Crossland Christina Dewart Sheri Essen Karen Fleetwood Kevin French Kaitlyn Gancarz Andrea Gensinger Larry Gensinger Debbie Gonzales Anna Haynie Kim Kelbe David Lardizabal Diane Leblanc David Leeper Shawn Leonard Timothy Martin Danny McCoy Lora McKown Pam Micker Everetta Mora Jeanie Moughan
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Catherine Myrick Rachel Newquist Caitlin Odom Jay Pape Kenneth Paulk Sarah Pearson Kat Perea Emily Pine Sherry Piperno Bill Quaglia Jeff Renegar Char-Lynn Richardson Debbie Sanchez Samantha Sanchez Krista Savage Karl Schaefer Steve Segura Jerry Shreve Marty Soffran Nicole Tagart Deborah Taylor Mike Taylor Dylan Wambold Caryn Welz Rachel Wills Pam Wilson Janice Wrhel Glenn Young Michael Zink
WEATHER OFFICIALS Daniel Pagliaro, Chief Weather Official John Elrick Bryan Folk William Kelly Randy Lefevre Rosemary Pagliaro Brad Temeyer SCORING OFFICIALS Tammy Luna, Chief Scoring Official Rita Brennan, Assistant Chief Scoring Official James Byrd, Chief of Operations Jay Luna, Chief of Targets John Abel, Team Lead Carl Kinnard, Team Lead Elizabeth Reese, Team Lead Ronald Ater Rol Blauwkamp David Dickinson Lester Elmer Mike Gilligan Penny Griego Harold Jackson Phyllis Jackson Blake Jordan Susan Kinnard Jon Kirkwood Lyn Kirkwood Diane Krostag Bob Lucero Patricia Norris Jürgen Rimac Patricia Ann Rudy-Baese Virginia Sanchez Lynthia Sullivan LANDOWNER RELATIONS Nancy Wertz, Chief Landowner Relations Official Lawrence Merry Janette Stone Orbin Stone Marjorie Woodall Robert Woodall BALLOON REFUELING AREA Glen Januszewski, Balloon Refueling Chief
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
In Memoriam:
Anne Dickey This year, Albuquerque and the Balloon Fiesta lost one of its last grand surviving matriarchs, with the death at age 90 of Anne Dickey. Anne was a fixture at Balloon Fiesta from almost the very beginning. She volunteered as a crew person at the 1973 World Championships (the second Balloon Fiesta), bringing her family along for the fun. She served on the Balloon Fiesta Board of Directors in 1980 and 1981. Two of Anne’s sons, Bill and Frank, became pilots and still fly in the Balloon Fiesta; Frank Dickey was the 2009 Balloon Fiesta champion. Even though she was in ill health, in 2015 she was still on the launch field to support Frank and Bill and her other two children, 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren, and her many ballooning friends. With her great friend Evelyn Byrd, who left us a few years ago, Anne was one of those people who stayed out of the limelight and quietly did the zillion little, thankless things that keeps a community and an event together and functioning. For many years Ann and Evelyn edited the local balloon club newsletter, helped out at countless ballooning functions within and outside Balloon Fiesta, and cooked enough food to feed an army of hungry tailgaters. In 2001, Anne and Evelyn were jointly recognized with the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association Sid Cutter Award for service to ballooning. Her devotion, her kindness, and her no-nonsense good sense are much missed by all who knew her.
S:7.375”
the sky AWAITS
S:9.875”
Proud Import Beer Sponsor
©2016 DOS EQUIS® LAGER BEER AND DOS EQUIS® AMBAR LAGER BEER, Imported by Cervezas Mexicanas, White Plains, NY.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
2016 Sponsors PRESENTING SPONSOR Canon OFFICIAL SPONSORS
Pepsi Beverages Company Soft Drink Phillips 66 Gasoline
770 KKOB-AM Radio Voice of Balloon Fiesta
Sandia Resort & Casino Main Street Stage
7-Eleven/Alon Balloon Discovery Center
Sysco Food Services of New Mexico, LLC Gondola Club
Ahern Rentals Chase Flags
Visit Albuquerque Visitors
Airgas USA, LLC, an Air Liquide Company Propane Supplier
Wells Fargo Bank Thursday Special Shape Rodeo™
Albquerque Journal AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show Bank of the West Bank Bimbo Bakeries USA Bakery Chevrolet Vehicle Creamland Dairies, Inc. Dairy Don Chalmers Ford Chase Vehicles Dos Equis Import Beer Entravision Communications Corporation Spanish Language Media Isleta Resort & Casino Launch Field Pylons La Mesa RV Center, Inc. Recreational Vehicle Dealer Lovelace Health System Healthcare Provider Michelob Ultra Domestic Beer New Mexico Buick GMC Dealers Friday Pilot Competition New Mexico Pinon Coffee Company Coffee
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5-Hour Energy A Virtual Receptionist, Inc. AARP ABBA Technologies, Inc. ABQ Uptown Albuquerque District Dental Society Albuquerque Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa Albuquerque Urology Associates, P.A. Alta Data Technologies LLC Amazing Jumps, LLC AMERIND Risk Management Corporation Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum AT&T GoPhone Bank of Albuquerque Barefoot Wines Bath Fitter Tennessee Bay Equity Home Loans LLC Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. Bobby J’s Yamaha Cameron Balloons Cash Store CB Technologies Central New Mexico Cummunity College CFA Society New Mexico CHRISTUS Health Plan City of Page Ciudad de Mexico Clark Truck Equipment Company, Inc. Comcast Cable Comcast Spotlight Copper State Bolt & Nut Coronado Center Cottonwood Mall Crowne Plaza Albuquerque CTS Electronic Components, Inc. D.R. Horton Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau Donate Life - New Mexico Donor Services DreamStyle Remodeling Elio Motors
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Escapees RV Club Farmers Insurance, Rod Baca Agency Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau Fidelity Investments First National Bank of Santa Fe (Rio Grande) Flagstar Bank Folds of Honor GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Co.) General Mills, Inc. Gildan New Mexico Bowl Go RVing Golden Pride
Gonzales & Sons Roofing Holly Frontier Refining & Marketing Hotels.com IMTS Intel Corporation Jason’s Deli Jose Cuervo Tequila KOB TV Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, Inc. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts KRQE/2 KASA Fox Kubicek Balloons
La Vida Llena Lavu, Inc. Lighthouse Business Information Solutions, LLC Lindstrand Balloons USA Los Alamos Meeting & Visitor Bureau Make A Wish Maney, Gordon, Zeller P.A. Melloy Dodge Money Processing Systems, Inc. Morgan Stanley My ABQ Guide National Distributing Company, Inc.
National Park Service New Mexico Chevy Dealers New Mexico Department of Transportation Aviation Div New Mexico Gas Company New Mexico Lottery New Mexico Tourism Department NM Mutual Group Nob Hill Main Street, Inc. Nordstrom Rack Old Republic National Title Insurance Company Optiv Pandora at Coronado Center Pepperidge Farm, Inc. PlainsCapital Bank Portfolio Wealth Advisors R & S Powersports Group Rail Runner Rainbow Ryders, Inc. Re/Max Southwest Ad Fund, Inc. REELZChannel Rio Rancho Convention & Visitors Bureau Route 66 Casino Hotel & RV Resort Sandoval County Business Development & Tourism Sony Playstation Subway® Restaurants Sullair, LLC Taitra (TAIWAN) Team Texas The Boeing Company The Durkis Family The Garrity Group Public Relations LLC The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho T-Mobile USA Twice as Good Productions Foundation Uber Technologies, Inc. UL, LLC UltraMagic S.A. United Artists Cottonwood 16 United Rentals, Inc. United States Air Force United States Army University of Phoenix UNM Foundation for Health Science Center UNM Hospital UNM Public Events/Popejoy Hall - Lion King Up With People US Bank Westwind Computer Products Williams Scotsman, Inc. Wonder Bread Your Casa Team, Keller Williams Zia Diagnostic Imaging
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Photo Tips My name is Ken Sklute and I am one of Canon’s Explorers of Light and a hot air balloon pilot. I’d like to share some thoughts on photographing this beautiful sport. WORKING WITH EARLY MORNING LIGHT CAMERA TIP: Dawn Patrol takes place in the dark and you will need to use a high ISO (6,400-12,800) to capture a sharp image or enable “Auto ISO.” Once Dawn Patrol is over, remember to lower your ISO. LIGHTING TIP: Shooting toward the east can make for beautiful images, with the sunrise in the background as the balloons grow tall and prepare to take flight. Once the sun is up, look to the north or south in order to get some highlight and shadow on the balloons for dimension. CAMERA TIP: Using Live View and its magnification feature can help you focus more accurately.
COMPOSING YOUR IMAGES • Avoid placing your subject in the center of your frame. • Use the Rule of Thirds. • Decide if the image looks better Horizontal or Vertical. • Find a foreground element to provide depth and dimension. • Look for unique patterns in the balloons as they fly or inflate. • Frame the flying balloons with other balloons still on the ground. BALLOON GLOW CAMERA TIP: Use a tungsten white balance to keep the colors as close to reality as possible. ACCESSORY TIP: Use tripod or a monopod for the sharpest possible imagery. CAMERA TIP: Depending upon the winds that day, try shutter speeds of 1 second and faster to minimize balloon movement. LIGHTING TIP: Wait for all of the balloons to “burn” at the same time so they will all be lit up in your photo. With these tips, you should be able to capture beautiful and memorable images of the Balloon Fiesta to enjoy for years to come. Want to learn more? Check out the Canon Digital Learning Center for an exclusive series about photographing hot air balloons: usa.canon.com/balloons
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
Safety Tips Lovelace Health System is proud to be the Official Healthcare Provider for the 2016 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. We want you to enjoy your visit in good health, and hope you will find these safety tips helpful: 1.
Dress in layers. It is sometimes very cool in the morning, but after sunrise temperatures warm up noticeably.
2. Bring sunscreen. At a higher altitude you are at an increased risk for sunburn. 3. Bring appropriate eye protection. Sun and wind could be your enemies on a sunny or windy day. 4. Watch where you’re going. Beware of vehicles moving around the field, especially emergency vehicles trying to get through the crowd. 5. Choose a place to meet in case someone gets separated or lost. Make sure young children have some form of identification on them.
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6. Don’t smoke anywhere near the balloons. A lit cigarette and propane can be an explosive combination! 7. Limit alcohol consumption. Remember, you are at a mile-high altitude, which could increase alcohol’s impact. 8. Bring a flashlight for evening events. lso, take note of where you parked your car — it’s more difficult to find in the dark. 9. Don’t “drive and watch” at the same time. he balloons are a magnificent but distracting sight. Move completely off to the side of the road to watch.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Lovelace Health System’s emergency medical professionals provide on-site emergency medical care for problems ranging from minor scrapes to heart attacks. Lovelace’s medical volunteers will be located at the Lovelace First Aid Center, adjacent to the Public Safety Center on the Balloon Fiesta Field.
© 2016 Lovelace Health System All rights reserved. These materials may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without crediting Lovelace for use.
S:7.375"
We’re here, and we came with balloons.
Phillips 66® and its respective logos are registered trademarks owned by Phillips 66 Company. All other marks may be trademarks of their respective owners. © 2016 Phillips 66 Company. All rights reserved.
S:9.875"
Phillips 66® is proud to sponsor the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.®
2016 ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Abell, Jim KIPHAVEN Santa Rosa, CA United States
Adams, Steven MISS B’HAVEN Albuquerque, NM United States
Adelsberger, Kurt TRANSITION Chino Hills, CA United States
Adie, Martin HOPSCOTCH Edgewood, NM United States
Adler, Billy BILL’S TURN Longview, TX United States
Ahern, James MISSING LINK Albuquerque, NM United States
Akin, JB JARL Canon City, CO United States
Aldous, Taylor RAINBOW RYDERS Phoenix, AZ United States
Aley, Dave HIGHLIGHTER Albuquerque, NM United States
Allsup, Scott PHOENIXSON Tempe, AZ United States
Anderson, Allen PIXIE DUST Minden, NV United States
Anderson, Denny JAB Ellsworth, IA United States
Anson, Jeanne DRAGON MOON Brandon, SD United States
Appelman, Scott DOS EQUIS Albuquerque, NM United States
Arkwell, Kathy CLYDESCOPE Peoria, IL United States
Armstrong, Bill BAND OF GOLD Goodyear, AZ United States
Ashworth, Jeffrey AR NA SPRIOC! Corrales, NM United States
Askren, Sean INTEL Middletown, OH United States
Aubol-Hanks, Nancy GIGGLES AND GRINS Bosque Farms, NM United States
Baca, Rod CRUISE CONTROL Los Lunas, NM United States
Bacon, Frank SUN FLYER Los Ranchos, NM United States
Bair, Dave BAIRLY AWAKE Colorado Springs, CO United States
Bair, Ray KALEIDOSCOPE Albuquerque, NM United States
Baird, Andy NEW-BUT-SOLD Dexter, MI United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Baker, Dave THAT ONE Thatcham, Berkshire Great Britain
Baker, Pauline MYSTIQUE Trim, Co. Meath Ireland
Ball, Lauren GYPSY SPIRIT Cherry Valley, CA United States
Ballengee, Kelli AIRRAGEOUS Placitas, NM United States
Bauwens, Mike LURCH Park City, UT United States
Bell, Graham BLANK CZECH Malvern, Worcestershire Great Britain
Bennett, Jeff BABY BEAR Tulsa, OK United States
Bergeon, Tom MICKEY’S RAINBOW Mason, MI United States
Biernacki, Buzz ZIA LATER Albuquerque, NM United States
Blair, Charles FINNIGAN Newark, DE United States
Blanchard, Charity BLEW BY YOU Albuquerque, NM United States
Blucher, Stephen MORNING GLORY TOO Colorado Springs, CO United States
Bobel, David THAT A WAY Rochester, IN United States
Bonney, Linda HIGH HOPES Albuquerque, NM United States
Boring, Gordon BOYNTON CRITTERS Commerce TWP, MI United States
Boulger, John LUCIA DEL NORTE Fargo, ND United States
Bowie, Manning RISING STARS Martinez, GA United States
Bowman, James CHIMPLY Oklahoma City, OK United States
Boyd, Gary THE GRATEFUL RED Albuquerque, NM United States
Boyer, Don WELLS FARGO II Belen, NM United States
Braddock, Mike FINALEY Brandon, FL United States
Braden, Morgan HIGH BISCUS Lake Havasu City, AZ United States
Bradley, Savannah 7TH HEAVEN Albuquerque, NM United States
Bradshaw, Sam BREEZY RIDER Albuquerque, NM United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
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Brandt, Phil RED RAIDER Oceanside, CA United States
Broker, Bill EXCELLENCE Frisco, TX United States
Browning, Derek THIS END UP Louisville, KY United States
Buckner, Jason HALE-LUCINATIONS Albuquerque, NM United States
Bueno Orzaiz, Javier FIG LEON Leon, Guanajuato Mexico
Burman, Leo LES LIBELLULES Montreal, Québec Canada
Bussey, Bill BLUE DIAMOND Longview, TX United States
Butler, Bill MONKEY BUSINESS Alamogordo, NM United States
Buzzard, Earl BUZZARDS ROOST 2 Albuquerque, NM United States
Byer, Randy DOUBLE TROUBLE Corrales, NM United States
Campbell, Steve WINNIE Miranda, New South Wales Australia
Campbell, Von SERENITY Fort Collins, CO United States
Candelaria, Joe MO-JOE BLUE Albuquerque, NM United States
