Official 2019 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Program by Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Limited quantities available on a first come, first served basis. Limited to two products per customer per day. Two products are defined as two Canon DSLR cameras, two Canon Lenses, or a single Canon DSLR camera and single Canon Lens combination. † Sign up at usa.canon.com/balloons or at the Canon Tent. Limited spots available. *

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

CONTENTS WELCOME LETTERS 4 6 8

Ty Young, President, AIBF Kevin Ogawa, President and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico

Timothy M. Keller, Mayor of Albuquerque

OF INTEREST 10 12 14 16 17 18 19 22 24 28 30 100 108 112

Your Guide to Balloon Fiesta Events Schedule of Events Survival Guide Map Music Fiesta Entertainment Schedule 2019 AIBF Officers and Board of Directors 2019 Staff 2019 Officials Balloon Fiesta Sponsors Photography Tips Spectator Safety Tips America’s Challenge Winners and Records In Rememberance 2018 Balloon Fiesta Navigators

114

2018 Heritage Award

64 82

DIRECTORIES 31 62 89 96

2019 AIBF Balloon Directory Other Participating Pilots Special Shape Directory International Pilots

Gas Pilots

FEATURES 64 70 74 78 82 102

The “Fiesta” Balloons The Irish Balloonist Blessing Branding Balloon Fiesta Getting There is Half the “Fun” Life Lessons Learned While Ballooning Rewriting the Record Book: The Epic 2017 America’s Challenge

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

89 98

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Welcome from the President, Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®, Inc.

n behalf of the Board of Directors, staff and hundreds of Navigators (volunteers), welcome to the 2019 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta presented by Canon. As a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, I have had the great fortune to grow up around our great annual celebrations, beginning with the one that started it all in 1972, when I was not yet quite old enough to walk on my own. It is a true honor to work with our wonderful community to ensure Balloon Fiesta® will launch (and land!) for future generations to enjoy it as much as I have. The Balloon Fiesta could not operate without the support of our hundreds of Navigators who selflessly volunteer countless hours throughout the year to ensure the continued success of our event. Thank you also to

our corporate sponsors for their financial support that allows us to put on a world-class event while always striving to improve our guest experience. We are also fortunate to have neighbors who continue to work with us to improve the relationship between AIBF and our local community. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated pilots and crews who join us from all around the world each year to make our event so wonderful and unique. This year’s event offers a variety of amazing events from before the sun rises until the stars once again fill the sky in the evening. There is truly nothing like the unparalleled sight of the skies filled with balloons during our Mass Ascensions. We are very pleased to once again host the prestigious and elegant America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race after a one-year hiatus. The evening magic of the Balloon Glows and

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

fireworks shows are some of our most popular events. The flying competitions during the weekdays can be immensely enjoyable to watch, as the pilots skillfully attempt to accomplish their particular task of the day. Music Fiesta has grown in popularity over the years and will be the second Saturday (October 12). Whether you are a firsttime visitor, a fellow native, or fortunate enough to return each year, we hope you thoroughly enjoy the City of Albuquerque, the State of New Mexico and the 48th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta,

PICTURE PERFECT!

Ty Young President Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc

Welcome from the President and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. Welcome to the 2019 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, presented by Canon, an event like no other in which we journey to the Rio Grande Valley to witness and document a picturesque morning sky painted with vibrant hot air balloons. We are proud to be the Presenting Sponsor and Official Imaging Company of one of the most photographed events in the world for the fifth consecutive year. We established a Customer Support Center deep in the heart of the City of Albuquerque five years ago. It is a pleasure and honor to feel so connected to a community in which we established roots, and we look forward to continuing to grow our presence within this dynamic city in the years to come. This year’s theme is “Picture Perfect,” depicting the

wonderful quality of the setting with creative imagery unfolding in the skies above. At Canon U.S.A., we are very excited for this year’s theme “Picture Perfect,” as it holds a similar meaning; with our focus on delivering the right creative tools to capture this exquisite setting in the highest quality, keeping the memories of the Balloon Fiesta soaring high even when you return home and share your photos with family and friends. At this year’s festivities, we invite you to fuel your imagination, immerse yourselves in the surroundings, and take advantage of all Canon has to offer. Test out your creativity and sample our cameras and lenses onsite, capture the moment with a souvenir photo, experience our expert service and support, learn about our onsite exclusive discounts on Canon products,

