State of Ballooning - New Mexico

Balloon Life,October2000

Albuqueruqe. Just hearing the name causes
aeronautseverywhere todreamof asky
dotted with hundreds of balloons floating
over the balloon capital of the world.
Withitsaridclimate,wideopen
spacesandboxwindsthatoftenenable
pilots to fly back to their launch sites, it’s
no wonder more than 300 active balloon-
ists call Albuquerque home.
And it doesn’t hurt to host the biggest
balloon festival in the world each October
either.
More than 1,000 balloons were regis-
teredforthe2000KodakAlbuquerque
International BalloonFiesta, up from13
during the first fiesta in1972.
“We have the fifth-largest land mass
state,combinedwithexcellentclimate
and bright blue skies. It’s a pilot’s dream,”
said Diane Kinderwater, a spokeswoman
for Gov. Gary Johnson, a balloon fan who
has flown several times in hot-air and gas
balloons.
But the modern hot-air balloon had a
shaky introductionin Albuquerque.
Sid Cutter, who was hosting a lavish
birthdaypartyforhismotherin1971,
broughta balloonistto towntohelpcel-
ebrate. The following day, he went for an
unscheduledfreeflight withhis brother,
Bill.
“It wasn’t supposed to be, they let go
of the rope,” Sidsaid. Drifting towards a
powerline, heblastedthe burner togain
altitude while sitting on the propane tank.
“I suffered from acrophobia.”
Afterthatflight,hebeganteaching
himself how to fly.
“We’dgooutat10inthemorning
whenthethermalswerecomingup.It
didn’ttakeyoutoolongtorealizeyou
didn’tflyinthe middleof theday,”he
said.

The next year, a radio station decided
tohostthebiggestballoonraceinthe
country,and13balloonsflewinAlbu-
querque.
“Thatwassuchasuccess,”Cutter
said. “Everybodythoughtitwasgreat.”
The U.S. had just obtainedpermissionto
hosttheWorldChampionships,sothe
firsthot-airballooningchampionships
were held there in1973.
Each time balloons flew,more people
became interestedinthe sport.Dr.Tom
McConnellsimplywantedtotryouthis
new camera whenhewenttowatchthe
balloons fly in1973.
“We thought it ought to be a fantastic
waytotake some pictures,” he said. “By
the end of theweek, weweren’t taking too
many picturesandwere crewing for two
differentballoons. Andthenextweek, I
waslearningto fly.”
And he wasn’talone.
“Everybodyknowssomebodyand
his cousin who has one,”McConnell said.
“Andeverybody has a balloonstory.”
Nearly 30years later, Cutter has ac-
cumulatedabout 5,000 hoursinballoons
andhas trainedhundredsof pilots.
Andthousandsofotherballoonists
andcrew membersmake the annualpil-
grimagetoNewMexicotoenjoygreat
flying, seethelatestproducts,buytheir
ballooning souvenirs and enjoy the cama-
raderie of other balloonists.
“I’m pleased it has done as well as it
has,” Cutter said. “The folks running it are
reallydoing a greatjob.”
More than 4,000 volunteers help make
theFiestarunsmoothlyeachyear, from
joiningchasecrews,servingaslaunch
directors,erectingfencesandpainting
ticket booths.
“Our intention istobe the very best

that we can be,” said Harry Season, presi-
dent of the Balloon Fiesta board of direc-
tors. “We take exceptionally good care of
ourpilots,crews,sponsorsandspecta-
tors.”
In 2000, more than 1,000 hot-air bal-
loonswereregistered,500whichalso
were expected to participate in a Balloon
Glow.
“Weareonadifferentmagnitude
thananyotherballoonfestival,” Season
said. He saidthebiggestmisconception
pilotshaveaboutflyingattheFiestais
that the skies are toocongestedto have a
safe flight.
“The fact is once you get here and see
how wellorganizedanddisciplinedthe
launchingsystemis,it’snotnearlyas
difficult as some people make it out to be.
It’sdifferent, not difficult.”
If there are drawbacks to flying there,
it’s the elevationandthe dirt. Starting at
morethan5,000feetabovesealevel,
“balloonsdon’tquiteperformaswell,”
Cutter said.
Althoughgrass was recently planted
on part of the new Balloon Fiesta Park—
which local balloonists may use through-
out the year—green grass is often consid-
ered a redzone in Albuquerque.
“Grass is a big deal out here because
it takes water, and water is a scarce com-
modity outhere,” McConnellsaid.
Butmanypilotsneverbotherwith
tarps. Cutter saiddirtinthemesa islike
sand, andwill roll rightoff the balloon’s
fabric.
“It’s not dirt like you have inIowa,”
he said. “You can just roll it around on the
grassandit’llget cleanagain.”
Mostballooningis doneatdawnin
thestate,althougheveningflightsare
morecommoninthewinter,whenthe