Carlton, Dean CAZOO-EE Danville, IL United States
Carlton, Ryan HELLO, SWEETIE! Danville, IL United States
Carlton-Vish, Donna SUNNY SIDE UP Danville, IL United States
Carpenter, Michael SWEET CAROLINE Albuquerque, NM United States
Carter, Buddy FLYING RAINBOW Pleasant Garden, NC United States
Cass, Gary SKY STALKER Yuma, AZ United States
Cathey, Phil SKITTLES Roswell, NM United States
Chando, Patrick KISS A HOY Albuquerque, NM United States
Chase, Ray PINWHEEL Moscow, PA United States
Chavez, Laurie JESSE’S GIRL Albuquerque, NM United States
Christensen, Dave MOONSHADOW Sioux Falls, SD United States
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Christian, Bret TEQUILA SUNRISE Indianola, IA United States
Clapp, Royce GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE McCook, NE United States
Cleyet-Marrel, Ben DAWN CHASER Annonay, ardeche France
Cline, Don DAYBREAK II Greensboro, NC United States
Clinger, Phil THE JESTER Battle Creek, MI United States
Cliver, Christopher HAPPY HOUR Lewisville, TX United States
Cliver, Harold BUBBALLOON Lewisville, TX United States
Cloyd, Tim GLORIOUS DRIFTER Runnells, IA United States
Cochran, Tony REAL YELLO Broomfield, CO United States
Coffing, Steve TWIST OF FATE Albuquerque, NM United States
Comellas, Carles VIRGIN/BX RADIO Belmont, Ontario Canada
Cone, Mardi LIL Corrales, NM United States
Cook, Kelli HIGH MAINTENANCE Denver, CO United States
Cooper, Hal UPTUIT Port Hope Ontario, Ontario Canada
Copas, Jerry EZ BALLOON Sellersburg, IN United States
Corominas, Hector, Jr SKY GYPSY Lewisville, TX United States
Courtney, Greg SMILE HIGH Dallas, TX United States
Cowen, Dave ANGEL WINGS Corrales, NM United States
Cox, Justin BLACK SAIL Indianapolis, IN United States
Crotts, David SILVER STAR Ormond Beach, FL United States
Crouch, Clayton CHECKERED PAST Denver, CO United States
Curling, Rebecca AMERICAN PIE Rio Rancho, NM United States
Curry, Ron 770 KKOB Albuquerque, NM United States
Cutter, Chris BONNIE BLUE Albuquerque, NM United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Cutter, Will LIBERTY Phoenix, AZ United States
Danley, Chuck PRIMARY REFLECTIONS Peyton, CO United States
Danley, Myia RIK RAK Peyton, CO United States
Davidson, John KISS FM/101 COUNTRY Belmont, Ontario Canada
Davie, Ryan TWILIGHT ZONE Rio Rancho, NM United States
Davignon, Daniel SBA-90 La Prairie, Québec Canada
Davis, Gil HUWAKA Albuquerque, NM United States
Davison, Neil COOL FLYINGS Phoenix, AZ United States
Dennis, Chad PHIVE Grand Blanc, MI United States
Dennis, Sean NEIL Grand Blanc, MI United States
Derado, John OUT OF THE BLUE Lebanon, IN United States
Despres, Denise BOOBOULINA Cedar Crest, NM United States
DeVaney, Mark POP-A-TOP, AGAIN Los Ranchos, NM United States
Dickey, Frank 2ND WIND Los Ranchos, NM United States
Dieringer, Nathan AUSTIN Menasha, WI United States
Dimmitt, Bill ANGEL OF THE MORNING Los Lunas, NM United States
Dinkler, Fred THURSDAY’S CHILD New Braunfels, TX United States
Doll, Penny RACING WITH THE WIND Roeland Park, KS United States
Donley, Dean RAINBOW RYDERS Albuquerque, NM United States
Donner, Nick A.B.O. Louisville, KY United States
Dougherty, Don DARK SUNRISE Colorado Springs, CO United States
Draughn, Ken XTREMELY CONTAGIOUS Burlington, NC United States
Drennan, Ben SEASONS Pensacola, FL United States
Drganc, Luka SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Duff, Jeff SINCERELY Albuquerque, NM United States
Edmiston, Fred STARS Maxwell, TX United States
Eichhorn, David MARAUDER’S MARK Corrales, NM United States
Eklund, Timmerly KALISTA Washburn, IL United States
Eldridge, Stacy REDNECK COWBOY Rio Rancho, NM United States
Ellis-Ostgulen, Debi PLUM FIRED-UP Albuquerque, NM United States
Emerick, Dana WIND DREAMER Canton, OH United States
Emry, Gordon FRESH AIRE III Norfolk, NE United States
Esposito, Scott BIG BLUE Albuquerque, NM United States
Evans, Tim CREW BALLOON Cedar Crest, NM United States
Ewer, Dan BLUE MOON Tucson, AZ United States
Farzad, Dar RAINBOW RYDERS Endicott, NY United States
Fear, Darrell PHOBIA IN FLIGHT Artesia, NM United States
Fear, Robert PHOBIC Rio Rancho, NM United States
Fenske, David CRIMSON STAR Albuquerque, NM United States
Ferguson, Ken ITSA TOUCHIE SUBJECT Albuquerque, NM United States
Ferrall, Rick STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Lawrenceville, GA United States
Fitzgerald, William S.S. AMERICA Corpus Christi, TX United States
Fleury, Mike FLEUR DE TUCSON Tucson, AZ United States
Fogue, Patrick IMTS INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY SHOW Columbia, MO United States
Folley, Tamie TAMO Fort Collins, CO United States
Folque, Abraham SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada
Forenz, Tom RAINBOW RYDERS Evergreen, CO United States
Forshee, Jim PRAIRIE SUNSET Wichita, KS United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Fox, Dave SHIPO’FOOLS Albuquerque, NM United States
Francoeur, Danielle LES MONARQUES Montreal, Québec Canada
Francois, Jean-Michel PAPILLONS Salles Courbatier, Aveyron France
Freedman, Neil RAINBOW RYDERS Albuquerque, NM United States
Fricke, Barbara SANDIA SUNRISE II Albuquerque, NM United States
Fritze, Mark FREEDOM FLYER Tallahassee, FL United States
Garcia, Charles SUN CHASER Albuquerque, NM United States
Garcia, Gregory VACATION Albuquerque, NM United States
Garcia, Jerry TENTAI ( THE SEQUEL ) Albuquerque, NM United States
Garcia, Mike WELLS FARGO I Rio Rancho, NM United States
Gardner, Tom AJUUA DREAMER Albuquerque, NM United States
Gauthier, Guy “ORANGE CRUSH” Henderson, TX United States
Gauthier, Travis CANDY CORN Waterford, MI United States
Gebhart, Aaron STEP N UP Indianola, IA United States
George, Peter GRAND BRITANNIA Oxford, Oxfordshire Great Britain
Gianetti, Michael FIESTA SUNRISE Boulder, CO United States
Gilles, Jeff RAINBOW RYDERS Temecula, CA United States
Gindlesparger, Mark PHENOM Murphysboro, IL United States
Gleed, David PEGASUS Coldstream, British Columbia Canada
Glen, Bill ELEVATION II Maricopa, AZ United States
Glen, Chris HEAVEN’S QUILT Maricopa, AZ United States
Godlevsky, Curt SUNWALKER Littleton, CO United States
Gonzales, Michael THE JOURNEY Rio Rancho, NM United States
Gonzales Jr., Bob LOOK TWICE Waco, TX United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Goodman, Bill BUTTERFLY Alturas, CA United States
Goosey, Rick T J’S TOY Pleasant Hill, MO United States
Goss, Dick LAST MANGO Leander, TX United States
Gough, Tom GYPSE ROVER Bliss, ID United States
Graf, Sandy AMERICAN RACER Flower Mound, TX United States
Graff, Gerry LOFTY FIESTAR Albuquerque, NM United States
Graham, Sandy KRISTA’S RAINBOW Alta Loma, CA United States
Grauberger, Sheldon VEGAS BALLOON RIDES Belmont, Ontario Canada
Green, John THE AFTERMATH II Albuquerque, NM United States
Greenwood, Eric ENCHANTED Albuquerque, NM United States
Griego, Jeff AMERICAN BEAUTY Albuquerque, NM United States
Gruenberg, John HAIR RAISER Longmont, CO United States
Gustafson, Wynn CRAYOLA LITE Arden Hills, MN United States
Guthrie, Matt NEW BEGINNINGS Corrales, NM United States
Guziel, Jerry GOLDEN EAGLE Chicago, IL United States
Hahn, Allan HEAVEN BOUND, TOO Albuquerque, NM United States
Hamilton, Tom HELLFIRE Snohomish, WA United States
Hance, Mike MIKE’S 2 IRRESISTIBLE McKinney, TX United States
Harris, Joel FREEDOM FLYER Albuquerque, NM United States
Hartshorn, Sharon SEEKING NIRVANA Corrales, NM United States
Harwell, Pat MAVERICK Keithville, LA United States
Hawkins, Walter MIDNIGHT ANGEL, TOO Fairacres, NM United States
Haynes, Anthony ALMOST THERE Houston, TX United States
Hays, Craig BEAUITFUL NOISE Garland, TX United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Head, Tarp HIGH OVER HEAD Helen, GA United States
Healy, Bob AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ Albuquerque, NM United States
Heartsill, Joe TEXAS RACER San Angelo, TX United States
Heartsill, Lucas TEXAS RACER II San Angelo, TX United States
Heartsill, Rhett TEXAS STAR San Angelo, TX United States
Heffron, Mike BRIGHT IDEA Albuquerque, NM United States
Heideman, Mark DESERT FLYING VIKING Albuquerque, NM United States
Heiken, Paul SPHERICAL TURTLE Albany, OR United States
Held, Adrian CUPID’S HEART Lachen, Switzerland
Hennigan, John LUNA Indio, CA United States
Hiben, Eric WILD GOOSE Columbus, GA United States
Hickey, Mike MAKIN MEMORIES Royal, AR United States
High, Mark PEPPERMINT DREAM TOO Albuquerque, NM United States
Hill, Bryan BASKETCASE Page, AZ United States
Hodges, Eric ZK Rio Rancho, NM United States
Hoefler, Greg CAPRICE DU CIEL Chaillon, Lorraine France
Hofer, John JYN’S TONIC Tijeras, NM United States
Hoge, Peyton PHEISTY Louisville, KY United States
Hoidahl, Jim HSSS TOO La Luz, NM United States
Holcomb, Virginia FEELIN’ GROOVY Sheridan, WY United States
Holmes, David JOSEPHS COAT Rocheport, MO United States
Holt, Judy DESERT DRIFTER Phoenix, AZ United States
Hooper, Lee DEMO Bristol, Bristol Great Britain
Hoppe, Roger VOLCANIC MOTION Albuquerque, NM United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Howes, Angie HOWES ANGELS II Tijeras, NM United States
Howes, Skip WILDFIRE Colorado Springs, CO United States
Hueschen, Rick TOOTS Cedar Crest, NM United States
Humiston, Hank STRANGELY WARMED Albuquerque, NM United States
Humphreys, Ben BUZZ Columbia, MO United States
Hunsaker, Ted ENCHANTED SUNRISE Mesa, AZ United States
Hunter, Frank AIMLESS DRIFTER Carlsbad, NM United States
Hurst, Matt CAPTAIN A Albuquerque, NM United States
Ibbotson, Amanda STARDUST Arlington, TX United States
Ibbotson, Mark MARIAH Grand Prairie, TX United States
Isabelle, Martin WISKY Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec Canada
Jackson, Neil FLYING CIRCUS Albuquerque, NM United States
James, Gay WANDERER Orland, CA United States
James, Richard AIRBENDER Judson, TX United States
Jameson, Jamie MYSTIQUE ANGEL Los Lunas, NM United States
Jayasinghe, CJ KISS/JACK FM Belmont, Ontario Canada
Johnson, Colleen MARY ALICE IN WONDERLAND Kiowa, CO United States
Johnson, Jeff KEMO SABE Flagstaff, AZ United States
Johnson, Mark RAINBOW RYDERS Phoenix, AZ United States
Johnson, Mike SKYTREK Kiowa, CO United States
Johnson, Randy NARNIA Bosque Farms, NM United States
Jones, Chris QUADNICKEL Amarillo, TX United States
Jones, Jason MISFIT Overland Park, KS United States
Jones, Rick MISSING BEAR Concord, NH United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
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Jones, Steve TEXAS MAGIC Belton, TX United States
Kaufman, Blair SUNDAGGER Albuquerque, NM United States
Kaye, Andrew ROOFTOPS Irchester, Northants Great Britain
Kazlauskas, Zydrunas BIRSTONAS Birstonas, Lithuania
Kehoe, Glo PEPSI Albuquerque, NM United States
Keller, Cliff BLU-REY Santa Cruz, NM United States
Keller, Kelli JOYRIDE La Quinta, CA United States
Keller, Tom SKYDIVER La Quinta, CA United States
Kelly, Mike PRIMARY DREAM Allentown, PA United States
Kennedy, Craig BALLOON MUSEUM Phoenix, AZ United States
Keyser, Ralph EOS Albuquerque, NM United States
Klein, Ray AERO DIABLO Scottsdale, AZ United States
Klinger, Marc OOCHIE 5 Troutman, NC United States
Knuth, Paul SOMETHING CAME UP Crestwood, KY United States
Koenig, David BLULOON Menasha, WI United States
Kugler, John STILL FLAMING! McCook, NE United States
Lamb, Patrick AERO CORDERO Las Cruces, NM United States
Lang, Dale JELLY BEAN Taber, Alberta Canada
Lankenau, Larry WANDERER Fort Wayne, IN United States
Larotonda, Carol AEROTONDA Albuquerque, NM United States
Latypov, Valery AERONATC-2550 Moscow, Russia
Lavoie, Michael CAT SASS Milan, NH United States
Lavorgna, Bruce AERODACTYL Austin, TX United States
Lee, Bill TRUE-LEE NEW MEXICO Gallup, NM United States
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
CELEBRATE THE 2016 BALLOON FIESTA® WITH A COLLECTABLE CHARM
® VISIT THE PANDORA BOOTH ACROSS FROM THE CHASERS’ CLUB CORONADO MALL PANDORA IS PROUD TO BE THE 2016 CHASERS’ CLUB SPONSOR LOVEPANDORA.NET Some jewelry displayed patented (US Pat. No. 7.007.507) • ©2016 Pandora Jewelry, LLC • All rights reserved • PANDORA.NET
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Lenberg, Doug ROUTE 66 AGAIN Farmington, NM United States
Lete, Fred SPLASH! Rio Rancho, NM United States
Libel, Steve DESERT NIGHT Marco Island, FL United States
Liberti, Chris FOREPLAY Highlands Ranch, CO United States
Liberti, Daniel HAPPY ENDINGS Gilbert, AZ United States
Lidinsky, Matt WINDSWEPT Annandale, NJ United States
Lilley, Carolyn IT’S A ZOO Albuquerque, NM United States
Lima, Lupercio BLUESKY 01 Goiania, Goiás Brazil
Lips, Arne LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN Ledegem, West Vlaanderen Belgium
Lites III, Art DOUBLE FLASH Albuquerque, NM United States
Llado, Josep BLUE RACER Ódena, Cataluña Spain
Lombardi, Steve WINNERS CIRCLE Missouri City, TX United States
Lowenstein, Al SUNSET RISE Albuquerque, NM United States
Loy, Michael WHISPER Fort Worth, TX United States
Lutkus, Janet MOONLIGHT SUN-ATA Medina, OH United States
Lutz, Keith HIGH MAINTENANCE Corrales, NM United States
Lykins, Jim BOO Lake Orion, MI United States
Lynch, Jim WHIRLAWAY Destin, FL United States
Lynch, William SIZZLER Neosho, MO United States
MacKechnie, Roger SILVER SPIRIT Tucson, AZ United States
Maes, Ted T.M. FLUF-N-STUF Albuquerque, NM United States
Makin, Jessica MYAIR FLYAIR! Rio Rancho, NM United States
Manus, William SHADOW DANCER Bosque Farms, NM United States
Marchand, Mike OSO GRANDE Pagosa Springs, CO United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Lomas & University in Albuquerque | www.galles.com | 505.766.6800
2016 Limited Edition Silverado
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Mares, John Paul ENCHANTED DIAMONDS Albuquerque, NM United States
Martindell, Donald DAWN SONG II Albuquerque, NM United States
Marx, Michael FIRED UP TOO Prosper, TX United States
Mason, Jaybird FLAME ON Albuquerque, NM United States
Mass, Bob PITA’S KISS Albuquerque, NM United States
McClinton, Scott U.S. BANK Prospect, KY United States
McConnell II, Thomas ZIA Albuquerque, NM United States
McCrory, Frank THIS END UP II Floyds Knobs, IN United States
McKinley, Barbara MORNING STAR Siler City, NC United States
Meleski, Nick IZIA BALLOON Albuquerque, NM United States
Melton, Dave PURPLE HAZE Espanola, NM United States
Merino Escamilla, Mariel MEXICO CITY Naucalpan, Estado de Mexico Mexico
Mezzancello, Steven RHYTHM ‘N’ BLUES Albuquerque, NM United States
Michalek, Gary AS ALOFT Lafayette, CA United States
Moran, John TETRIS Cortland, OH United States
Msuya, Moses ORLANDO BALLOON RIDES Belmont, Ontario Canada
Mullinax, Tom 5 O’ CLOCK HIGH Greenville, SC United States
Murphy, Angela OUTLANDER Victorville, CA United States
Nakamura, Judith BOUNCE Albuquerque, NM United States
Nash, Johnny DOUBLOON CON NEGRO Parker, CO United States
Neubauer, Rick SPIRIT OF SUNRISE Port Orange, FL United States
Noe, Bill UP TWO NOE GOOD Gallup, NM United States
Oates, C Randy GLORY Louisville, KY United States
Oberheide, Tom STRIPE Cary, IL United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
O’Brien, Bob NAVAJO BOB Waupaca, WI United States
O’Byrne, Clarke FUEGO ENCANTADO Albuquerque, NM United States
O’Neill, Mark CHYM FM Belmont, Ontario Canada
Oldenburg, Susan J.A.M. Albuquerque, NM United States