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

and most importantly, learn and be inspired by our Canon experts through select guided photo walks of the experience. Also be sure to mark your calendars and be onsite for the first and last days of the Balloon Fiesta, in which the “Canon See Impossible” balloon will be the first to rise and punctuate the sky both during the Opening Day Mass Ascension and the Night Magic Glow™. We look forward to meeting you and helping you to shape this magical experience into an everlasting memory.

Kevin Ogawa President and COO Canon U.S.A., Inc.

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LaVidaLlena.com | (505) 293-4001 Not-for-profit affiliate of Haverland Carter LifeStyle Group

Welcome from the Governor, State of New Mexico Welcome to the Land of Enchantment! The annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a centerpiece event of our one-of-a-kind culture. There’s nothing quite like the buzz of the early morning atmosphere, the view of hundreds of balloons against the Sandias and a striking blue sky. When you’ve been here, when you’ve seen it, you never forget it. And that’s true of any number of places and experiences across New Mexico! From the glistening dunes of White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo to the powerful sense of place and history at Chaco Canyon,

from the dizzying spires of Tent Rocks to the deep woods of the Gila, from the worldfamous caverns in Carlsbad to the smell of roasting green chile in the fall: When you know, you know. New Mexico is adventure steeped in culture. Get out and see it! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your time at the Balloon Fiesta and I hope you come again to see us soon.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Your Guide to Balloon Fiesta Events MORNING EVENTS Dawn Patrol/Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Park Daily: This “balloon glow in the sky” features 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 1997.

ages, making the Balloon Fiesta’s visit to their school a true community event. Competitions Weekdays: In ballooning competitions, pilots use winds at different altitudes to reach a target and drop a marker so it lands as close to the center of the target as possible. The competitions also feature the

Special Shape Rodeo™ presented by Wells Fargo Bank

Mass Ascensions/Krispy Kreme Morning Glow Weekends and Wednesday: The spectacular Mass Ascensions of hundreds of hot-air balloons are the Balloon Fiesta’s signature events and are preceded by the Krispy Kreme Morning Glow, a “mini” balloon glow. Albuquerque Aloft Friday, October 4 approximately 7:00 AM: On the Friday before Balloon Fiesta begins, balloons fly from schools in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. Some school PTAs sell food and hot bever-

Pole Grab and Ring Toss, where pilots fly to poles at Balloon Fiesta Park to win fabulous prizes! Overall winners are determined by individual pilots’ cumulative scores during Balloon Fiesta week. Flight of the Nations Wednesday, October 9: The Flight of the Nations at Wednesday’s Mass Ascension honors pilots from all the nations participating in Balloon Fiesta, many of whom launch flying their national flag.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Thursday, October 11 “presented by Wells Fargo Bank” and Friday, October 12: Celebrating their 30th year, these special mass ascensions especially showcase the incredible craftsmanship, creativity, and artistry that make monsters, critters, and just about anything else you can imagine take flight.

