September 1999
8th Annual Great Hudson Valley
BalloonRace was held over the June 11-
13 weekend.Theeventstarted Friday
night when dozens of colorful balloons
were launched from the DutchessCounty
Airport (about two hours north of New
York City) to kick off the event in near
cloudless skies.
PleasantV alley’s BillHugheswho is
the Balloonmeister for this Hudson Val-
ley event as well as the pilot of Electric
SunriseBalloonsaid thattheFederal
AviationAdministrationhadimposednew
guidelines that prevented the balloonists
from actually holding a competition. Be-
cause of this change, this year’s balloon
eventwasstrictly forfun. During one
launching someone did drop off from a
balloon ateddybearpilot whosafely
parachuted to the ground.
BillHughes said he “started this an-
nual event sevenyearsagowithDutchess
County Airport Manager Ed Rose.” Ed
Rosealwayssaid, “it’sa busylittleairport
that contributes to the local economy.”
The value of the airport goes beyond the
commercialflights.Special events heldat
theairport,suchastheGreatHudson
ValleyBalloonRaceandtheAutumn
Warbirds Show, help civic groups raise
money.
“Ideal ballooning conditions,” said
Roger Hooper of Wappingers Falls, New
York whoisthe pilotfor DragonFly.That
was Saturday morning when 32 balloons
tookoffandgracefullyfloatedover
Dutchess County and then over the Hud-
son River towards Ulster County.
When LeslieHooper was asked what
shethought when her husbandRoger first
suggested taking up ballooning, Leslie
said“we were together on a balloonflight
in the Adirondack… it was the most ex-
pensive balloon ride ever.” Another bal-
loonistover hearing the comment stated,
oneis$25,000”if yougetthebugtogo out
and buy your own balloon.
RogerHooper’schaseteamfor
DragonFly allhave similar stories totell.
Richand Francine wenton a balloon ride
for theiranniversary and werehooked.
Todd and Beth went on aballoon ride
theballoonsmightcome too close totheir
homes.OfficerVidal oftheTownof
Marlborough Police Department was on-
sitewhenCavin’s balloonlanded tomake
sureeverythingwasallright.Officer Vidal
did comment that “the police received a
call that one of the balloons went down in
the Hudson… it was a hoax.”
Most ofthe balloons in theevent
weresponsoredbylocalbusinesses.
Hooper’sDragonFlysponsorwasFishkill,
Hopewell. New Paltz Hot Bagels;Wayne
Van Allen’s Sounds of Silence sponsor
was WCZX RADIO; and RE/MAX Re-
alty sponsored their own REMAX bal-
loon pilotedbyCarroll Teitsworth;to
name a few.
Thisyear’sthree-day weekend event
drew in a crowd of 22,000 people, which
featured the balloonlaunchings, allkinds
of rides, food, and concessions. In be-
tween balloon launchings people could
view pilotsBillGordon and BillySegalla
of the Iron Eagle Aerobatic Team flying
two Super Christen II aircraft above the
airport or go over to the music tent and
listened to oneof the many bands that
were scheduled to appear.
“We got balloonsoff on every flight
except the last flight Sunday,” said Bill
Hughes, who is also the Balloonmeister
for the Adirondack region. 15 knot winds
cancelled the last balloon launch Sunday.
Winds also kept everyone but two bal-
loonists grounded Saturday evening as
well.
Balloons orno balloons, kids and
parents enjoyed the variety of rides, craft
vendors, and attractionslike climbingthe
iceberg wall to slide down the deck of a
sinkingTitanic Ship or justbeing able to
fly a kite. It was a weekend filled with
colorful magic for the young and young-
at-heart.
Balloon Race
ballooning ever since.
When asked how did the Dragon Fly
getits name,RogerHoopersaid“the
originalowner nameditCoxwell’sDragon
after the early 1900 balloonist Rudolph
Coxwell.” When Hooper purchased it he
registered it under the name Dragon Fly.
There were many multi-colored bal-
loonsatthe event. Two of the more inter-
estingballoonslaunched were the United
Van Lines Truck Balloonpiloted by Carl
Young of House Springs, Missouri and
The FlyingPurple PeopleEater pilotedby
John Cavin of Menlo, Georgia.
Saturdaymorning,Cavinsafely
landed The Flying Purple People across
the river inan apple orchard. Some of the