Olguin, Paul “SHIP OF FOOLS” Chandler, AZ United States
Olivier, Orvin EARTH CHILD Sioux Falls, SD United States
Osborne, Dwayne SKYSCRAPER Phoenix, AZ United States
Pattyn, Dale HYGGELIG Albuquerque, NM United States
Paulin, Jerry TREE TOP FLYER Yuma, AZ United States
Paulin, Matt WOUND UP Yuma, AZ United States
Peart, Angus UP Lorne, Victoria Australia
Peek, Fred O’LOUGH Albuquerque, NM United States
Peete, Lichele SILVER LINING Albuquerque, NM United States
Pendleton, Craig SPIRIT IN THE SKY Albuquerque, NM United States
Person, Bud SCREWED UP GATOR Gainesville, FL United States
Peterson, Debbie BLUE AWAY Mabank, TX United States
Petrehn, Becky TWISTED SISTER Louisburg, KS United States
Petrehn, John CANON-SEE IMPOSSIBLE Missouri City, TX United States
Petrehn, Maury FARTHER ON Olathe, KS United States
Philpott, Martin AUSPICIOUS Bixby, OK United States
Pilgrim, Kevin SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada
Pilson, Tom BASKIT A NUTZ Albuquerque, NM United States
Polonowski, Chuck DOUBLE YELLOW Rockford, MI United States
Ponticelli, Jack CAROLINA KALEIDOSCOPE East Bend, NC United States
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Pulaski, Bob SKI LIFT Pineville, LA United States
Raper, Robert MIDLIFE CRISIS North Bend, OR United States
Raya, Shawn SULLAIR Oxford, MI United States
Ret, Richard GOLDEN HIGH Dallas, TX United States
Rettos, Socrates ZIGGY Liberty Twp, OH United States
Reynolds, Joseph ASENDIN Austin, TX United States
Rice, Brad HEARTS A’ FIRE Rio Rancho, NM United States
Rice, Deborah FOXTROT Houston, TX United States
Rice, Dick COCO BIRD Albuquerque, NM United States
Rice, Sean AIR ROCKY TOP Sterlington, NY United States
Roberson, Mark ORLANDO BALLOON RIDES Belmont, Ontario Canada
Robinson, Shane RAINBOW RYDERS Joplin, MO United States
Rodden, John SONRISE Owasso, OK United States
Roholt, Jesse FIDELITY Phoenix, AZ United States
Roller, Billy SKYPONY Lubbock, TX United States
Rood, Rick RAVEN Rio Rancho, NM United States
Rose, Donald DANCES WITH WINDS Albuquerque, NM United States
Ross, John LONGWINDED Appleton, WI United States
Rote, Shannon AIRGASM Doylestown, OH United States
Sabia, Chris WONDER BREAD Overland Park, KS United States
Sabin, Richard NIGHT BREEZE Henderson, TX United States
Sachenbacher, Rudi LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS Lowell, MA,United States
Salazar, Alfred KOB Bernalillo, NM United States
Sanchez, Ron REMAX Albuquerque, NM United States
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Sandlin, Taylon NEBULA Fishers, IN United States
Sandlin, Tony STOP LIGHT Fishers, IN United States
Saxton, Scott BELLE-AIR Penns Park, PA United States
Scheer, Steve LAUGHY TAFFY Castle Rock, CO United States
Schick, Chuck BRILLIANT SHADOW Bosque Farms, NM United States
Schill, Jane WHISPERING SPIRIT Albuquerque, NM United States
Schmitz, Jon FLYER Denver, CO United States
Schuler, Nolan BELLA COLORADO Manitou Springs, CO United States
Schultz, Marvin SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada
Schulz, Daniel SCARLET ANGEL Belen, NM United States
Scott, Michael SPIRIT IN DE SKIES Oklahoma City, OK United States
See, Glenn SHADY LADY Cortez, CO United States
Seghers, Jos AIRE MARC Breendonk, Antwerpen Belgium
Serra, Christine ARTEMIS Clinton, NJ United States
Serre, Christophe PMS Saint Julien Les Metz, Moselle France
Shelhav, Shai BULLSEYE Albuquerque, NM United States
Sherman, Carol FINAL FRONTIER Kansas City, MO United States
Short, Dennis CHAMPAGNE COWBOY Broken Arrow, OK United States
Shouse, Michael STILL AMAZED Wellington, New Zealand
Simonye, Curtis OOMPALOOMPA Holmes Beach, FL United States
Skach, Bruce ZROZRO7 Wichita, KS United States
Skelton, Meg MAHARANI Castle Rock, CO United States
Sklute, Ken OUT OF THE BLUE 2 Tempe, AZ United States
Smart, Chris DREAM CATCHER 3 Huntington, IN United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Smatana, Bernard EMINENCE El paso, TX United States
Smith, Warren OG RACER Bloomington, IN United States
Smith, Brann CLOUD DANCER Chico, CA United States
Smith, Kathy LEVITY Albuquerque, NM United States
Spear, Jeff WOODY Albuquerque, NM United States
Spreadbury, William CASSIDY’S BAG OF BLUES Lenexa, KS United States
Squires, Rick HIGHER DESIRE Rio Rancho, NM United States
Standefer, Wayne WAYNES AIR TOY Italy, TX United States
Steinbock, Tom SUNSET DREAMS Crestwood, KY United States
Stevens, Patrick RAINBOW RYDERS Phoenix, AZ United States
Stockley, Don MOONSHINE Murray, UT United States
Stodolski, Thomas NEVER TOO OLD Nashua, NH United States
Story, Wayne SANTA FE SUNRISE Rio Rancho, NM United States
Strickland, Dave SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE Columbus, OH United States
Stutsman, Gene MIDNIGHT DRIFTER Goshen, IN United States
Sullivan, Dave CHECKRIDE Fayetteville, GA United States
Sullivan, Mark CODE RED Albuquerque, NM United States
Sutter, Denis LUCKY CHARM Hallsville, MO United States
Tadolini, Ken OUTLAW Denver, CO United States
Takach, Keith TAKACH ANOTHER BREEZE Albuquerque, NM United States
Taylor, Tim DEE III Salt Lake City, UT United States
Tennis, David CAVU Tijeras, NM United States
Tessier, Annie DELTA Saint-Bruno, Québec Canada
Thacher, Elaine I’M BANANAS 2 Albuquerque, NM United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Thomas, George TIGER PAW EXPRESS Hallsville, MO United States
Thompson, Jeffrey SUNRACER Albuquerque, NM United States
Thompson, Jon 210 TO YUMA Kissimmee, FL United States
Thompson, Phil HOT STUFF Galena, IL United States
Thongdee, Nithis SINGHA Bangsue District, Bangkok Thailand
Thornton, Dana FREE SPIRIT San Jose, CA United States
Thornton, Floyd THUNDERCLOUD St Louis, MO United States
Thornton, Ron PEANUTS 4EVER Littleton, MA United States
Toxvard II, Lu PEPSI WON Longmont, CO United States
Trapp, Brian TINY Lebanon, OH United States
Treacy, Marsha PINON Statesville, NC United States
Trieber, Steve RAINBOW RYDERS Eastport, ME United States
Trillanes, Elisa SKINNY STUFF Albuquerque, NM United States
Tsui, Hao-Tse MEET TAIWAN Township, Taitung County Taiwan
Tyler, Jake BENEVOLENCE Toledo, OH United States
Van Sant, Lori BLACK MAGIC WOMAN Albuquerque, NM United States
Vandehoef, Ed FADE AWAY Broomfield, CO United States
Vencel, Travis BALLOON Bloomington, IN United States
Vertrees, Victoria GUMMY BEAR Brea, CA United States
Vesely, Scott LIGHTHOUSE BUSINESS INFORMATION SOLUTIONS McKinney, TX United States
Voorhees, Mike CRYPTONAUT Albuquerque, NM United States
Wade-Callihan, Clare SOMETHING BORROWED Chandler, AZ United States
Walker, Bill HONEY DO Albuquerque, NM United States
Walsh, Dan DEVIATION Redlands, CA United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
Walter, Ken KAY’S WINDDANCER II Waukesha, WI United States
Waner, Andy HUBBABUBBA El Paso, TX United States
Watkins, Jon SPITFIRE Albuquerque, NM United States
Watson, Barney COOL BEANS!! Albuquerque, NM United States
Watson-Meinke, Peggy STARLITE Santa Paula, CA United States
Weidema, Dook MIFFY Amsterdam, Netherlands
Wells, Bill SIERRA SUNRISE Carson City, NV United States
Wereschuk, Stan BLACK MAGIC Vernon, British Columbia Canada
West, Kay RED, WHITE AND POOH Sioux Falls, SD United States
West, Mark BILLY BOB Sioux Falls, SD United States
Westra, Mark TOO HOT TO HANDLE Greenfield, IN United States
White, Cheri TOUCHSTONE RACER Austin, TX United States
Whitling, Ian FRUIT FLY Albuquerque, NM United States
Wiley, Sam WILEY COYOTE San Marcos, TX United States
Wilkinson, Justin FIREBALL Bermuda Dunes, CA United States
Williams, Jim PIX Katy, TX United States
Williams, Lewin SPLITTAIL Las Vegas, NV United States
Wills, Buzz OLD SCHOOL Amarillo, TX United States
Wilson, Mike HOPPING THE WIND Maumelle, AR United States
Wolfe, Dennis ZULU Tampa, FL United States
Wolters, Layne ABSOLUTELY CURTAINS Jefferson City, MO United States
Wong, Dale URSA MINOR Rancho Cucamonga, CA United States
Wood, Bruce TARGET SEEKER Carbondale, CO United States
Woodhead, Bill HIS SKY Grants Pass, OR United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
BALLOON DIRECTORY
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Word, Glen FLAMETHROWER Anthony, NM United States
Wright, Jonathan UNCHAINED Albuquerque, NM United States
Wright, Thomee CHAIN GANG Albuquerque, NM United States
Zielinski, Alan FEATHERLIGHT II Niles, IL United States
Zvada, Joe PHILLIPS 66 McAllen, TX United States
SPIRIT OF FIESTA II Albuquerque, NM United States,
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Wyss, Chuck WINDSWEPT Fort Wayne, IN United States
Yoest, Kent PRIMARY COLORS Corrales, NM United States
Young, Debby ROADTRIP Albuquerque, NM United States
J&R AD.op
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
Other Participating Pilots Austin, Andy MORNING STAR Market Harborough Northamptonshire UNITED KINGDOM Bacon, Robert SUN FLYER Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Bair, Erin 7TH HEAVEN Colorado Springs, CO UNITED STATES Ball, David GYPSY SPIRIT Cherry valley, CA UNITED STATES Bannert, Benjamin SKYHEART Kamenz, Saxony GERMANY Bertetto, Mike COCO BIRD Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Blackaby, Gayle MARAUDER’S MARK Rio Rancho, NM UNITED STATES Book, Charles ZIA Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Boulet, Mark DREAMSHIP Lake Tahoe, CA UNITED STATES Burdue, Brad OOMPALOOMPA Whitehouse, OH UNITED STATES Byrd-Dickey, Niki 2ND WIND Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Cassidy, Ronald HOT STUFF Candia, NH UNITED STATES Chando, Morghan PATTURNS HIGHPERACTIVE Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES
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Cloutier, Patrick WISKY St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Québec CANADA Coban, Murat BLUE RACER Ürgüp, NevÐehir TURKEY Court, Alex Lancashire, Ormskirk GREAT BRITAIN Cuneo, Peter SANDIA SUNRISE II Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Dickey, Carol 2ND WIND Corrales, NM UNITED STATES Dickey, Bill 2ND WIND Corrales, NM UNITED STATES Fisher, Tom BREEZY RIDER Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Fitzpatrick, William MYAIR FLYAIR! Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Galaz, Yvette BLEW BY YOU Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Gallegos, Frank SKY MAGIC Los Lunas, NM UNITED STATES Gebhart, James STEP N UP Indianola, IA UNITED STATES Glas, Richard SILVER STAR Phoenix, AZ UNITED STATES Gorenflo, Michael T.M. FLUF-N-STUF Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES
Graham, Tim STILL AMAZED Columbia, MO UNITED STATES Green, Tom SILVER STAR Orlando, FL UNITED STATES Grote, Matthew MARAUDER’S MARK Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Guthrie, Lorie NEW BEGINNINGS Corrales, NM UNITED STATES Guzzo, Marla WANDERING ENDEAVOR Niwot, CO UNITED STATES Hamel, Eric WISKY St-Mathias-sur-Richelieu Québec CANADA Has, Ersin BLUE RACER Ürgüp, NevÐehir TURKEY Hooper, Jerry S.S. AMERICA Corpus Christi, TX UNITED STATES Houver, Christophe PMS Rouves, Meurthe et Moselle FRANCE Houver, Jean-Marc PMS Hagondange, Moselle FRANCE Hunt, Rick HUMMINGBIRD Elephant Butte, NM UNITED STATES Kemp, William THAT ONE Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Kerber, Rick DREAM CATCHER 3 Wayland, MI UNITED STATES
Kious, Tom FUEGO ENCANTADO Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Knuth, Dee SOMETHING CAME UP Crestwood, KY UNITED STATES Koziel, Christian PMS Mars-la-Tour, Meurthe et Moselle FRANCE Krause, Jörg SKYHEART Kamenz, Saxony GERMANY LaRotonda, David AEROTONDA Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Lavender, Jeff WIND RACER X Bedford, TX UNITED STATES Liberti, Mike FOREPLAY Gilbert, AZ UNITED STATES Lindsey, Greg MISS B’HAVEN Safford, AZ UNITED STATES Loeffler, Steven SQUAWKURS Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Lowenstein, Ryan SUNSET RISE Alexandria, VA UNITED STATES Loya Soffera, Janet VACATION Ranchos de Taos, NM UNITED STATES Lupton, Sally LADY JESTER Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Lynch, David EARTH Temecula, CA UNITED STATES
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Martel, Bob LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS Sterling, MA UNITED STATES Martin, Karen SILVER SPIRIT Tucson, AZ UNITED STATES May, Rod PEPPERMINT DREAM TOO Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES McAllaster, Phred SILVER LINING Santa Fe, NM UNITED STATES McGrath, Patrick LOFTY IDEA Yucaipa, CA UNITED STATES Mezzancello, Frank RHYTHM ‘N’ BLUES Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Mezzancello, Pat RHYTHM ‘N’ BLUES Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Moughan, Gavin ANGEL WINGS Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Newlin, Patricia FEELIN’ GROOVY Riverton, WY UNITED STATES ONeill, Michael TWIST OF FATE Lake lotawana, MO UNITED STATES Pendleton, Mae Bell BLEW BY YOU Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Polonowski, Steve DOUBLE YELLOW La Grange, IL UNITED STATES Rate, Matt ROOFTOPS Northampton, Northamptonshire UNITED KINGDOM
Regan, Ron FINAL FRONTIER Parkville, MO UNITED STATES Reineke, Kathy SUNSATIONAL Mahomet, IL UNITED STATES Robinson, Cody I’M BANANAS2 Camden Point, MO UNITED STATES Rohr, Brian DREAMSHIP McKinney, TX UNITED STATES Roland, Harry WINDSWEPT Baltringen GERMANY Runge, David SPIRIT IN DE SKIES Grand Prairie, TX UNITED STATES Sabia, Amanda WONDER BREAD Overland Park, KS UNITED STATES Sasser, Daniel OOCHIE 5 Charlotte, NC UNITED STATES Smith, Al NEW-BUT-SOLD Grass Lake, MI UNITED STATES Smith, Ray CAROLINA KALEIDOSCOPE Tega Cay, SC UNITED STATES Stanko, Nick AUSTIN Austint, TX UNITED STATES Strickland, James SIMBALOO Harpole, Northamptonshire UNITED KINGDOM Tollefson, Tom LUCIA DEL NORTE Detroit Lakes, MN UNITED STATES
Trzebiatowski, Jeff BURNNG DESIRE Appleton, WI UNITED STATES Van Sant, Kurt ENCHANTED DIAMONDS Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Vesely, Kim LIGHTHOUSE BUSINESS INFORMATION SOLUTIONS Rio Rancho, NM UNITED STATES Wall, Cameron Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Ware, Brian WHOOZ’UP Salt Lake City, UT UNITED STATES White, Malcolm MYSTIQUE Trim, Meath IRELAND Williams, Adam NEVER TOO OLD Canton, MA UNITED STATES Wilson, John EOS Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Wilson, Dale FIRE WALKER Augusta, MI UNITED STATES Wiltse, Jay HIGHER DESIRE Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Yellott, Dave AIR ROCKY TOP Albuquerque, NM UNITED STATES Zimmer, Rachel FREEDOM FLYER Rio Rancho, NM UNITED STATES
Albuquerque’s
FIRST AERONAUT H BY DICK BROWN FOR THE AIBF HERITAGE COMMITTEE IN ASSOCIATION WITH RICK VAN TASSEL
e had visions of a transcontinental balloon flight. He flew gas and hot air (smoke) balloons in five states, six U.S. territories and two dozen countries, and he had n early as many ballooning mishaps as he had successful flights. He partnered with the aviation pioneer Thomas Scott Baldwin on death-defying parachute jumps. He was rumored to have been eaten by sharks in Hawaiian waters, and to have died two more times during his globetrotting days. We know him as the Albuquerque saloonkeeper who became our city’s very first aeronaut when he flew his coal gas balloon on the Fourth of July, 1882. His name was Parker Albert Van Tassel.