AND DON’T MISS! Music Fiesta™ Featuring Justin Moore, Presented by Nash KRST 92.3 1 PM Saturday, October 12: This exciting afternoon event spotlights country music superstars Justin Moore and Cassadee Pope, along with Albuquerque’s own Tylor Brandon and

when all the balloons fire their burners and light up at the same time, is 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). America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race the Neon West Band. Your admission also gets you into the Night Magic Glow and AfterGlow Fireworks Show! For more on this event, visit page 16. EVENING EVENTS Balloon Glows Twilight Twinkle Glow™ Saturday October 5, presented by the Albuquerque Journal, Balloon Glow, Sunday, October 6 and Night Magic Glow, Saturday, October 12 presented by Canon: The static displays of illuminated balloons known as “balloon glows” are among the Balloon Fiesta’s most popular events. The “All Burn,”

Launch scheduled Saturday, October 5, approximately 6 PM: For balloon pilots, it’s one of the toughest tests of skill and endurance in the world, as nine championship teams fly across America, trying to achieve the greatest distance. To learn more about this exciting race, turn to page 102. Special Shape Glowdeo

Thursday October 10 and Friday October 11: 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 this is one of the Balloon Fiesta’s most popular events!

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Sandia Resort and Casino Saturday October 5, Sunday October 6, Thursday October 10, Friday October 11, and Saturday October 12, immediately after the Glows; note that AfterGlow times may change due to field and weather conditions: 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!

OTHER EVENTS: While at Balloon Fiesta Park, be sure to enjoy the AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition, the Fiesta of Wheels Car Show, pin trading, and our many Main Stage performances! Check online at BalloonFiesta.com or on our social media pages for details and times. Also, don’t forget to shop and eat your way through Main Street, visit the Balloon Discovery Center and our Artisans, tent, and more!

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 7:00 am Albuquerque Aloft (at local elementary schools)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 6:00 am Dawn Patrol Show, presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 6:45 am Opening Ceremonies 7:00 am Mass Ascension, presented by Canon 8:00 am - noon AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 1:00 - 5:00 pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 2:00 pm America’s Challenge Gas balloon Inflation 5:00 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 5:00 pm Chainsaw Carving Auction 6:00 pm America’s Challenge Gas Race Launch 6:00 pm Twilight Twinkle Glow™, presented by Albuquerque Journal 7:30 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 8:00 pm AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented by Sandia Resort and Casino

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 6:00 am Dawn Patrol Show, presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 7:00 am Mass Ascension 8:00 am - noon AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 1:00 - 5:00 pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 9:00 am Fiesta of Wheels Car Show (located on north end of Launch Field)

11:00 am Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Group Tour Tent north end of Main Street) 5:00 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 5:00 pm Chainsaw Carving Auction 6:00 pm Balloon Glow 7:30 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 8:00 pm AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented by Sandia Resort and Casino

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7 6:00 am Dawn Patrol 7:00 am Balloon Launch from Park 8:00 am Fly In Competition 8:00 am - noon AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstration

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8 COCA-COLA DAY 6:00 am Dawn Patrol 7:00 am Balloon Launch from Park 8:00 am Fly In Competition 8:00 am - noon AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstration

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9 6:00 am Dawn Patrol presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 7:00 am Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension 8:00 am Fly In Competition 8:00 am - noon AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstration

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10 KIDS’ DAY PRESENTED BY KOB–TV 4:30 am Kids’ Day Goodie Bag Distribution begins (South of Main Street Stage) 6:00 am Dawn Patrol 7:00 am Special Shape Rodeo™ presented by Wells Fargo Bank

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

8:00 am Fly In Competition 8:00 am - noon AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 1:00 - 5:00 pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 5:00 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 5:00 pm Chainsaw Carving Auction 6:00 pm Special Shape Glowdeo™ 7:30 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 8:00 pm* AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented by Sandia Resort and Casino

1:00 - 5:00 pm Music Fiesta 1:00 - 5:00 pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 5:00 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 5:00 pm Chainsaw Carving Auction 6:00 pm Night Magic™ Glow, presented by Canon 7:30 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 8:00 pm* AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented by Sandia Resort and Casino

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 6:00 am Dawn Patrol 7:00 am Special Shape Rodeo™ 8:00 am Fly In Competition 8:00 am - noon AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 1:00 - 5:00 pm AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 5:00 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 5:00 pm Chainsaw Carving Auction 6:00 pm Special Shape Glowdeo™ 7:30 pm Team Fastrax Skydiving 8:00 pm* AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show, presented by Sandia Resort and Casino

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 6:00 am Dawn Patrol Show, presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 7:00 am Mass Ascension 8:00 am-noon AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition 11:00 am Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Group Tour Tent north end of Main Street)

6:00 am Dawn Patrol Show, presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort 6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow 7:00 am Farewell Mass Ascension 8:00 - 11:00 am 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.

Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2019 Official Program

PICTURE PERFECT

Country’s Most Exciting Artists Headline the

SEVENTH MUSIC FIESTA

If you’re a country music fan, Balloon Fiesta Park is the place to be on the second Saturday of October! Every year, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s® annual Music Fiesta hosts hot young country artists for an afternoon of music and fun. Plan to stay for the Night Magic Balloon Glow and AfterGlow Fireworks!

Justin Moore An Arkansas native who grew up idolizing Dwight Yoakam and Keith Whitley, Justin Moore knows a thing or two about hit records himself. He landed his first country #1 with “Small Town USA,” the breakout single off his 2009 self-titled debut. The record went platinum, as did its 2011 follow-up, “Outlaws Like Me,” which yielded yet another #1 single with “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” In 2014, Moore landed the coveted

New Artist of the Year trophy at the ACM Awards after releasing his critically acclaimed third album, “Off The Beaten Path”, and in 2016, he dropped “Kinda Don’t Care”, his third consecutive #1 record. His latest album, “Late Nights and Longnecks,” tips its cap to Alan Jackson and George Strait with a no-frills portrait of small-town life and big-time dreams that’s not afraid to let its hair down and party at the end of a hard day’s work. The New York Times hailed Moore as proof that “old forms can stand even stronger with injections of new ideas.” Cassadee Pope Hitmaker Cassadee Pope found her passion for music at a young age singing 90’s country covers at local talent contests in her hometown of West Palm Beach, FL. As a teenager, her musical tastes shifted her to punk rock as she became the lead singer for and traveled the world touring with her band Hey Monday. After accepting an invitation to compete for a spot on The Voice, she became the first female winner and Grammy

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

nominee after winning Season 3. Since then, she has returned to her country roots. Her hits “Wasting All These Tears” and “Summer” became fan favorites, and now as an independent artist, she has found creative freedom with new songs “Take You Home,” “One More Red Light’ and her latest single “If My Heart Had A Heart.” Cassadee has recently finished her first independent country album, ‘Stages’, which is available now!

™

Entertainment Schedule

Tylor Brandon & the Neon West Band Sometimes a night out singing Karaoke with friends can change your life forever. That’s exactly what happened to Tylor Brandon in the fall of 2016. After receiving acclaim from friends about his baritone vocal range, Brandon began to perform with local New Mexico country artists before starting his own band in early 2017. The band, featuring Brandon along with award-winning fiddle player Emily Anslover, lead guitarist Joshua Lee, drummer Braden Anderson, and bassist Edgar Younger, offers a unique voice in country music combining a love for traditional country artists such as George Strait with the energy of modern Texas country artists. Brandon was voted “Best Male Vocalist” in the 2018 Weekly Alibi Reader’s Poll, and the band was awarded “Best Country & Western Band.” They are currently writing their first album while continuing to play across the Southwest.

Saturday, October 5 6:45 a.m. National Anthem: McKenna Faith 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Various Strolling Performers along Main Street 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: McKenna Faith (Country Rock) 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Air Force Academy Band 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Various Strolling Performers along Main Street 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Tylor Brandon Band (Country)

The fun begins at 1 PM, and Music Fiesta fans may choose from among a wide variety of ticket options, including our “ABQ Dance Box”, a grassy area right in front of the stage for those who want to kick off their shoes and dance all afternoon! And for those who want a true V.I.P. experience, the Balloon Fiesta also offers a very special “Ultimate Music Fiesta Package” at $499 which includes exclusive front-row seating, a Justin Moore CD and a Cassadee Pope CD, dinner in the Gondola Club following the concert, preferred parking, and lots of other goodies. Full details and tickets are available or through the Balloon Fiesta website, www.balloonfiesta.com.