State of Ballooning

by Greg Livadas

New Mexico

Balloon Life,October 2000

summer heat and thermals aren’t as se-
vere.
“Our weather is really second to none.
It’s flyable here more morningseachyear
than almost anywhere else in the world,”
said Richard Abruzzo, of Albuquerque.
Balloonistsareaskedtoavoid
Kirkland Air Force Base and native lands,
including the Sandia reservation. “You’re
not supposed to land there, but it hap-
pens,”Abruzzo said. “Balloons goin there
and it’s not that big ofa deal. They’re
friendly and they’llescort you in and out.”
Some pilots prefer to fly across the
RioGrande, towards Rio Rancho, which
is not as developed.
“There’s no doubt Albuquerque has
grown, but there’s still a lot of places to
land,” Abruzzo said.
With hundreds of active pilots inthe
area,problems are bound to arise. The
local club, the Albuquerque Aerostat As-
cension Association, has a phone number
published in the phonebook to receive
any concernslandowners have about bal-
loons.
“We get maybe 20 to 25 callsa year
on it,” said AAAA President Ray Bair.
“Somecalltogeta ride ina balloon. Some
are non-issues.”
AAAA is believed to be the largest
localballoonclubin theworld,withabout
800members,abouta thirdof them pilots.
Theclubhasastandingtreasuryof
$25,000, so they can do what a lot that
smaller clubs can’t.
“Our principle emphasis is educa-
tional activities,” Bair said. Safety semi-
narsorgroundschools areheldeach
month.
About150peopleattendAAAA
monthly meetings,when they often bring
in a speaker to talk about topics such as
propane safety, a recent record flight, or
blimpdevelopment.Astronautshave even
been brought in to speak. Monthlygroup
flightswithfuncompetitionarealso
planned.
“The purpose is to get club members
out and low-hour pilots out and improve
theirskills,”Bair said. Points are accumu-
latedeachmonthwiththe winnerdisplay-
ing a flag on their chase truck until the
next event.
More than 50 balloons typically glow
in two locations in Albuquerque on Christ-
mas Eve to benefit charities.

The club also gives fourawards a
year: the Sid Cutter Award named after
theclubfounder; theBobRuppenthal
Award,named afteranavid balloonist
and formerstatesenator,forcontribu-
tions in education; The Allan Jones Award
for the volunteer of the year; and the P.B.
‘Slim’RawleyAward foradedicated
crew member.
Althoughnota part ofthe club,pilots
can also participate in monthly Top Gun
sanctioned races to be named regional or
state champion.
“Balloonshere are pretty much part
of our dailylives. You can’t help but see
a balloonor two in the air every morning
onthe way towork,”Abruzzo said. “This
isprobablythemostballoon-friendlyplace
on the planet just because of all the activ-
ity.”
But balloons aren’t as common in
Santa Fe, the state capital. Years ago, city
counciltriedtopassan ordinancebanning
balloonlaunches and landingswithincity
limits.“The local FAArepresentative,
whohappensto be a balloonist,addressed
them and saidyou probablyshould notbe
in the business of regulating air space,”
saidAbruzzo, whosefamilyoperatesa ski
area there. “Itwasnarrowly defeated, like
byonevote. They weren’tquiteasfriendly
towards balloons as Albuquerque.”
Abruzzo’s father Ben, wasone of the
three NewMexicoballooniststofirstcross
the Atlanticin theDouble EagleIIin
1978. Richard recalls a flight from the
governor’s mansion in Santa Fe after the
governor presented him with a string of
chile ristras to hang from his gondola for
his own trans-Atlantic attempt.
“We just come from seeing the gov-
ernorand first lady and weland to be
greeted by two police cars, saying they
were goingto confiscatetheballoon,”
Abruzzo said. “We told them we had just
takenoffatthecommander-in-chief’s
house, so they backed off.”
Abruzzosaidfewballoonpilotseven
live in Santa Fe.
“Flyingthere isn’tlike Albuquerque,
it’s not as calm. You don’t get a box and
it’s a little more challenging to fly,” he
said. “Itis a beautifulplace to fly, but you
don’t see a balloonflyingup there all that
often.”
But NewMexicoballooningisn’t