The Early Days Park was born on July 25, 1853 in north-central Indiana. He first encountered balloons as a barefoot farm boy attending a village fair in Ohio and from that point on he knew he wanted to be an aeronaut. With
some friends, he modeled paper hot air balloons after what he saw at the fair. That is most of what we know of his years growing up in the Midwest. As a young man, Park journeyed to California and to the Southwest just in time to experience the waning days of the wild frontier. By age 26, he was a resident of Albuquerque. His friends and business associates called him Van. Van’s mentor most likely was Professor F.F. Martin, a San Francisco balloon builder. Before Van’s historic Albuquerque flight, the 6-foot, 225-pound burly aeronaut had already made a number of ascensions in California. They did not all go well. For example, in mid-August 1880, Van attempted a flight in Stockton, California but his balloon, hooked up to a city gas lamp, failed to inflate sufficiently for lift-off. The crowd went home disappointed. While his aerial exploits were not always successful, the “Professor” had success in matters of the heart. On June 10, 1879, he married Ella Block of Stockton. Van and Ellie
moved to Albuquerque where he owned and operated the popular Elite Saloon on New Town’s principal roadway – Railroad (Central) Avenue. For the city’s 1882 Fourth of July celebration, the genial saloonkeeper bought a new gas balloon from Professor Martin for $850. On July 2, he tapped into the city coal gas supply and began to inflate the new craft, christened City of Albuquerque. Two days later the gasbag was still only two-thirds full, despite the fact that local customers had volunteered to go without illuminating gas so the balloon could be filled. With the crowd growing restless, Van instructed his passenger to climb out of the basket. The balloon would still not rise. He then dumped a full bag of sand ballast, striking a spectator, who later filed suit, and the balloon soared to 14,207 feet above sea level, according to Van’s barometer. Van later reported, “I thought that high enough as it was becoming difficult to breathe.” He then panicked, “So I pulled the valve rope and after some difficulty
Parker Albert Van Tassel (1853-1930) Photo courtesy of Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM 89-920)
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
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PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM STAMM COLLECTION
Van Tassel’s 30,000 cubic foot gas balloon preparing to launch on July 4, 1882 from a vacant Albuquerque lot on Second Street between Railroad and Gold Avenues, conveniently located near the city’s gas plant.
succeeded in opening it.” This resulted in a rapid descent. He then closed the gas valve, threw his coat, lunch and water overboard, and landed with a thump in a cornfield near Albuquerque’s Old Town. A month later, Van was in Las Vegas, at the time New Mexico’s second largest city, making plans for a mid-August ascension. His partially inflated balloon slipped its moorings and ripped open. After repairs, a second attempt also failed. It may have been Ellie who suggested he not go up, but instead recruit a lighter weight aeronaut to fly the balloon. Due to ill-timed releases of ballast, the balloon soared then sank rapidly. Van blamed the erratic flight on his inexperienced replacement and the thinner Las Vegas air. Albuquerque city fathers, impressed by Van’s July 4th hop from New Town to Old Town, a “smash hit” by all accounts, booked
him for the 1882 New Mexico Territorial Fair. For the September 23rd launch, line handlers tried “walking” the inflated balloon to the fairgrounds – a circuitous route to avoid telephone wires – but they lost control and the balloon left without Van and burst at high altitude.
Gas balloons had been launching from Ocean Beach since 1884. Eclipse, Van Tassel’s workhorse that promoted Eclipse winery, as well as other balloons of the same vintage, at times drifted out over the Pacific, returning for a splashdown in the bay.
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
By February 1883, Van’s Albuquerque saloon business had collapsed, newspapers were calling him a fraud, and his marriage to Ellie was strained. From Peach Springs, Arizona, at the time the end of the line in the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad’s westward expansion, Van wrote to the Albuquerque Journal, explaining that his large bills had been paid and that he was working on the smaller ones. However, it appeared to his unhappy creditors, to whom he still owed $1,000, that he had skipped town.
On the Road Again On July 24, 1883, the flamboyant aeronaut, accompanied by Miss Fannie Hoyt, launched from Salt Lake City. After reaching 11,000 feet, they managed a controlled descent and landed safely in the
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARILYN BLAISDELL COLLECTION
Wasatch Mountains. Van had several adventures in Oregon, including a late September flight over a forest fire. By February 1884, he was operating out of San Francisco where Professor Martin had his balloon shop. In April he finally made a successful ascension in Ellie’s hometown and in August a flight in Denver. By November he completed construction of Eclipse, a large balloon advertising the celebrated brand of California wine and champagne. With a capacity nearly three times the volume of Van’s City of Albuquerque, it was the largest balloon on the West Coast. Van hoped to “eclipse” any long distance records with a crosscountry flight. By late 1884, Van had made 24 flights, including one on November 30, 1884 when he and two passengers launched from San Francisco’s Central Park, a popular ball park with grandstand, where gas could be fed to the balloon through a canvas tube from the city’s gas main. The Daily Alta California described the inflation scene as a gasbag held down by sandbags and scrap iron
and “an immense crowd that desired to see the bag soar aloft and explode and murder some of its passengers”. At 8,500 feet, Eclipse drifted several miles out over the Pacific. Van valved off some gas to descend and found an onshore breeze to carry the balloon to the Marin Peninsula. They landed in San Francisco Bay
promptly married a 24-year old society belle, Miss Clara Coykendall of San Jose. Despite strong opposition from her wealthy parents, the wedding took place on April 2, 1885. In 1886, while looking for investors, Van continued to announce schemes for a solo cross-country run in a large hydrogen balloon. Meantime, he conducted marriage ceremonies aloft; he teamed with Thomas Scott Baldwin on parachute jumps from captive and free balloons; and he offered tethered balloon rides in Central Park, charging $2 each. By August, Van had made 40 flights, including five with Baldwin. On January 30, 1887, Baldwin made his first parachute jump from the captive Eclipse balloon at 600 feet. Van Tassel and Baldwin continued to improve the art of making mile-high daredevil parachute jumps from balloons. Eventually both aeronauts went their separate ways, each creating a PT Barnum-type circus troupe to perform balloonparachute acts on the world stage.
They landed in San Francisco Bay at sundown where a tugboat towed them ashore, with Van and one soggy passenger in the flooded basket, the other in the rigging.
Husband-Wife Daredevil Team
at sundown where a tugboat towed them ashore, with Van and one soggy passenger in the flooded basket, the other in the rigging. Perhaps Ellie had finally tired of the Professor’s foolhardy balloon escapades for she had sued for divorce, and in fact, a decree was granted at Stockton in early March 1885. Two weeks later Van made a solo ascension in Eclipse at the New Orleans World’s Fair. He had planned to carry four or five passengers but the balloon was only partially inflated with coal gas. When cut loose, the balloon sped eastward and in less than an hour, the Professor had to make a drag landing in a swamp. He fell out as the unruly monster tumbled across the Mississippi where it was attacked by plantation workers who tore open the gasbag. Van returned to California and
As part of a Fourth of July celebration in Los Angeles, Clara Van Tassel made her first balloon ascension and thrilling parachute drop from one mile above the city. Van was the pilot. Clara made quite a stir as rumors spread that a woman was planning to commit suicide on a national holiday! Some in the crowd actually complained that the female jumper did not kill herself! Throughout 1888, Van and his fearless wife continued making balloon-parachute jumps. On one occasion in San Jose, the Van Tassels were supposed to go up together so that Clara could make her advertised jump. Due to inferior lifting gas, Van pulled the ripcord. The angry mob pelted them with rocks as their manager, Frank Frost, waved his pistol. Portland, Oregon was also a fiasco. It was late September when their half-full gasbag broke away from handlers while walking it across a slippery log boom to a waiting barge. The Van Tassels found their
Desert Kaleidoscope
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spectators watched in horror. Van had made two dozen parachute jumps but upon landing, he vowed this would be his last.
Return to Albuquerque Van Tassel returned to Albuquerque on June 29, 1889 where he met Joseph Lawrence, a clerk in a local hardware store. In an interview with the Albuquerque Morning Democrat, they divulged their plan to make a special Fourth of July ascension, this time with a daring mile-high parachute jump from the Eclipse
successful balloon ascension and parachute jump from the race track at Honolulu’s Kapiolani Park, but an ascent from the Punchbowl on November 16th, on occasion of King Kalakaua’s birthday, was a disaster. So confident of landing on terra firma, more specifically the Iolani Palace grounds, was Joe that he discarded his life-preserver. Unfortunately the wind carried Joe two miles out to sea. There he sat on his trapeze bar, attached to a parachute. Before drifting any farther away from land, he decided to jump.
His legs became entangled in the parachute rigging as 10,000 spectators watched in horror.
wayward balloon days later in heavy timber, mutilated but repairable. Leaving creditors behind, Van and Clara headed to Seattle to arrange an exhibition there. One day in San Francisco, Van had the scare of his life. It was February 10, 1889 and again a case of insufficient lifting gas. Despite a premature liftoff, he jumped at 1,500 feet from Ocean Beach below San Francisco’s famous Cliff House. His legs became entangled in the parachute rigging as 10,000
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balloon. Joe, as the lightweight, would jump while Van supervised the launch. But promises made in the world of ballooning are sometimes hard to keep. Equipment failures, lifting gas issues, and adverse weather conditions can all prevent a launch. There was no explanation for there being no balloon-parachute jump for Albuquerque’s July 4th celebration. It appeared to many, including outraged folks who journeyed from Socorro and Santa Fe to see the spectacle, that the Professor had again deceived the citizens. When Joe Lawrence joined the Van Tassel team, he came to be known as brother Joe Van Tassel – his stage name. It was customary for all troupe members to use the Van Tassel surname, although it greatly confused the press.
World Tour In October 1889, Van, Joe and Manager Frank Frost boarded a steamship at San Francisco, bound for Hawaii for the start of the Van Tassel troupe’s World Tour. Clara stayed behind in San Jose. Within 10 days, Joe had made a
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
The Professor joined the search party but Joe was never found, presumably eaten by sharks. It was Hawaii’s first air fatality. Newspapers, from the Mesilla Valley Democrat to the Tombstone Epitaph, reported the loss of the famous Park Van Tassel. Later, Clara set the record straight, that the casualty was not her husband but in reality it was Joe Lawrence of Albuquerque. She added that Park had not jumped since his Cliff House scare. From Hawaii, the Van Tassel troupe journeyed to Australia, then on to Southeast Asia. Van landed in a tree in Bangkok and was threatened in India by fanatics “lest the aeronauts arouse the devils in the upper air”. He was reportedly killed during a fall in Sumatra, and killed again in Calcutta. Back in San Jose, Clara secured a divorce on the basis of desertion. Soon after, Van remarried in Bengal, taking Edith Ann Nowlan as his third wife.
Return to California The world traveler returned to the Bay Area from Calcutta in July 1901, but without Edith. He made captive flights in Oakland for
saturday, october 1 sunday, october 2 thursday, october 6 friday, october 7 saturday, october 8
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paying passengers; flights for aerial photography and sight-seeing; and with world interest in the Gordon Bennett Cup, he promoted ballooning as a competitive sport, and promoted himself from Professor to Captain. In the Summer of 1909, he flew the City of Oakland to a 50-mph landing in Livermore. He was injured slightly, but the wicker basket and load ring were totally demolished after being dragged 2,000 feet through barb-wire fences. While Van Tassel’s career in aeronautics seems to be full of mishaps – the stuff that excites newspaper reporters looking for sensational copy – he had many highly successful flights, even more spectacular than Albuquerque’s inaugural ascension in 1882. As time went on, the Captain, in failing health, made fewer and fewer ascensions. On October 25, 1930, while writing a letter at his sister’s home in Oakland, the Captain died of a sudden heart attack. Park Van Tassel was not just a saloonkeeper who went up in the first balloon in Albuquerque, but a man who had a boyhood dream, lived his dream, and never let go of that dream. One wonders if he was writing something about ballooning as that pen slipped from his hand.
Epilogue During his half-century of aerial exploits, Van Tassel was dragged through Louisiana swamps, San Francisco Bay mud flats, and San Joaquin Valley farm fences. But he also made magnificent airborne magic that pleased thousands and thousands throughout the western United States and around the world. They gathered to witness man’s passion to defy gravity – to venture aloft – detached from all earthly things – adrift with the wind – destination unknown.
Captain Van Tassel in military-style dress at the time when City of Oakland was swept across the Livermore valley by a furious gale.
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Author expresses his sincere gratitude to Dr. Marilee Schmit Nason, Gary Stark and Rick Van Tassel for their valuable assistance.
And Now, A Word for Our Sponsors
Sponsorship Today …and a look back at the earlier years… BY LAURIE RIEDLE AND JODI BAUGH
T
he Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® today is one of the largest community events in the world, and like any large undertaking of this scope it takes time, effort and money in order to assure a safe and successful event. Time? Planning for each Balloon Fiesta begins 15 to 18 months in advance. Effort? The Balloon Fiesta’s permanent staff consists of fewer than 15 people, and the event relies on the effort and expertise of hundreds of Navigators, or volunteers, without whom the Balloon Fiesta could not go on. Money? Most events rely on income from guest admission and/or parking combined with donations or sponsorships. In this respect, Balloon Fiesta is no different. But here is where the Balloon Fiesta and many other events part company. Because Balloon Fiesta® is a weather dependent event, admission and parking income is not guaranteed. This makes sponsorship dollars even more important when it comes to generating guaranteed up-front money needed to stage such a huge annual event. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc. (AIBF) is a non-profit corporation which organizes the event with the support of more than 160 sponsors each year. Some of these are cash sponsorships, but others are ‘trade’ sponsorships. Suppliers of goods and services needed to help Balloon Fiesta ensure a successful and safe event agree to
provide their services in exchange for exposure, hospitality services, and/ or the prestige of being associated with one of the world’s most visible events. Propane fuel for the balloons, heavy equipment rental, on-site medical services, radio and television advertising, and food and beverages are just some of the items the Balloon Fiesta “trades out” for each year. Renting a hospitality tent for a morning or evening event to entertain clients or employees, or sponsoring a balloon for company promotion are popular sponsorships. A balloon sponsorship or hospitality tent sponsorship has specific benefits, however many companies elect to have an even larger presence by sponsoring an event such as a morning mass ascension or an evening glow event. Other sponsors choose to be official category sponsors, such as coffee, soft drink, medical, media, chase crew vehicle or bank. Still others chose to sponsor an onsite venue such as the Balloon Discovery Center, the Main Street Stage, the Sid Cutter Pilots’ Pavilion or the Sponsor Hospitality Area. Balloon Fiesta works with these companies, large and small, to customize sponsorship packages that meet a client’s specific needs. These packages can include elements such as a balloon sponsorship, a hospitality tent, exhibit space on Main Street, full-page program ad and more. Companies can participate in Balloon Fiesta for an investment as low as $1,000. There is great value in being
Sky-high advertising: Sponsorship banners on balloons have been part of the Balloon Fiesta from its earliest days. Photo by Marlon H LONG
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
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on how the program came together. Here’s what she had to say….
Fiesta’s first Executive Director, Linda Rutherford, was appointed in 1979, she became the conduit for sponsorships. Later Aubrey Cookman and even later Jean Jordan, who were the first media gurus, also became involved in acquiring and maintaining sponsorships on a volunteer basis. One of the earliest big sponsors was Canon, whose name appeared on banners, camera straps, clothing, and
Photo courtesy Nick Rangel, Kodak.”
a sponsor of an event such as Balloon Fiesta, with Balloon Fiesta’s Media Group reporting over 9,500 online stories and over 9,800 television reports. This media exposure includes local, national and international coverage. Total readership of Balloon Fiesta coverage is estimated at over 9.4 billion worldwide. In 2015 Balloon Fiesta played host to over 1,000 registered media representatives from 147 different organizations. The numbers are huge and impressive, but like so many other big events, the Balloon Fiesta came from small beginnings. Longtime Balloon Fiesta Board of Directors member Tom McConnell
Photo by Raymond Watt
In the days when it was title sponsor, Kodak featured the Balloon Fiesta on a billboard like this one in Times Square. Talk about exposure!