MUSIC FIESTA TICKET OPTIONS

IN ADVANCE

OCTOBER 13

ABQ “Dance” Box Ticket required for persons of all ages.

$70

$75

Reserved Seating A and C Ticket required for persons of all ages.

$60

$65

Reserved Seating E Ticket required for persons of all ages.

$55

$60

Reserved Seating D and F Ticket required for persons of all ages.

$50

$55

Premier Lawn Area (Children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult.)

$25

$30

General Admission (Children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult.)

$10

Sponsors

Isleta Resort & Casino Launch Field Pylons Jack Daniels Whiskey

La Mesa RV Center Recreational Vehicle Dealer

A Virtual Receptionist AARP ABBA Technologies, Inc. ABQ ER & Hospital Aetna, Inc.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Ahern Rentals, Inc. Akima, LLC Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North Albuquerque Youth Symphony Allianz Alta Data Technologies, LLC Amazing Jumps, LLC American Heart Association AMERIND Risk Management Corporation Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum ANM Aviation Insurance Resources Baca’s Trees Barefoot Wine Bass Pro Shops Bernitsky Vision Bimbo Bakeries, USA Bobby J’s Yamaha Boost Oxygen Call811.com Cameron Balloons Carvana Cavender’s Central New Mexico Community College Choura Events CHRISTUS St. Vincent City of Grants

City of Page City of Rio Rancho Civil Air Patrol Indiana Civil Air Patrol New Mexico Comcast Cable Coronado Center Cottonwood Mall Cox Utility Services Crowne Plaza Albuquerque Cummins Sales & Service D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro Dell Technologies Delta Dental of New Mexico Descartes Labs, Inc. Desert Premium Group, LLC Diamond Resorts International Dominican Republic Tourism Don Chalmers Ford Donate Life-New Mexico Donor Services Dreamstyle Remodeling Embassy Suites Hotel Albuquerque Experimental Aircraft Association Farmers Insurance, Rod Baca Agency Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau First Citizens Bank Flex Seal Family of Products

Floor and Décor Ford Motor Company Fortis Construction, Inc. General Mills, Inc. Gold Peak Tea Grand Canyon Resort Corporation Hayden Construction, Inc. Holly Frontier Refining & Marketing, Inc. IMTS Indian Motorcycle of Albuquerque Intel Corporation Jewel’s International Kiwanis Club of Albuquerque KOB TV Krispy Kreme Doughnuts KRQE/KASA Fox New Mexico Kubicek Balloons La Vida Llena Lands’ End, Inc. Lighthouse Business Information Solutions, LLC Lindstrand Balloons Main Event Entertainment, Inc. Melloy Nissan Morgan Stanley

NASA National Distributing Company, Inc. National Park Service NDT Consulting Group, Inc. New Mexico Deptartment of Transportation, Aviation Division New Mexico Gas Company New Mexico Home Builders Association New Mexico Prints, LLC New Mexico State University New Mexico Tourism Department Niagara Bottling, LLC NM Mutual Group Nob Hill Main Street, Inc. Nusenda Credit Union Off Your Rock’r Office Depot Optiv Pandora Paychex, Inc. Philadelphia Insurance Companies PlainsCapital Bank/Hilltop Securities Preventive Pest Control LLC Rainbow Ryders, Inc.

RE/MAX Realty One New Mexico Regal Rio Bravo Brewing Company, LLC Route 66 Casino Hotel & RV Resort Safelite Auto Glass Schlotzsky’s Statewide Products Company, Inc. Steel Bender Brewyard Sullair, LLC SupplyOne Albuquerque Taco Cabana TD Ameritrade Team Texas The Garrity Group Public Relations LLC The Maez Group The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho The Turquoise Museum The Weather Channel T-Mobile USA, Inc. Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives Trend Micro UltraMagic S.A. United Rentals, Inc.