limited to Albuquerque. Just about every
month of the year, you can find an annual
balloon festival in the state, where doz-
ens—orevenhundreds—of balloonists
fly together, often just for fun.
In Chama, near the Colorado border,
pilots are assigned members of a snow-
mobile club to help retrieve them during
their February Snow-Ball Rally, which
sometimes features feet of snow on the
ground.Balloon gear is towed back to
civilization by car hoods acting as sleds.
Pilotpacks include blankets, signal mir-
rors and schnapps.
In Alamogordo, balloonists are in-
vited once a year to fly in White Sands
National Park. Special permission is ob-
tained for their festival, which borders a
missile range, restricted air space and an
Air Force Base. Pictures from the event
show balloons as if they are flying over
mounds of blindingsnow after a blizzard,
but crew members are wearing shorts.
About 200 balloons fly each year in
Gallup, next to thetowering sandstone
formationsRed Rocks Park isknown for.
Prizes are Native American items.
Brushing up against a rock isn’t un-
usual, but pilots should know the stone
can rip a balloon.
“They’re verysmooth, you’llsee fab-
ric on rock all the time if it’s not windy,”
said Peter Procopio, a Gallup balloonist.
Any balloonist is welcome to fly in
theparkatanytime,butlocalpilotsshould
becontacted first as thepark requires
pilotsto be insured.
The flying is also good in Carlsbad,
where pilots can fly over the Pecos River
and out to alfalfa and cotton fields. The
view isspectacular,but pilots needto
think about where they are landing.
“Everything around here either bites
orsticksyou,”saidBobWalker,a Carlsbad
balloonist.
Hesaidflyingfromthefamous
Carlsbad Caverns“isdefinitelynot going
tohappen. The bugs, weedsand dirt have
more rights than we do.” Few roads for
chase crews exist there too.
“Even if a guy did get to fly there,
retrieve would be a bugger and I dare say
you would tear something up before the
day wasdone. The lecheguilla cactus can
tear upa car tire, imagine whatitwoulddo
to a balloon dragging to a stop,” he said.