Sponsors’ guests relax in comfort at the Hospitality Suites at Balloon Fiesta Park.
remembers that sponsorships before 1976, when the event featured just a couple hundred balloons, were handled by founder Sid Cutter himself, with help from Tom Rutherford and volunteers from the community. After the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was incorporated in 1976, members of the Board of Directors also sought out individual sponsorships. When the Balloon
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even umbrellas. Last year, after a long absence, Canon returned as presenting sponsor of the world’s most photographed event. The discussion of formally hiring a person specifically interested in sponsorship development came in the late 1980s. The discussion ultimately led to the hiring of Jodi Baugh, who developed the first Corporate Sponsorship Program in the ’90s and is the definitive expert
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
“My involvement with Balloon Fiesta dates back to 1989 when a friend, Marge Ruppenthal, the Executive Director of the Fiesta at that time, called and asked me to help her in the Media Relations area. The following year I was hired to help build a strong corporate sponsor base. The focus was to actively recruit new sponsors, add new events and in general create new promotional programs that would make Balloon Fiesta an attractive sponsorship property. As we added more benefits and more value to existing sponsorships and created new ones, sponsorship dollars became one of the biggest revenue sources for the event.” “The earlier years were both challenging and extremely exciting! Everyone was involved; we had a very small staff of 6 people that included the Executive Director and a 30-member Board of Directors, who were extremely involved and committed to new ideas, in addition to many incredible volunteers. There were discussions and sometimes heated arguments but in the end everyone agreed
Balloon Fiesta Hospitality Tent in ’80s.
Courtesy Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
that making Balloon Fiesta a national and international entity needed new and innovative changes. Everyone was multitasking back then, covering anything and everything that needed to be done.” As Balloon Fiesta continued to develop, additional events created in the ’90s were offered to new and existing sponsors interested in having a bigger role in the event. Balloon Fiesta’s relationship with Kodak dated back to the mid 80’s, but in 1992 Kodak was offered Title Sponsorship. They agreed and the event became known as the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. In 1997 Kodak renewed their commitment for another 5 years. This sponsorship was the largest in the history of the event to date. Once Kodak became the Title Sponsor of the event, they promoted it nationally with a Times Square billboard in New York and other national companies took notice, attracting companies like Conoco, Smith’s Food & Drug, Walgreens, Pepsi Cola, Ford Motor Co., Continental Airlines, TWA, PSA Airlines, Norwest Bank, Wells Fargo Bank (previously United New Mexico Bank), Columbia Sportswear and Verizon. The new national companies who signed multiple year contracts provided a much-needed revenue stream helpful for funding the new events. Other sub-events within the main Balloon Fiesta created in the earlier days are still around today. These special events include the Flight of the Nations to encourage and showcase international pilot participation, the America’s Challenge long-distance race for gas balloons; the Special Shape Rodeo™ (two days specifically concentrated on showcasing special shape balloons); and Glowdeo™ (an afterdark balloon glow for special shape balloons), After-Glow™ Fireworks Shows, and the Dawn Patrol (predawn balloon displays and launches
Early Balloon Fiesta sponsorship memorabilia. Note that several sponsors – notably Canon – are still around today.
from the center of the launch field) to name a few.
International Reach… In 1993, Balloon Fiesta hosted the 37th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett , the “world championship” of long-distance gas ballooning, giving the Balloon Fiesta more international significance…and providing another sponsorship opportunity for Balloon Fiesta. Warsteiner Beer and Matheson Tri-Gas were signed on as the Official Sponsors of the event that year. These sponsors continued to sponsor the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race beginning in 1995,
as well as the return of the Gordon Bennett to Albuquerque in 1999, 2005, and 2008. The Flight of the Nations was created in the ’90s to highlight international pilot participation of the event and Continental Airlines was the perfect partner for the event. Continental Airlines embraced the idea and provided travel vouchers to promote international participation from worldwide destinations that Continental Airlines served. The move to the current Balloon Fiesta Park in 1996, with its vast acreage and amenities, created even more opportunities for new sponsors to welcome clients in a comfortable and exciting atmosphere. As Jodi notes, “Everyone involved in Balloon Fiesta today and in the early days has done an amazing job with this event year after year. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to help in the development process and work with a group of remarkable people.”
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2016 ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA®
SPECIAL SHAPE DIRECTORY
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
SPECIAL SHAPE DIRECTORY
Allen, Richard PIRATE SHIP Bristol, Gloucestershire Great Britain
Baker, Bill BIMBO BEAR Tyler, TX United States
Bonimcontro, Marcos PIRANAH São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Campanale, Frank CAROUSEL Orchard Lake, MI United States
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Almeida, Ricardo BIG HUG São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Ballinger, Barry IN THE BUFF Lubbock, TX United States
Bradley, Troy FIJI BLACK DIAMOND Albuquerque, NM United States
Carlson, Brian JACK Topeka, KS United States
Ary, George BLACK SHEEP Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil
Assis, Eduardo BASKETBALL São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Bannert, David SKYHEART Haselbachtal, Saxony Germany
Bard, Alain ALIEN ROCKET Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Brown, Toby THE LITTLE FIREMAN Denver, CO United States
Cassell, James BEAGLE MAXIMUS Albuquerque, NM United States
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Burgess, Zach THE AMERICAN ROCKET Monroe, OH United States
Cavin, John YELLOW BIRD Indialantic, FL United States
Assis, Luiz JACK THE PELICAN São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Barrotte, Rodrigo HAPPY ORCA Rio Claro, São Paulo Brazil
Burrows, Paul OONS WIEFKE Bristol, Banes Great Britain
Chieruzzi, Maria THE LOVEBIRDS Simi Valley, CA United States
Collett, Andy PUDDLES Rockhampton, Gloucestershire Great Britain
Edwards, Don SNO BIRD Anchorage, AK United States
Cowling, Martin OONF KEARLKE Whitbourne, Herefordshire Great Britain
Ferland, Jean-Francois SQUIRT Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada
Graham, Colin BUDDY BEAVER Belgrade, MT United States
Griggs, Katie SUSHI Dayton, NV United States
Holly, Andrew SPLASH Breadstone, Berkeley Great Britain
Holmes, Jerry COSMOS1 Fort Worth, TX United States
De Souza, Eduardo COPTER BOY Barueri, São Paulo Brazil
Fortney, Wayne SUNNY BOY (AKA: FESTUS) Kingsport, TN United States
Grimes, Doug HUMMINGBIRD Albuquerque, NM United States
Humiston, Hank SUNDAY CRUISE Albuquerque, NM United States
Degraff, Trudy Ann CUTIE DINK Corrales, NM United States
Gantt, Doug HAM-LET DeLand, FL United States
Dunrud Jr, David PUDDY CAT Windsor, CA United States
Gates, Jonathan GNOME Bristol, Avon Great Britain
Haliczer, Jeff HIGH TOP FLIER Reno, NV United States
Kalousdian, Rubens SNAIL São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Glen, Michael JOELLY Chandler, AZ United States
Hernandez, Mike ANNIE THE LADY BUG Fort Edward, NY United States
Kalousdian, Rui MR.FISH Beaverton, OR United States
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
SPECIAL SHAPE DIRECTORY
Klawitter, Mike WALLY Eland, WI United States
Karlsson, Diane WALKIN’ ON AIR Chandler, TX United States
Komadina, Steve THE STORK Corrales, NM United States
Lambert, Benoit DARTH VADER BALLOON Court St. Etienne, Belgium
Macedo, Warley LOTTIE DOTTIE CHIKEN Boituva, São Paulo Brazil
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Konash, Larry GUS T GUPPY Shakopee, MN United States
Lapointe, Wil KEYSTONE WILLY Palms Springs, CA United States
Magee, Kimberly GORDO Swisher, IA United States
Knuth, Paul THE FLYING PURPLE PEOPLE EATER Crestwood, KY United States
Korfe, Michael BUMPY Albuquerque, NM United States
Lawhorn, Rich HUMPTY DUMPTY Louisville, KY United States
Marques, Guto HAPPY CAROUCEL São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Kubicek, Petr CON AIR Brno, Czech Republic
Leonardo Echavarria, Elias THE CATHEDRAL Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo Dominican Republic
McClinton, Matthew TOUCHDOWN Louisville, KY United States
Kolba, Jon CHIC-I-BOOM Crooks, SD United States
Lambert, Michel MASTER YODA BALLOON Court St Etienne, Belgium
Lupton, Robert LADY JESTER Albuquerque, NM United States
McCormack, Jay BABY DINO Burlington, VT United States
Merino Escamilla, Mariel MARIACHI Naucalpan, Estado de Mexico Mexico
Nilz, Patrick SARAH THE WITCH Tucson, AZ United States
Richards, Ursula SQUAWKURS Albuquerque, NM United States
Schwemmer, Kasey SPYDERPIG Wichita, KS United States
Mitchell, Max EL FONZ Champaign, IL United States
Paulo, Chico FLYING GATOR Boituva, São Paulo Brazil
Ritchie, Dale CREAMLAND COW, AIRABELLE Golden, British Columbia Canada
Semler, Jack OGGY THE FRIENDLY DRAGON Westfield, IN United States
Moore, Ashley SIMBALOO Stonehouse, Gloucestershire Great Britain
Peterson, Rick HIGH JACK Mabank, TX United States
Rolfe, Pat AMERI-CAN Battle Creek, MI United States
Sevrin, Sidney VICTOR THE BEAR Court-Saint-Etienne, Brabant-Wallon, Belgium
Procopio, Peter KOSHARE GALLUP Gallup, NM United States
Romaneschi, Bob BETTY JEAN BUTTERFLY Peoria, AZ United States
Moore, Gary OWLBERT EYENSTEIN Lake Havasu City, AZ United States
Regan, Jim CLAW’D THE CRAZY CRAB Kensington, CT United States
Salazar, Katelyn OFF THE WALL Yuma, AZ United States
Siebel, Thomas FIRE ENGINE Feudenberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Nilz, Pat SAHUARO GRANDE DUDE Tucson, AZ United States
Reineke, Dave PEGLEG PETE Mahomet, IL United States
Schuler, Jay PENCIL BOY Reno, NV United States
Silvestre, Luis BRAZILIAN BIRDS São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
SPECIAL SHAPE DIRECTORY
Sines, Janice BUZZY BEE Ashland, MO United States
Strauf, Marcus MR. CLOWN Waldbröl, North RhineWestphalia, Germany
Urbanski, Frank UNCLE SAM Dakota Dunes, SD United States
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Sines, Gary COCO THE CLOWN Ashland, MO United States
Stutsman, Gene SPUNKY Goshen, IN United States
Spierenburg, Bas DEXTER Laren, Gelderland Netherlands
Taveira, Valdemir LITTLE DOG Osasco, São Paulo Brazil
Vaillancourt, Jacob KERMIE St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec Canada
Sproul, Keith SCORCH North Brunswick, NJ United States
Toledo, Paulo THE LITTLE GIRAFFE Guaruja, São Paulo Brazil
Van Overwalle, Peter NELLY-B Nazareth, O-Vl Belgium
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Stinson, Roy NEPTUNO Louisville, KY United States
Tyler, Jake SMILEY SCARECROW Toledo, OH United States
Vencel, Travis SOCCER BALL Bloomington, IN United States
Stokoe, Steven MR. WINTER Tampa, FL United States
Trillanes, Mark EARTH Albuquerque, NM United States
Waltman, C Debbi NORMAN Windsor, CO United States
Ware, John WHOOZ’UP Salt Lake City, UT United States
Wechter, Frank ANGRY BIRDS Albuquerque, NM United States
Wright, Thom MISTER Z Albuquerque, NM United States
Wilkinson, Steven BUNCH OF BANANAS Palm Desert, CA United States
Wright-Smith, Beth CENT’R STAGE Albuquerque, NM United States
Woller, Glenn SEA FANTASY Stevens Point, WI United States
Wooge, Scott LINDY Saint Louis, MO United States
Wynn, Alan SMOKEY BEAR Albuquerque, NM United States,
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
International Pilots Allen, Richard PIRATE SHIP Bristol, Gloucestershire Great Britain
Bonimcontro,Marcos PIRANAH São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Davignon, Daniel SBA-90 La Prairie, Québec Canada
Held, Adrian CUPID’S HEART Lachen Switzerland
Lambert, Benoit DARTH VADER BALLOON Court St. Etienne Belgium
Almeida, Ricardo BIG HUG São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Bueno Orzaiz, Javier FIG LEON Leon, Guanajuato Mexico
De Souza, Eduardo COPTER BOY Barueri, São Paulo Brazil
Hoefler, Greg CAPRICE DU CIEL Chaillon, Lorraine France
Lang, Dale JELLY BEAN Taber, Alberta Canada
Ary, George BLACK SHEEP Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil
Burman, Leo LES LIBELLULES Montreal, Québec Canada
Drganc, Luka SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada
Holly, Andrew SPLASH Breadstone, Berkeley Great Britain
Latypov, Valery AERONATC-2550 Moscow Russia
Burrows, Paul OONS WIEFKE Bristol, Banes Great Britain
Ferland, Jean-Francois SQUIRT Saint-Jean-surRichelieu, Québec Canada
Hooper, Lee DEMO Bristol, Bristol Great Britain
Leonardo, Echavarria Elias THE CATHEDRAL Distrito Nacional Santo Domingo Dominican Republic
Assis, Eduardo BASKETBALL São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil Assis, Luiz JACK THE PELICAN São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Campbell, Steve WINNIE Miranda, New South Wales Australia
Folque, Abraham SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada
Isabelle, Martin WISKY Saint-Jean-surRichelieu, Québec Canada
Baker, Dave THAT ONE Thatcham, Berkshire Great Britain
Cleyet-Marrel, Ben DAWN CHASER Annonay, ardeche France
Francoeur, Danielle LES MONARQUES Montreal, Québec Canada
Jayasinghe, CJ KISS/JACK FM Belmont, Ontario Canada
Baker, Pauline MYSTIQUE Trim Co. Meath, Ireland
Comellas, Carles VIRGIN/BX RADIO Belmont, Ontario Canada
Francois, Jean-Michel PAPILLONS Salles Courbatier, Aveyron France
Kalousdian, Rubens SNAIL São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Bannert, David SKYHEART Haselbachtal, Saxony Germany
Cooper, Hal UPTUIT Port Hope Ontario, Ontario Canada
Bard, Alain ALIEN ROCKET Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Court, Alex Lancashire, Ormskirk Great Britain
Barrotte Rodrigo HAPPY ORCA Rio Claro, São Paulo Brazil Bell, Graham BLANK CZECH Malvern Worcestershire Great Britain
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Cowling, Martin OONF KEARLKE Whitbourne, Herefordshire Great Britain Davidson, John KISS FM/101 COUNTRY Belmont, Ontario Canada
Gates, Jonathan GNOME Bristol, Avon Great Britain George, Peter GRAND BRITANNIA Oxford, Oxfordshire Great Britain
Kaye, Andrew ROOFTOPS Irchester, Northants Great Britain Kazlauskas, Zydrunas BIRSTONAS Birstonas, Lithuania
Lima, Lupercio BLUESKY 01 Goiania, Goiás Brazil
Msuya, Moses ORLANDO BALLOON RIDES Belmont, Ontario Canada O’Neill, Mark CHYM FM Belmont, Ontario Canada Paulo,Chico FLYING GATOR Boituva, São Paulo Brazil Peart, Angus UP Lorne, Victoria Australia Pilgrim, Kevin SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada
Shouse,Michael STILL AMAZED Wellington New Zealand Siebel, Thomas FIRE ENGINE Feudenberg, North RhineWestphalia Germany Silvestre, Luis BRAZILIAN BIRDS São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil Spierenburg, Bas DEXTER Laren, Gelderland Netherlands Strauf, Marcus MR. CLOWN Waldbröl, North RhineWestphalia Germany
Llado, Josep BLUE RACER Ódena, Cataluña Spain
Ritchie, Dale CREAMLAND COW Taveira, Valdemir AIRABELLE Golden, British Columbia LITTLE DOG Osasco, São Paulo Canada Brazil Roberson, Mark Tessier, Annie ORLANDO BALLOON DELTA RIDES Saint-Bruno, Québec Belmont, Ontario Canada Canada
Macedo, Warley LOTTIE DOTTIE CHIKEN Boituva, São Paulo Brazil
Schultz, Marvin SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada
Lips, Arne LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN Ledegem, West Vlaanderen Belgium
Thongdee, Nithis SINGHA Bangsue District, Bangkok Thailand
Seghers, Jos Toledo,Paulo AIRE MARC Breendonk, Antwerpen THE LITTLE GIRAFFE Guaruja, São Paulo Belgium Kubicek, Petr Brazil CON AIR Gleed, David Merino Escamilla, Mariel Serre, Christophe Brno PEGASUS Tsui, Hao-Tse PMS MEXICO CITY Czech Republic Coldstream, MEET TAIWAN Naucalpan, Estado de Saint Julien, British Columbia Township, Les Metz, Moselle Mexico Lambert, Michel Canada Taitung County France MASTER YODA BALLOON Mexico Taiwan Court St. Etienne Grauberger, Sheldon Sevrin, Sidney Moore, Ashley VEGAS BALLOON RIDES Belgium VICTOR THE BEAR SIMBALOO Belmont, Ontario Court-Saint-Etienne, Stonehouse, Canada Brabant-Wallon Gloucestershire Belgium Great Britain
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Marques, Guto HAPPY CAROUCEL São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
Vaillancourt, Jacob KERMIE St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec Canada Van Overwalle,Peter NELLY-B Nazareth, O-Vl Belgium Weidema, Dook MIFFY Amsterdam Netherlands Wereschuk, Stan BLACK MAGIC Vernon, British Columbia Canada
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The Art & Science of the Splash-n-Dash By Tom McConnell, for the AIBF Heritage Committee (with apologies to Dave Barry)
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mong longtime balloon pilots, there is a phenomenon known as a “water-attraction.” We don’t know exactly how it works, or even whether it works on the pilot or on the balloon itself, but it is a known and irrefutable fact that when a balloon or balloon pilot sees a body of water beneath them, there is an irresistible force that pulls them down and either close to, or in, the water. Even if the pilot fights this force, there is an even chance that the gondola will go in the water. This phenomenon is more precisely known as the Splashn-Dash. If you are ever lucky enough to be a passenger when this happens, be sure to ask your pilot to explain the phenomenon. In Albuquerque, this phenomenon happens usually as the balloon approaches the mighty Rio Grande. Rio Grande means “large river” in Spanish. Or “mighty river.”