University of Kansas Jayhawks University of New Mexico Athletic Department University of South Florida UNM Health Sciences Center US Bank Utmost Therapy Visit the USA Wagner Equipment Company Waste Management of New Mexico Waterstone Mortgage Corporation Weck’s Wells Fargo Advisors Wendy’s Westwind Computer Products, Inc. Williams Scotsman, Inc. Wonder Bread Worldwide Rental Services, Inc. Zia Diagnostic Imaging

PICTURE PERFECT

FREE RV

SUPER SHOW OCTOBER 3RD - 13TH 9am - 6pm Mon - Sat Â· 10am - 6pm Sun

At La Mesa RV

I-40 @ Exit 149 Atrisco Vista Blvd.

N O I T C E L E S E HUG

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FIESTA N O O L L A THE B BALLOON FIESTA STREET AT NAL

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Photo Tips BE BOLD AND TAKE RISKS Here are some tips for getting amazing images of this spectacular event! DAWN PATROL

ASCENDING BALLOONS

Rising into the still-dark skies each morning are the Dawn Patrol. At 6AM every day, Dawn Patrol pilots head into the air with only their burners to light the way.

By this point in the morning, the horizon will be awash with vibrant colors as balloons inflate and take to the skies to fly across the valley.

Pro Tip: Early in the morning, we suggest using a tripod and remote. If you use your tripod and have an IS lens, make sure you turn off the IS function while you shoot. Since the balloons lift off while it’s still dark outside, a wide-angle lens is ideal. MASS ASCENSION This is when the balloon field kicks into high-gear. Pilots will fire up their burners, shooting flames into the balloons to inflate them. Pro Tip: Use a wide-angle lens to get photos of the ground activity. Use a telephoto-zoom lens to get detail shots or portraits of reactions in the crowd. Shooting with the sun rising behind the balloons will provide some beautiful silhouettes and add ambiance to the scene.

Pro Tip: Once the sun is on the rise, try to shoot with the sun to your side or back. At this position you can use it to better show the curve of the balloons and illuminate their colors. BALLOON GLOW This sets the mood for a magical evening. Don’t miss the twinkling lights of random balloons just before the order for ”All Glow”, when a warm light illuminates the entire field. Pro Tip: Adjust your angle. Set-up your gear with the main field in front of you and the mountainside behind you, for the best shots. Use a tripod and a wireless remote or cable release to reduce motion blur. FIREWORKS Getting your camera dialed-in to the correct settings can make or break

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

a fantastic light display. Pro Tip: Fireworks need long exposure times, so use a tripod for this event. A remote or cable release prevents accidental camera shake to you get clear, sharp images. The balloons won’t be moving either, so turn off auto-focus to keep it from draining your camera battery. Use a longer shutter speed to increase the trails of the fireworks. SPECIAL SHAPE BALLOONS The Special Shape Rodeo™ and Special Shape Glowdeo™ are both a big hit with kids and adults alike. Pro Tips: Frame other balloons with the ones in the foreground. Use special shape balloons as fun backdrops for family photos and selfies.

DURING HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT Going on a balloon ride? Get your camera in either Auto or P (Program) Mode so you can focus on your aerial experience instead of the camera settings. Pro Tip: Now would be a great time to bring a pointand-shoot. Neck straps and wrist straps are your best friend. With your camera properly secured to your person, you can feel more confident shooting extreme angles. Be Creative: Whether you’re going for a day or the entire event, there are plenty of chances to grab amazing shots. While we’ve suggested some camera settings here, the ultimate goal is for you to have fun! Find your own style and see what you like best.