Balloon Life,October 2000

Events:
Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally, in Las Cruces, mid-January, 85 balloons fly Saturday morning and evening, Sunday morning, with
a crew party Friday and a Saturday evening glow. Flights are hare and hound with $500 in prizes. Contact: Janette Stone, 5109
Hacienda, Las Cruces, NM88011. 505-382-5465.
Friends and Lovers Balloon Rally, in Rio Rancho, two morning flights the Saturday and Sunday closest to Valentine’s Day, 165
balloons fly hare and hound events for donated prizes and a trophy as well as to recognize crew members. Contact: AAAA, P.O.
Box90160, Albuquerque, NM87199. www.hotairballooning.org
The Snow-Ball Rally, in Chama, last fullweekendin February, 20balloons, funflights Saturday and Sundaymornings with
snowmobile retrievals. Contact: Marge Baxter, P.O. Box 92768, Albuquerque, NM 87199. 505-883-5874.
St. Patrick’s DayBalloon Rally, in Los Lunas, closest weekend toSt. Patrick’s Day, 100invited balloons fly morning flights
Saturday and Sunday, hare and hound, $1,000 purse. Valencia Flying and Retrieval Society. P.O. Box 1002, Peralta, NM 87042.
Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta, late April, 60-100 balloons fly Saturday and Sunday mornings in fun competition: pilots must
splash on Elephant Butte Lake, pick up a baton from a designated boater and toss a baggie at a target. Contact: Julia Cooper, P.O.
Box1355, ElephantButte, NM 87935. 505-744-5140. www.zianet.com/elephantbutte
Old Timers Balloon Rally, in Roswell, first weekend in May, 50 invited balloons, two fun flights Saturday and Sunday morning,
Saturdayeveningglow, reception at the UFO Museum. Bill Glen, 3203Radcliff Dr., Roswell, NM 88203. 505-622-9892.
FarmingtonInvitational BalloonFestival, MemorialDayweekend, 25balloons,twomorningflights SaturdayandSunday,
splash and dash and hare and hound competition for Native American prizes. Contact: Farmington Chamber of Commerce, 3041
East MainSt., Farmington, NM 87402. 800-448-1240. www.farmingtonnm.org
Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally, in Raton, three days around July 4, 30 balloons fly three morning flights for fun competition, one
glow, other community events includinga street dance. Contact: 4114Dietz Court NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107. 505-345-
7676. www.raton.com
The GreatAmericanDuckRace HotAir BalloonRally, in Deming, fourth weekend inAugust, 36 balloonsflySaturdayand
Sunday morning in hare andhound competition for a $500 purse. Contact: 209East Spruce, Deming, NM 88030. 1-888-345-
1125. www.demingduckrace.com
Santa Ana Blue Corn Harvest Festival, in Bernalillo, LaborDay weekend,70 balloons fly threemorning flights, Saturday through
Monday, $1,000purse;glow,crew games,awardbanquet;heldonNative Puebloland.Contact:Clare Wade-Callihan, 627
FairwayNW, Albuquerque, NM 87107. 505-343-9100.
White Sands Balloon Invitational, in Alamogordo, third weekend in September, 75 balloons, two morning fun flights, Saturday
and Sunday, from white sanddunesand from town15 miles away. Contact: P.O. Box 400, HighRolls, NM 88325. 505-682-
3785. http://www.alamogordo.com
KodakAlbuquerqueInternationalBalloonFiesta,nine days,firstSaturdaythroughthe followingSundayinearlyOctober,
1,000+ plusballoons in 2000,mass ascensionson weekend mornings, competitionflights andkeygrabs for cash,more than
$80,000 prizes, distancegas and hot-air flights, Balloon Glowwith hundreds of balloons and special shapes rodeos, special shape
Glodeos, andmore; more thana millionspectators. Contact:AIBF, 8309Washington Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113. 1-
888-422-7277. www.balloonfiesta.com
Taos Mountain Balloon Rally, late October, 55 invited balloons, three morning fun flights, Friday through Sunday, Saturday evening
Balloominaria, parade including chase vehicle floats. John R. Sena, 6521St. Joseph’s Ave. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120.

Bulldog Balloon Rally, in Artesia, second weekend in November, 30
balloonsflySaturdayandSundaymorningfunflights,Saturday
glow, receptionanddinner. Chamber of Commerce: P.O. Box99,
Artesia,NM 88211. 1-800-658-6251.
Red Rock Balloon Rally, in Gallup, first weekend in December, 200
balloons flythree flights, FridaythroughSunday morningsinnear
sandstoneformations in Red Rock StatePark; Balloominarias Friday
andSaturday.FlightsarefuncompetitionforNativeAmerican
handcraftedprizes.Contact:P.O.Box2621,Gallup,NM87305.
505-722-6274. www.redrockballoonrally.com
Balloonists Against Drunk Driving Holiday Invitational,in Carlsbad,
firstweekendin December, 35balloons, twomornings funflights
SaturdayandSunday,“ChristmasCarolsStarringtheBTU’s,”
balloonists set up baskets and burn to the beat to music Saturday night
along the Pecos River. Contact: 1025N. Halagueno, Carlsbad, NM
88220. 505-887-0775.
SocorroBalloonRally,mid-December,30balloonsflyforfun
Saturday and Sunday mornings; balloon glowSaturday evening after
a Christmas parade. Contact: Socorro Chamber of Commerce, P.O.
Box743, Socorro, NM 87801. www.socorro-nm.com

Alamogordo•

• Albuquerque
•Los Lunas

Carlsbad•

• Gallup

• Farmington• Chama

Santa Fe •

•Roswell

Deming •

• LasCruces

• Taos

Elephant
Butte •

• Bernalillo

• Artesia

• Socorro