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To perform the Splashn-Dash properly, the pilot must make the balloon gondola touch the water (The Splash) and then leave the water (The Dash). The following explains all parts of the maneuver.
How is it that we’re going UPSTREAM? The technique varies, depending on whether the body of water is a puddle, pool, pond, swimming pool, septic lagoon, lake, river, stream, swamp, irrigation ditch, great lake, bayou, channel, sea, or ocean. Just as a kid will stomp in any shallow body of water after a rain, so will a balloon pilot seldom pass up the opportunity to land in one. If the body of water is
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
moving, such as in a stream or river, then one caution: if the wind is taking the balloon in one direction while the water is moving in the opposite, there is a tendency to go too deep in the water. More on that later. Or, in the unhappy circumstance that finds the pilot texting on his or her smartphone while not paying attention to the actual landing, the gondola may also go too deep into the water. And in some cases, the balloon has been known, apparently unbeknownst to the pilot, to land and deflate, IN THE WATER!! This is not good. Can the pilot and passenger(s) swim? Can they hang on to a floating gondola? Nature has a way of solving these problems. Sometimes only part of the Splash-n-Dash is accomplished. The Splash can be separated into three parts. First, the pilot may “land” too soon, perhaps five or ten feet ABOVE the water! “Water-attraction” tempting balloons during the 2014 Balloon Fiesta.
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I almost made it! This is known as poor piloting. In many cases, the pilot will attempt to shift the blame to poor depth perception, a change of mind, a screaming passenger, or simply a shift of wind as the balloon descends, making it unwise or impossible to hit the water. The pilot may execute the maneuver perfectly, landing lightly on the water and then either float on the water for awhile or immediately take off again, to float on the surface of the air instead of the water, and find more exciting challenges and breathtaking views. Sometimes, the pilot goes just deep enough into the water so that the passenger gets his or her feet wet. This is a fine prank on the passenger, who should have noted that the pilot was sitting on the edge of the basket with feet above the waterline. Or, the pilot may misjudge exactly where the water surface is, and plunge deep into its murky depths. This third circumstance does not happen very often. Reports have
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A crop-circle in the water. surfaced, always from an observing pilot who has executed the maneuver correctly, that the pilot was last seen furiously trying to light the burner, often with wet matches, in lieu of having left his or her flint striker at home. In a few instances, the pilot must land in the water and deflate, due to a wind switch or burner malfunction. This would be known and The Splash without The Dash! This is generally not good. In their across-the-Pacific attempt to set world records, pilots Troy Bradley and Leonid Tiukhtyaev, after 13 days over the ocean and very close to the Mexican shore, ran into a wind switch taking them
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Thank God for this boat to come by at just the right time! back out to sea. They then landed in the ocean and were rescued by a fishing boat, including the balloon gondola and envelope. They achieved their goal of setting six world records. Another uncommon “Splash” maneuver occurs, we think, only in Albuquerque. Balloon pilots are determined to land in the Rio Grande, and do so even, as happens occasionally in October, when they find that there is no water in the river. The “Dash” part of the maneuver consists of the taking off from the water after successfully touching the water. This part must
In 1978, not even a silvery minnow could be found in Albuquerque. be done carefully, lest there is a balloon above in which the pilot is also attempting to do a Splash-n-Dash and balloon below, having the right-of-way, forces the balloon above to abort the water landing. This does not make for terribly friendly relations between
I knew those holes in the bottom were there for a reason.
the two pilots, but is part of the sport of ballooning. Sometimes the gondola gets too deep in the water, and then the pilot must adjust the burners so as to extricate the balloon from the water. If this burn is too vigorous, then the balloon will shoot out of the water and ascend very quickly. At that point, the pilot must vent in order to get the craft back in control. And too much venting may lead to a second splash-n-dash! Occasionally, the pilot does not anticipate that by landing in the water, the gondola does not want to participate in the maneuver. For example, the pilot lands on a sand bar or a rock, thus not successfully completing the Splash part
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of the landing, technically speaking. At this point, the pilot will invariably maintain that he was AIMING for the rock, and that he successfully executed the maneuver brilliantly. Such a pilot is immediately under suspicion by his fellow balloon pilots. Such a pilot is always a man, for no female balloon pilot has ever done this. After taking off again, this maneuver would be known as The Dash without The Splash. Now, dear reader, you know the entire story behind the Splash-n-Dash. Many people believe that this maneuver was invented by the French, or perhaps the English. Not so. It
Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2016 Official Program
How could I have missed the water? Who can I blame this on? was invented, not very long ago, on the mighty Rio Grande in Albuquerque, the home of the largest, safest, most beautiful gathering of balloons in the world!
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que que age you nts, to ure k in of
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rom its humble beginnings in 1972 when 13 hot-air balloons ascended from an Albuquerque shopping center parking lot to a stunning annual gathering of 500-plus aeronauts, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta lives on as the most-photographed air show on the planet. Now, relive the history, pageantry, and visual imagery of the Balloon Fiesta in a new book from Arcadia Publishing, renowned for its “Images of America” and “Images of Modern America” series. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta features neverbefore-published commentary and full-color photographs of all of your favorite Balloon Fiesta events from the Balloon Fiesta’s official photographers and the authors’ personal collections. You’ll learn about the event’s history and meet some of the fascinating people behind the magic. Seven members of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Heritage Committee collaborated to launch this very special book— special because it captures the transformation of ballooning in Albuquerque from a whimsical balloon rally to an annual nineday aerial extravaganza, the world’s premier ballooning event. Get your copy today! Available in bookstores and at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Gift Shop and official merchandise tents.
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
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Pin or Badge? BY AL TETREAULT FOR THE HERITAGE COMMITTEE
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favorite pastime for many people at Balloon Fiesta is collecting and exchanging souvenir pins. As you walk on the field you will see people covered in pins, from their hats to their jackets. While there are pins representing Chase Crews, Launch Directors, Special Shapes and the America’s Challenge, some of the most unique and interesting are those that represent 22 years of Public Safety at Balloon Fiesta. Public Safety pins quickly evolved from a traditional round design to those shaped like a badge. These highly collectible items were first designed in 1995 with a pin the creator called the “fiery Zia.” Each of the pins contains four symbols representing the four critical responsibilities of Public Safety on the field: law enforcement, fire protection, communications and medical/first aid. In 1996, still using the traditional round shape, the pin showed the sun rising behind the Sandia mountains with four balloons representing the four Public Safety symbols. In 1997 the shape of the pin changed to look like a badge with an eagle on top, a turquoise balloon in the middle surrounded by the four Public Safety symbols. As the design evolved in 1998 the more traditional round shape returned, but capped by an eagle, similar to the Albuquerque Police Department badges. From 1999 to 2014, with the exception of 2011, the Public Safety pin kept its badge shape capped by
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an eagle while the center duplicated the Balloon Fiesta theme each year. The public safety emblems were distributed around the central balloon theme on every pin. The 2011 Balloon Fiesta was the 40th event and a special design was used with aeronaut wings and a ruby stone in the middle (synthetic, of course). Another big design change in 2015 was a replica of the Texas Ranger badge of the past, which some consider the Holy Grail of Law Enforcement badges. The four emblems remain the same. If you have a Public Safety pin you will notice that except for the 2003 edition, all the pins are numbered, either on the back of the pin or on the front. This year starts a new series with a replica of the Albuquerque Fire Department badge. They have partnered with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta throughout the years by providing fire suppression, fire protection and first responder medical assistance on the Balloon Fiesta field. The Fire Department has been the lead agency in establishing emergency administrative procedures as well as coordinating with the Medical First Aid Station on the field and emergency transportation when needed off the field. It’s easy to start collecting as you shop along Main Street. There are two Official Merchandise tents where you can buy pins representing the event, a group of volunteers or special flying events. Private vendors also sell a wide variety of collectible pins.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONALS Its Time Has Come
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uring this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, sixteen women will stand apart in a competition all their own. The Balloon Fiesta will play host to the first-ever stand-alone Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championship, sanctioned by the Balloon Federation of America (BFA). The Championship is open to all female US citizens belonging to the BFA and holding a 2016 Hot Air Balloon Division competition
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By Maury Sullivan
card. Participants register both with Balloon Fiesta and the BFA. Many still ask why the ladies need a separate championship since they can obviously compete on a level equal with the men. That’s an easy one to answer. It’s all about growing the sport. It’s the same reason there is a Women’s World and Junior World Championship. Offering competitive opportunities to these sub groups provides more opportunities for pilots to become involved in elite-level competition in a less intimidating atmosphere with many of their peers in similar situations.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
The BFA first conceived the women’s championship in 1999 in the hope that a women’s event would encourage more female pilots to enter the sport of competitive hot air ballooning. Under the rules, women competitors would fly in the US Nationals along with their male counterparts, competing in the same tasks and scored in the same manner. The women, however, would receive two scores for each task – their National Championship score and a score comparing them only against the other female competitors. At the end of the
On the Women’s Worlds podium, the US’s Cheri White (at right) with runner up Ann Herdewyn of Belgium and champion Nicola Scaife from Australia. While the plans for the US Women’s Nationals in Albuquerque do not include flying in the rain, they do include some unique challenges. The objective of the BFA Hot Air Competition Division (HACD) and Balloon Fiesta is to add a new dimension that features women in the sport of hot air ballooning. The dates of the Championship overlap Balloon Fiesta Saturday through Wednesday causing challenges of congestion due to the large numbers of participating balloons. The majority of the Championship will take place in the Rio Rancho area. This is the area traditionally used by Albuquerque locals for their competitive events. It is our hope to utilize Balloon Fiesta Park when wind and other conditions permit for a final target in a string that will permit
the ladies to demonstrate their skills to the large crowds at Balloon Fiesta Park. We have even designed a special target in honor of the ladies. No Championship events will launch from Balloon Fiesta Park. In addition to Cheri White, the formidable field includes all four of the other members of the World team. It also includes one of Cheri’s chief rivals from the America’s Challenge, three-time champion Barbara Fricke. The competitors include rookies as well as veterans, and anything can happen when these skilled and talented women take to the skies. Competition concludes on Wednesday morning and an awards ceremony is planned for 11 AM Thursday, October 6 at the Sid Cutter Pilots’ Pavilion.
PHOTO COURTESY MAURY SULLIVAN
week’s competition, the second set of scores would determine the first Women’s Champion. The 1999 event had seven women in a total field of fifty-four pilots. At week’s end Cheri White was recognized as the first US Women’s Champion, but after 1999 the Women’s Championship was not held again. Cheri – perhaps better known at Balloon Fiesta as a two-time America’s Challenge gas balloon race champion – will be one of the competitors in this year’s Women’s Nationals and certainly aims to defend her seventeen-yearold title. The resurrection of a women’s national title reflects the growing popularity of women’s competitions around the world. Five ladies represented the US in the first Women’s World Championship in Leszno, Poland in 2014: Susan Stamats, Debby Young, Kelli Cook, Meg Skelton and Christine Bertsch. This event proved to be a real game changer for the women. They arrived in Poland as five individuals and developed into a team communicating on the ground and in the air passing along information enabling each to perform to their individual best. By the end of the event a true metamorphosis had occurred. The ladies, their crew and their team managers, Andy Baird and Maury Sullivan, had learned a lot about camaraderie, flying in the rain and good vodka. This July, a five-member American women’s team descended on Birstonas, Lithuania for the second Women’s World Championship. The team was led by defending (albeit 17 years ago!) U.S. National Champion Cheri White, who proved to be a formidable competitor, bringing a third-place finish home to the United States. The team was rounded out by Kimberly Magee, Meg Skelton, Elisa Trillanes (from Albuquerque), and Myia Danley.
Pre-launch strategy session.
HOT AIR BALLOON CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPETITORS Sanctioned by the Balloon Federation of America
Jeanne Anson Charity Blanchard Myia Danley Barbara Fricke Sandy Graham Colleen Johnson
Kelli Keller Janet Lutkus Kimberly Magee Susan Oldenburg Shannon Rote Meg Skelton
Elisa Trillanes Victoria Vertrees Peggy WatsonMienke Cheri White
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRANTS
Anson , Jeanne DRAGON MOON Brandon, SD
Blanchard, Charity BLEW BY YOU Albuquerque, NM
Danley, Myia RIK RAK Peyton, CO
Fricke, Barbara SANDIA SUNRISE II Albuquerque, NM
Graham, Sandy KRISTA’S RAINBOW Alta Loma,CA
Johnson, Colleen MARY ALICE IN WONDERLAND Kiowa, CO
Keller, Kelli JOYRIDE La Quinta, CA
Lutkus, Janet MOONLIGHT SUN-ATA Medina, OH
Magee, Kimberly RIBBON RACER Swisher, IA
Oldenburg, Susan J.A.M. Albuquerque, NM
Rote, Shannon AIRGASM Doylestown, OH
Skelton, Meg MAHARANI Castle Rock, CO
U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIALS
Trillanes, Elisa SKINNY STUFF Albuquerque, NM
Watson-Meinke, Peggy STARLITE Santa Paula, CA
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Vertrees,Victoria GUMMY BEAR Brea, CA
CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIALS
NAME
Championship Director
Maury Sullivan
Deputy Director
Mark Trillanes
Safety Official
Debby Young
Weather Official
Brad Temeyer
Logger Manager
Jim Dieball
Jury President
Gary Britton
Theodolite Operator
Mark MacSkimming
Chief Measuring Official
Sheri Berry
Chief Scoring Official
Mike Gilligan
Assistant Scoring Official
Lynn Sullivan
Team Leaders
Dave Bagley Don Berry Alan Cannaday Shelly Cannaday Joe Clark Rich Hughes Beth Talbert Dan Talbert Georgene Voilula
White, Cheri TOUCHSTONE RACER Austin, TX
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Your Questions About the America’s Challenge
And Now For Something Different! BY KIM VESELY
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he Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is known for its colorful hot air balloons, be they fanciful “special shapes,” the footballshaped “racers,” or the more conventional teardropshaped balloons. But for high adventure, nothing at the Balloon Fiesta compares with the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race. The America’s Challenge balloons look and are different from those that fly in the Balloon Fiesta’s hot air events, and the people who fly them are some of the most talented and gutsy balloon pilots in the world. The only time most Balloon Fiesta guests see the gas balloons is as they take off (this year’s launch is scheduled for around sundown on Wednesday, October 5). As the teams ceremonially launch to the strains of each country’s national anthem, they quickly disappear into the night sky on an incredible cross-country journey. The objective: to fly the greatest distance from the launch platform in Albuquerque. It’s not unusual for these highly skilled teams to stay aloft for nearly three days and travel to Canada and the U.S. East Coast. Meanwhile, the rest
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of us can follow along with their adventures through live tracking on the Balloon Fiesta website and app.
What is a gas balloon? Unlike hot air balloons, which use heated ambient air for lift, gas balloons get their lift from a lighter-than-air gas, such as hydrogen or helium. The most commonly-used gas now is hydrogen, the lightest of the gases. Helium, which until recently was the gas of choice in the United States due to its stability, has become prohibitively expensive and scarce.
How do gas balloons “work”? The lifting gas (hydrogen) is contained in an envelope (the “balloon” part of the balloon) that is built out of heavy, non-porous, fabric. However, as the gas expands and contracts with the normal heating and cooling cycles during the day, some hydrogen is lost. To maintain altitude, the pilot must then get rid of weight. So gas balloons carry expendable weight, referred to as “ballast,” usually in the form of water carried in jugs and sand carried in bags hung on the side of the basket. Since ballast is essential for maneuvering and especially landing, there are essentially two “consumables”
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Desert Kaleidoscope
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Great Circle distance) from the launch point, Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, while competing within the event rules.
What do you win? A trophy and lots of attaboys (or girls) and bragging rights. There is no prize money associated with winning the America’s Challenge.
Who has won the most America’s Challenge races?
A crew of two: John Kugler (top) and Bert Padelt
that affect the amount of time a gas balloon can stay aloft and – indirectly – the distance it can travel: gas and ballast. The pilots that do the best job of conserving both often are in the best position to win a race like the America’s Challenge.
How do you fly a gas balloon? To simplify a very complicated process: to go up you get rid of weight by dropping sand or water ballast (or anything else that has weight, if you’re desperate enough). To come down, you “valve” gas by pulling a rope in the basket that opens a panel in the top of the balloon to release hydrogen. Pilots can also take advantage of the natural expansion of gas due to solar heating after sunrise to go up, and the contraction of gas as the air cools around sunset to come down. Needless to
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say, pilots try to valve and ballast as little as possible, since gas and sand are the equivalent of fuel in a car and they can’t stop at the gas station to get any more!
Why are gas balloons usually all white?
to provide a consistent American venue for gas ballooning. This is the 21st year for the race.
How do you win? It’s simple: the winner is the team that flies the greatest distance (measured in
The highly reflective white color helps provide stability. The reflectivity lessens the impacts of solar heating on the gas inside the envelope, helping to minimize loss of gas throughout the flight and maximize flight time.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
How big are the balloons? The maximum size for balloons competing in the America’s Challenge is 1,000 cubic meters (about 35,000 cu. ft., which is almost one half of the size of most of the hot air balloons at the Balloon Fiesta). Smaller balloons can participate, but are at a disadvantage in a distance race.
What is the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race? The America’s Challenge is one of two distance races for gas balloons in the world; the other is the Coupe Aéronatique Gordon Bennett, the world’s oldest air race, founded in 1906. The America’s Challenge was founded by the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in 1995
That record is held by the late Richard Abruzzo, who won the race five times with four different copilots. The team of Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke has won three times. Mark Sullivan and Cheri White, David and Alan Levin, and Andy Cayton (with different co-pilots) have won twice. There have been four female America’s Challenge winners: Barbara Fricke, Cheri White, and the late Janet Folkes and Carol Rymer Davis.
How do they refuel?
Trophies and bragging rights: 2012 (and two-time) winners Mark Sullivan, the America’s Challenge founder, and longtime flying partner Cheri White.
They don’t. Once the balloon takes off, the pilots have at their disposal only the gas, ballast, instruments, and supplies (food, water, clothing, etc.) that they carry on board.
How far can they go?
slow-motion aerial tour of America. In “real” life, they pursue (or did, before retirement) a variety of professions: businessmen, lawyers, doctors, professors, engineers, aviators. In general they are not thrill seekers, but rather detail-oriented, meticulous planners and carefully calculated risk-takers.
It depends on the winds and weather, but America’s Challenge competitors have flown some of the longest 1,000-meter gas balloon flights in history. The record for the race is 1,998 miles (3125.5 km), set in the year 2000 by David Levin and Alan Levin. Flights of more than 1,000 miles are common.
What is life like in the balloon?
How long can they stay up? The duration record for the America’s Challenge of 70 hours 51 minutes was set in 2011 by David HempelmanAdams of Great Britain and Jon Mason of Australia. Flights of 60 hours are not unusual. However, the world duration record for 1,000 cubic meter balloons is an astounding 92+ hours, set by Germany’s Wilhelm Eimers (an America’s Challenge frequent flyer) in the 1995 Coupe Gordon Bennett.
How much does this cost? It isn’t cheap. Depending on the manufacturer and the size, new gas balloon systems can cost in the upper five figures. A hydrogen “fill” in the U.S. for a balloon the size of those flown in the America’s Challenge can cost about $1,000 for a single (albeit multi-day) flight; in parts of Europe the cost for hydrogen is much less. Then there is all the associated equipment, a chase vehicle, and expenses for pilots and chase crew.
Do gas balloons have chase crews? Yes, since as is the case with hot air balloons they rarely return to the launch point. The difference with
Three-time winner Barbara Fricke waves goodbye in the 2012 America’s Challenge. Note the ballast: bags containing sand hanging from the basket and the jug of water in Barbara’s hand. She’ll pour some out if she needs a bit of extra lift as she launches.
a gas flight is that the balloon often travels many hundreds of miles. Gas balloon chases can be real adventures and require a lot of stamina (the chase crew for 2013 winners Cuneo and Fricke drove from Albuquerque to, and completely around, Lake Superior).
While ballooning has connotations of floating leisurely above the landscape admiring the view (of course there’s some of that and pilots wax poetically about it) the teams are actually quite busy flying the balloon, navigating, talking to air traffic controllers, and planning the next steps in their flight. They sleep in
most of the time and not moving around much, they are never hungry. Their meals and snacks consist of comfort foods that encourage them to eat and easy-to-fix nutritious fare. The pilots often have to remind themselves to drink fluids so they don’t become dehydrated. After three days of constant alertness, little sleep, and frigid nighttime temperatures, by the time they land they are usually very tired and glad to be back on terra firma.
What do they use for “facilities”? Astronauts and balloon pilots travel at vastly different speeds, but both will tell you the same thing: everyone wants to know “how do you go to the bathroom up there?”
How many people are in the balloons? Each balloon has a crew of two, a pilot and a copilot. Although the titles might suggest otherwise, in practice the pilots fully share the responsibilities of the flight and are often equally skilled.
Who are these people? They are extraordinary ordinary people, with a spirit for adventure, the ability to endure the rigors of long-distance flight, and – often – a strong sense of poetry about the incredible beauty they see on their
PHOTO COURTESY PETER CUNEO
A moment to glance at the view (the Mississippi River is at the top left of the image).
shifts, with one pilot awake while the other sleeps. They’re confined in a very small space for three days of what more than one pilot has drolly termed “aerial camping.” Almost all the teams say that since they are on oxygen
Resisting the temptation to say, “the same way you do down here,” the teams tell us they carry a bucket or other porta-potty type conveyance to facilitate their daily business – and try to keep that business to a minimum.
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
Gas Committee/America’s Challenge Officials Chair, AIBF Gas Balloon Committee .........................Mark Sullivan AIBF Event Director ...........................................................Paul Petrehn America’s Challenge Event Director .........................John Petrehn Assistant Director................................................................Sam Parks Safety Officers ......................................................................Wally Book Tom Bueno Launchmaster ........................................................................Sam Parks Weather....................................................................................Randy Lefevre Dan Pagliaro Onboard Tracking Equipment ......................................Harris “Goodie” Goodwin, Fred Lété, Chuck Raskob Command Center Director .............................................Ruth Lind Command Center/Internet Flight Tracking...........Tim Baggett
Command Center Staff.................................Ben Anello Jon Ashworth Jeff Davis Guy Feltman Carolyn Lilley Dalton Pierce Cliff Tvede John Wilson Jury .........................................................................Andy Baird Tarp Head Henry Rosenbaum Scoring Officer..................................................Jim Byrd Media Liaison .....................................................Kim Vesely Field Preparation .............................................Janie Jordan Hydrogen Fueling ...........................................Jose Cisneros Hospitality ...........................................................Dodie Bernal Anna Nalley
America’s Challenge Winners YEAR
PILOT
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Richard Abruzzo David Melton David Levin Alan Levin Richard Abruzzo Jacob Traub Troy Bradley Tami Stevenson-Bradley Race not held David Levin Alan Levin Peter Cuneo Barbara Fricke Richard Abruzzo Gary Johnson Richard Abruzzo Carol Rymer Davis Richard Abruzzo Gary Johnson Janet Folkes Bill Arras Andy Cayton Kevin Knapp Andy Cayton Stuart Enloe Mark Sullivan Cheri White Race cancelled due to high winds Barbara Fricke Peter Cuneo David Hempleman-Adams Jonathan Mason Mark Sullivan Cheri White Peter Cuneo Barbara Fricke Anulfo González Angel Aguirre Race cancelled due to weather conditions
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CO-PILOT
COUNTRY
DISTANCE KM
DISTANCE MILES
DURATION HOURS
USA USA USA USA
2241.9 706.6 1465.3 2234.9
1393 439.1 910.5 1388.8
60.2 38.1 45.7 58.8
USA USA USA USA USA UK / USA USA USA USA
3215.5 2095.6 2797.08 1787.72 984.23 2407.28 2380.99 1698.21 1419.76
1998.1 1302.2 1738.11 1110.89 611.6 1495.81 1479.48 1052.89 880.25
64.1 58.4 43.13 63.23 35.97 46.14 60.45 61.5 68.58
USA UK USA USA Spain
2175.86 1538.66 2623.33 2299.79 1914.3
1349.03 953.97 1626.46 1425.87 1186.87
58.16 71.51 62.3 60.4 53.33
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
America’s Challenge Records Distance: David Levin and Alan Levin, USA, 3215.5 km /1998.1 miles (2000) Duration: David Hempelman-Adams and Jonathan Mason, UK, 71 hours, 31 minutes (2011) Multiple winners: Richard Abruzzo: five wins: 1995 with David Melton, 1997 with Jacob Traub, 2002 and 2004 with Gary Johnson, 2003 with Carol Rymer Davis Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke: three wins (2001, 2010, 2013) Andy Cayton: two wins: 2006 with Kevin Knapp, and 2007 with Stuart Enloe David Levin and Alan Levin: two wins (1996 and 2000) Mark Sullivan and Cheri White: two wins (2008 and 2012)
America’s Challenge Entrants
Philip Bryant
Here We Go Again
Mike Emich
Mark Sullivan
Delta Goodie
Cheri White
Peter Cuneo
Foxtrot Charlie
Barbara Fricke
Benoit Pelard
Marie Marvingt
Laurent Lajoye
John Kugler
One Leg Out
Bert Padelt
Misia
Bazyli Dawidziuk
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Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2016 Official Program
Krzyszrtof Zapart
We make the balloons fly. Airgas is the Official Propane Sponsor of Balloon Fiesta. INDUSTRIAL GASES • MEDICAL GASES S P E C I A LT Y G A S E S • W E L D I N G S U P P L I E S SAFETY SUPPLIES Call 1-866-935-3370 or, visit us on the web at: www.airgas.com
2016. Airgas, Inc. All rights reserved.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
2016 NAVIGATORS John Abel Nancy Abruzzo Abigail Adams Bobbi Adams David Adler Jonathan Adler Erma Aguilar Beau Akers Shanon Akers Donna Aldrich Julian Allison Tyson Altevers Carol Ames Carol Anderson Evelyn Anderson Lee Anderson Linda Andrews Benjamin Anello Darrell Argaud Christina Arias John Arias Santiago Arias Karen Arndt Keith Arndt Steve Arndt Jon Ashworth Larisa Astorga JoAnn Atencio Ronald Ater Carly Babani Robert Babani Anthony Baca Clarissa Baca Michael Baca Ramon Baca William Baggett James Bagley Carol Bair James Bair Raymond Bair Andrea Balestri Joe Balestri Joseph Balistreri Harris Balkin Joseph Ballengee Linda Ballenthin William Ballenthin Jean Bangor Caroline Barela Ted Barela Bill Barry Eric Barry Eva Barry Gregory Barry Jacob Barry William Barry Marj Baxter Samantha Baxter Sammi Baxter Shannon Baxter Juan Becerra Edward Beck Patrick Beck Geraldine Beckman John Beckman Kenneth Beebe Dorothy Behnke
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Gary Bennett Dodie Bernal Gregg Bernard Teresa Bernard Leslie Berwick Mary Besthorn Margaret Billson Sydney Blackmer Rol Blauwkamp Stephen Blea Dusty Blech Gay Blech Ruth Bleich Debra Bloomquist Margaret Boccuzzi Peter Boccuzzi Amanda Bolton Melissa Bond Jeffrey Boner John Boner Linda Bonney Charles Book Patricia Boozell Robert Boozell Richard Bowles Shawn Bowman Robin Boyer Susie Bracamonte Fred Bradley Margaret Bradley Ty Brauer Melvin Braun Debbie Brehm Jane Brennan Rita Brennan William Brennan Teresa Bridges Heather Briganti Sean Broderick Barbara Broussard Jerry Brove Dick Brown Elaine Brown Gena Brown Karen Brown Paige Brown Robert Buchinski Carol Buck Russel Buck Thomas Bueno Justin Bunch Janet Buranis Sarah Burney Elisa Bustamante Tammy Butikofer Zachrey Button Alan Butts Judy Butts Shar Buxton Stan Buxton James Byrd Larissa Byrd Angelique Calderon Horace Calvert Derek Camacho Alan Cannaday Bryana Cannaday
Christopher Cannaday Shelly Cannaday Susan Capaldi Charlene Card Tom Card Pierre Cardon Tracy Cardon Charles Carlson Theresa Carlson Anthony Carrillo George Carrillo Jr Dorreen Caruso Louise Cashman Sharon Casper Brenda Cassada Wayne Cassada Steven Castillo Edgardo Castro Doyle Caton Jennifer Catron Denise Cavner Joann Chambers Carrie Chandler-Moore Logan Chapman Dillon Charles William Charlesworth Aaron Chavez Celia Chavez Chris Chavez Kathy Chavez Pauline Chavez Christina Chen Gary Cherniak Elaine Chim Jane Christensen Tom Christopher Chuck Clark G Owen Clark Jacob Clark Vicki Clark Augusta Clarke Cameron Clements Katherine Clements Stephen Coffing Barbara Cole Dewayne Cole Steve Coleman John J Collins Barbara Colson Mardi Cone Robert (spike) Cone Patty Congdon Barry Conley Kristi Conley Tamara Conley Cassey Connell Joan Connor Linda Connor Emilie Cook Sallie Cook Megan Cooley Iris Copper Rex Corbin Loretta Cordova Linda Correira Steve Cothron Neida Courtney Bueno
Rosemary Cozart Paullette Craner William Crawley Ana Creamer Dan Creel Margie Creel Dianne Cress Bruce Criel Harry Criel Laura Criel Todd Criel Matthew Crocker Terri Crocker Linda Crone David Crossland Neffitti Cruickshank Shirley Cruthers Alan Cuales Joseph Culley Kyle Cullins Thomas Curotto Barbara Curry Casey Curtiss Shauna Curtiss Jay Czar Guy Dahms Christine D’arco Vincent D’arco Melinda Daunis Dewey David Paulette David Jeffrey Davis John Davis Frank Dearmin Kayla Deaveiro Patricia Deberjeois Billy Deen, Jr. Paul Dentith Mark Derubeis Terry Derubeis Deb Detorie Christina Dewart Michael Dewart Betsy Dickenson David Dickinson Jim Dinger Mary Dinger Joan Dingmann William Ditz Yolanda Dixon Wendy Donahoo Laurie Donovan Philip Doonan Roy Douglas A. Elizabeth Dow James Dow Jim Dowling Jansen Downs Monica Driscoll Delphine Duerr Dylan Dunn Gerrold Dunn Damian Duran-Arias David Ecklund Sandy Ecklund Shelby Edge Wallace Edge
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
Ambrose Edwards Stacy Eldridge Lester Elmer John Elrick Donald Engdahl Erica Erickson Liz Espinoza Johnny Esquivel Sheri Essen Cynthia Farslow Dennis Fay Robert Fehlman Sharon Fehlman Gina Feichtenbiner Warren Feichtenbiner Josephine Felder Timothy Felder Henry Feltman Jr Kathy Fennell David Fenske Dan Ferguson Claudio Fernandes Lori Ferraro William Ferrell Linda Ferro Gaylene Finney Patrick Finney Donald Fischer Robert Fisher Valerie Fitzsimmons Karen Fleetwood Harry Fletcher William Focke Bryan Folk Kobi Forer Patricia Forsythe Ray Forsythe Rebecca Forsythe Pamela Foss Kristyn Fox Eugene Foxworthy Shelly Foxworthy Kenneth French Kevin French Barbara Fricke Natalie Fuentes Ben Fulkerson Karen Gabaldon Ray Gabaldon Carolina Galicia Doug Gallagher Jake Gallegos Janice Galvan Kaitlyn Gancarz Eric Garbin Amanda Garcia Barbara Garcia Bernadette Garcia Charles Garcia Cindy Garcia Gary T Garcia Jim Garcia Marty Garcia Jessica Gardea Michael Gautier William Geck Andrea Gensinger
Cheyanne Gensinger Darla Gensinger Larry Gensinger Fred Gessner Helen Getman Vicki Gibbons Barbara Gibbs Becky Gibson Steven Gibson Rose Gilberg Russ Gilberg Laura Gillespie Stan Gillespie Mike Gilligan Diana Gilson Barbara Gitre Kathleen Glaspey Steve Glass Janell Glenn Richard Glenn George Gober Michele Gober Barbara Goble Glenn Goble James Godfrey Rebecca Godfrey Shane Goeckner Sandy Gold Joan Gonser Robert Gonser Amador Gonzales Debbie Gonzales Harris Goodwin Kimberly Goodwin Debbie Gornal Thomas Gough Antonio Gradillas Rose Mary Gradillas Kay Grant Betty Green David Green Gordon Greene Nichala Greene Gleason Gregory Andrew Grey Emma Griego Penny Griego Edward Groenke Jeffrey Guide John Gunther Shari Gunther Norene Gurule Matt Guthrie Lisa Hada Rick Hada Ashley Haddock Bonnie Hahn Kasi Hall Sammi Hall Anita Hallstrom Greg Hallstrom Lori Hallstrom Casey Hamblin Sydnee Hamblin Frances Hammer Frederick Hammer Beth Hammond
James Hammond Regina Hampton Marion Hanna Keith Hannon Cheryle Hannum Dave Hannum Becky Hardy Scott Hardy Selena Hardy Arlene Harmon Monte Harms Jeffrey Harris Patricia Harvey Robert Hausken Wren Hayden Anna Haynie Andrea Heacock-Reyes Michelle Healy Colleen Hegberg Rita Helak Kelly Helvie Kurtis Helvie Stuart Helvie Gloria Henderson Alice Hendley Lee Hendricks Alex Henkel Carmen Henkel Richard Henkel Marla Hernandez Trina Herndon Amy Herring Raymond Herrington Jocelyn Herzog Laura Hess Amanda Hessler Brad Hessler Cordell Hicks Catherine Hines Gina Hirt Jay Hirt Jacqueline Hockey Mary Jane Holguin Cliff Holman Lonna Holman Sheri Holman David Holsinger Andrew Holt Jennifer Holt Traci Homan Becky Hooten Rebecca Hooten Samantha Hooten Brenda Hostetter Leon Hostetter Josephine Hotle Nancy House Katherine Hower Eric Hron Jeanne Hron Austin Huber Cindy Hunt J.D. Huss Raymond Hyde Janice Hyder Jerry Hyder Marion Ingalls
Charles Ingram Brian Irwin George Ivey Patsy Ivey Delma Jackson Harold Jackson McKenzie Jackson Phyllis Jackson Jacqueline Jacobs Brandon Jacques John James Nancy James Ruthanne Jansen Kathleen Januszewski Dalia Jaramillo Karen Jeffery Noel Jenks Richard Jenks Monte Job Curt Johnson Jadyn Johnson Kareta Johnson Kate Johnson Louie Johnson Megan Johnson Morgan Johnson Nancy Johnson Wyatt Johnson Audra Jones Denise Jones Janice Jones Blake Jordan Debra Jordan Grant Joy Nancy Joy Kimberly Judge Chani Kaibetoney Larry Kaibetoney Christine Kaleikini David Kaley Judith Kaley Dennis Kanka Christina Kaskabas Vicky Kauffman Karen Keifenheim Kim Kelbe William Kelly Jennifer Kemp Sandy Kemp Jack Kendall Jennie Kerber Anthony Kerns Lynn Keryte Barbara King Carl Kinnard Susan Kinnard Charlotte Kinney Cynthia Kinney David Kinney Jon Kirkwood Lyn Kirkwood Steven Komadina Wesley Koning Marlene Kovacevic Thomas Kovacevic Steve Kreutzer Diane Krostag
John Lackey Michelle LaCrosse Jeremy Lambert Carol Landau Donald Lange Patricia Lange Michael LaPlante David Lardizabal Teaya Larry Brook Larson Linda Larson Cristal LaRue Mac LaRue Mike LaRue Molly LaRue Billie Lattanza Chris Lavigne Susan Lawrence Diane Leblanc Jon Lee Wade Lee Donna Leech Norman Leech Sheila Leeds David Leeper Randy Lefevre Shawn Leonard Cheryl Lete Fred Lete Susan Lewellen Mike Liberti Donna Light Farley Light Carolyn Lilley Ruth Lind Deborah Lister Donald Lister Keverne Lister Bruce Little Butch Llewellyn Janet Llewellyn Mari Llewellyn Michael Llewellyn Will Llewellyn William Logan Marlon Long Sigrid Christine Long Ben Lopez Norma Lopez Maggie Lord Rosemary Lovato Kimberle Lowe Bob Lucero Barbara Ludwig Cathy Luenenborg Judy Lujan Rachael Lujan Victoria Luke Jay Luna Tammy Luna Lenora Maas Billie Mace Alicia Macias Jan Madison Flora Maez Brenda Magness Patrick Magness
Jessica Makin Christiana Mann Lois Manning Michael Manning Tawnia Manuelito Dawn Marciszewski Gary Marciszewski Scott Marciszewski Jan Marino Christopher Marsh Janis K Marsh John Martin Julia Martin Timothy Martin Anna Martinez Caleb Martinez Jason Martinez Lucy Martinez Raven Martinez Ed Marynik Fran Marynik Jim Mason Rusty Mason Lisa Massey Richard Massey Rhonda Maxfield Nancy Maxwell Rod May Lawrence Mayer Wanda Mayer Lois Mayland Jeff McAfee Susan McAfee Kyle McConahy Tom McConnell Danny McCoy Don McCurdy Donald McCurdy Matthew McCurdy Diane McDermott Brenda McGregor Lourdes McKenna Lora McKown Linda McLain Kent McLoud Scott Melvin Lawrence Merry Losa Meru Sheila Metts Cathy Meyer Norma Meyer Richard Meyer Frank Mezzancello Patricia Mezzancello Sarah Mezzancello Steven Mezzancello Holly Mickelson Pam Micker Robert Miera Tomas Miera Erin Miller Robbin Miller Betty Jo Minshall Mairiene Miranda Michelle Miranda Mike Miranda Sandra Mitchell
Diane Mock Jerry Mock Larry Mock Linda Mock Lia Moldovan Dan Monaghan Selso Montano Cynthia Montoya Magdalena Montoya Rebecca Montoya Tim Montoya Brenna Moore Everetta Mora Frank Morales Tony Morales Dalia Morales Vargas Douglas Morgan Dwight Morgan Karen Morgan Marleen Morgan Blair Morrison Don Morrow Julie Morrow Wil Morse Karen Morton Jeanie Moughan Glendora Mulder James Mulder Angie Mulkey Rudy Myers Catherine Myrick Judith Nakamura Johnny Naranjo Marilee Nason Kenneth Nelson Phillip Nelson Ana Neri Donna Neubeck Lesa Newberry Marva Newberry Rachel Newquist Celeste NicholsGangwere Karla Noble Terry Noble Ronda Norlock Patricia Norris Bridget Nunez Anna Odom Caitlin Odom Robert Olguin Brenda Olson Dorothy Otto Ann Overstreet Deborah Owen Chris Padilla Daniel Pagliaro Rosemary Pagliaro Jean Pagorek Benjamin Palmer Jay Pape Camille Parker Sam Parks Lydia Parmenter Mary Parsons John Pata David Pate
Martha Pate Jennifer Patton Kenneth Paulk Skip Pearce Sarah Pearson Aaron Peay Kat Perea Manuel Perea David Petersen Jane Petersen John Petrehn Michelle Petty Eleanor Phares Nigel Philcox Emily Pine Shane Pinney Johnny Pino Sherry Piperno Clarence Pittman Jackie Pittman Thomas Ponder Rachael Porlas Alan Postelnek Dolores Power Linda Prendergast Kelly Price Susan Prichard Susan Pules Bill Quaglia Christina Quesada Smith Lily Quezada Aaron Quick Greg Quick Stephanie Quick Brent Quinones Tuty Quinton Patsy Rabe Karen Raistrick Chris Ramirez Frank Ramirez Rick Ramirez Sheila Ramirez Victor Ramponi Ron Randolf Kathy Ransom Chuck Raskob Richard Rathbun Sandra Rausch L.C. Read Carol Reel Elizabeth Reese Steven Reil Betty Rein Bobbi Reisner David Reisner Jeff Renegar Debbie Reynolds John Rice Richard Rice Ursula Richards Char-Lynn Richardson Denny Richardson Mary Richardson Susan Rifkin Summer Riggs JĂźrgen Rimac
Alexis Rippy Angela Rivas Lauren Rivera Ron Rizzardi Sherry Roberts Tara Roberts Joyce Robertson Elaine Roderick Nicole Rodgers Louise Rodriguez Juanita Rohde Larry Romero Sharon Romero Stephanie Romero John Romisher Johnny Rosa Daniel Rose Henry Rosenbaum Gwendolyn Rouse Christopher Rowan Karen Royal Rani Rubio Patricia Ann RudyBaese Bonnie Rusher William Rusher Mark Russell Tom Rutherford Evelyn Sadt Deborah Sahd Jantino Saiz Kathleen Salamon Yvonne Salas Stephanie Salazar Linda Samuels Debbie Sanchez Jeffrey Sanchez Samantha Sanchez Virginia Sanchez Michelle Sanford Jay Sanidad Madonna Santa Maria Turner Jeff Saul Krista Savage Karl Schaefer Sarah Scher Sherri Schiff Carole Schmitz Charles Schmitz Jeanne Schroeder Thomas Schroeder Ashley Schultz Doug Schwebach Jon Schwenke Erin Scott Phillip Seaman Harry Season Angelique Sedillo Matthew Sedillo Larry Seeley Alfred Segen Saul Segura Steve Segura Judy Seigel John Sellers Lisa Sellers
Shelly Sellin John Sena Ricardo Serrano-Smith Art Shaffer Catia Sharp Patty Sheridan Debra Shewey Robert Shipley Carolyn Shirley Jerry Shreve Albert Silva Anna Silva Edward Simon Suzanne Simon Judy Simons Janet Sisneros Richard Sisneros Michele Skarlupka Cathie Smith Deborah Smith Elaine Smith Glenn Smith Ivan Smith Joan Smith Karen Ann Smith Neal Smith Randy Smith Marty Soffran Mark Sowers Brian Speicher Linda Spero Ronald Spero Bill Staffan Wyiona Staffan Tabitha Stallworth Candice Stanford Jacob Stearns Kelly Stephens Hal Stevens Richard Stidham Tammi Stidham David Stone Janette Stone Orbin Stone Sherri Stone William Street John Stucker Susan Stucker Bonnie Studler Kathryn Sturtevant Emma Sugarman David Sullens Lynthia Sullivan Maury Sullivan Denise Suttle Kathy Swope Holly Sylvester Pat Syme Rick Tabone Sara Taffae Nicole Tagart Ajay Tandon Writu Tandon Diana Tanner Laurye Tanner Tom Tanner Deborah Taylor
Julie Taylor Kathy Taylor Mike Taylor Edward Teigeler Dorothy Temer David Tennis Albert Tetreault Shirley Thieda Makahla Thomason Michelle Thurik Lynn Tillery Hailey Tolleson Savannah Tolley Melinda Tomchee David Torres Richard Torres Rosemary Torres Mike Trainor Wanda Travis Carol Trombley David Trombley Therese Trujillo Gilbert Tsinnajinne Ken Tuley Roberta Tuley Barbara Turnbaugh Cliff Tvede Chris Uhl Tiffany Uhl Keith Underwood Sara Underwood Terry Underwood Cynthia Ureta Ruth Valeri Daniel Valeri Jr. Barbara Van Jill Van Nortwick Jordan Varner Alex Vazquez Samantha Vazquez Vanessa Vazquez Ariel Velarde Gilbert Velarde Samantha Velarde Theresa Velarde Sandy Vensland Kimberley Vesely Linda Vickers Matthew Vigil Nancy Vigil-Cottrell David Volker John Vonderheide Berta Wagstaff Don Wagstaff Anna Walker Bill Walker Karen Wallace Xavier Wallace Philip Walsh William Walters Dylan Wambold Clyde Wanatee Patrick Ward Joy Watnik-Saul Tunell Watts Caryn Welz Phil Werner
Nancy Wertz Deb West Charles West, Jr Rachel Wester Austin Wetsch Richard Wetzel Tabatha Wheeler Ellis Whitaker Bianca White Clayton White William White Roger Wilcox Mark Wilkins Carolyn Willetts Larry Willetts Barbara M. Williams Martin Williams Sue Williams Rachel Wills Francisquita Wilmeth Harry Wilson John Wilson Pam Wilson Halecia Wimpy Stephen Wimpy Denise Winn Dylan Winn Rachel Winn Brad Winters Patricia Witmer Caroline Wood Elizabeth Wood James Wood Alice Wood Garman Marjorie Woodall Robert Woodall Audrie Wormington Buck Wormington Janice Wrhel Brian Wright Don Wrobel Glenn Young Tyler Young Valerie Zaba Mary Zack Brendan Zajac Emily Zak Petra Zavakos Michael Zink Nancy Zink Chandler Zitzmann Alex Zucosky Lois Zucosky ‌ And thousands of Chase Crew
Desert Kaleidoscope
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Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2016 Official Program
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Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2016 Official Program
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2016 Heritage Award Honoring Jacqueline Hockey
T
he Balloon Fiesta’s Heritage Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Balloon Fiesta through the creation of new traditions or events, through improving the safety and comfort of the Balloon Fiesta, or through preservation of the event’s history. This year’s award honors Jacqueline Hockey, a petite blonde dynamo of a woman who arguably qualifies in all three areas and virtually invented Balloon Fiesta hospitality. Once upon a time . . . way back when . . . the Balloon Fiesta was held on dusty, dirty, brush-covered vacant lots temporarily turned into balloonports. Not a very exciting place for corporate sponsors whose donations made the event possible to relax and entertain clients. Enormously creative, with endless energy, Jacqueline
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somehow managed to turn patches of the dusty, dirt and brush-covered terrain where the early Balloon Fiestas were held into a little oasis of comfort for the growing number of sponsors who made the event possible. Her hospitality suites — though in and around tents — included trucked-in sod (the only grass on the field at the time), ice sculptures, and gourmet cooking — and, in 1993, even a grand piano to add a touch of class. Most of all, Jacqueline and her team of volunteers and caterers created a warm atmosphere that let the
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2016 Official Program
sponsors know they were truly special and appreciated. Jacqueline was one of the earliest members of the Balloon Fiesta Board of Directors, becoming the event’s treasurer in 1978. She served on the Board for 25 years, during which time she not only oversaw corporate hospitality but many of the Balloon Fiesta’s biggest private parties for sponsors, pilots, and guests. One that is especially near and dear to her heart is the Flight of the Nations party recognizing international pilots and guests. Originally from France, Jacqueline, with her fluent command of French, continues to make pilots and visitors from abroad feel especially welcome in Albuquerque. So if you are reading this article in a hospitality suite at Balloon Fiesta Park, lounging on a chair, feet propped up on another, sipping a cold one and watching the balloons go by, think of Jacqueline — Balloon Fiesta’s hostess extraordinaire.
Adventure Awaits!
Come join our AARP Block Party at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®. When your eyes are not focused on the sky full of balloons, come meet Samantha Brown, AARP Travel Ambassador and a favorite host on the Travel Channel. Then take part in fun and exciting activities along with chances to win cool giveaways and prizes!
While the balloons take flight–learn more about AARP– We could surprise you. We just might!
䌀漀洀挀愀猀琀 匀瀀漀琀氀椀最栀琀 椀猀 愀 倀爀漀甀搀 匀瀀漀渀猀漀爀 漀昀㨀
圀攀 䴀愀欀攀 䄀搀瘀攀爀琀椀猀椀渀最 䔀愀猀礀
䘀䤀一䤀匀䠀
匀吀䄀刀吀
䄀氀戀甀焀甀攀爀焀甀攀 䤀渀琀攀爀渀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 䈀愀氀氀漀漀渀 䘀椀攀猀琀愀글
眀眀眀⸀挀漀洀挀愀猀琀猀瀀漀琀氀椀最栀琀⸀挀漀洀
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2016 Official Program
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