Enjoy the cultural amenities the City of Albuquerque’s Cultural Services Department has to offer. Edward Gonzales Portrait of Patrocinio Barela, ca. 1981, acrylic on canvas

Between mass ascensions and balloon glows, be sure to visit… ABQ BioPark

Zoo • Aquarium • Botanic Garden • Tingley Beach

Visit penguins in the desert at the new Penguin Chill exhibit at the Zoo and get acquainted with river otters, Chaos and Mayhem, at the Aquarium.

Albuquerque Balloon Museum

Experience the history, science, sport, and art of ballooning and other innovative forms of flight at the gateway to exploration, discovery, and achievement.

Albuquerque Museum Chronicling more than 600 years of history, the Museum brings Albuquerque to the world and the world to Albuquerque.

Old Town

With more than 150 shops, galleries, and eateries, Old Town is also home to free live entertainment from noon to 4 p.m. each day Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 13 at Plaza Vieja Gazebo in the heart of Albuquerque.

¡Explora!

Explora is a new kind of learning place, providing real experiences with real things that put people’s learning in their own hands.

www.CultureABQ.com • 505.768.3556

Safety Tips Lovelace Health System is proud to be the official health care provider for the 2019 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Below is a list of helpful safety tips to help you enjoy your visit in good health:

Limit alcohol consumption. Remember, you’re at a mile-high altitude, which could increase alcohol’s impact.

Dress in layers. It’s sometimes very cool in the morning, but after sunrise it will warm up noticeably.

Bring water. Stay hydrated throughout the day.

Use sunscreen. At a higher altitude you’re at an increased risk for sunburn.

Bring appropriate eye protection. Sun and wind could be your enemies on a sunny or windy day.

Don’t smoke anywhere near the balloons. A lit cigarette could possibly ignite a balloon’s propane fuel tank.

Choose a place to meet in case someone gets separated or lost. Make sure young children have some form of identification on them.

Don’t “drive and watch” at the same time. The balloons are a magnificent but distracting sight. Move completely off to the side of the road to watch.

Watch where you’re going. Beware of vehicles moving around the field, especially emergency vehicles trying to get through the crowd.

10. Bring a flashlight for evening events. Also, take note of where you parked your car—it’s more difficult to find in the dark. Use the Balloon Fiesta app to pin the location of your car.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Lovelace Health System’s emergency medical professionals provide onsite 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.

2019 Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂ®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Abell, Jim KIPHAVEN San Ramon, CA United States

Adams, Steven MISS SHENANIGANS Albuquerque, NM United States

Adelsberger, Kurt TRANSITION Chino Hills, CA United States

Adie, Martin HOPSCOTCH Edgewood, NM United States

Adler, David UNEXPECTED DELIGHT Yuma, AZ United States

Ahern, James MISSING LINK Albuquerque, NM United States

Akin, JB LOW RESOLUTION Edmond, OK United States

Aley, Dave AFTERNOON DELIGHT Albuquerque, NM United States

Allsup, Scott PHOENIXSON Phoenix, AZ United States

Anderson, Allen TWISTED PIXIE Minden, NV United States

Anderson, Denny J.A.B. 3 Ankeny, IA United States

Anger, Frank AMERICA Tupelo, MS United States

Anthony, Johnny RISING STAR Sandia Park, NM United States

Appelman, Scott DOS EQUIS Albuquerque, NM United States

Arends, Shane HOT TOPIX Grand Island, NE United States

Arkwell, Kathy CLYDESCOPE Peoria, IL United States

Armstrong, Bill BAND OF GOLD Goodyear, AZ United States

Armstrong, Marion PIXEL ME THIS Dalworthington Gardens, TX United States

Ashworth, Jeffrey SLAINTE! Corrales, NM United States

Askren, Sean INTEL Middletown, OH United States

Aubol-Hanks, Nancy GIGGLES & GRINS Bosque Farms, NM United States

Bacon, Frank SUN FLYER Los Ranchos, NM United States

Bair, Dave BAIRLY AWAKE Colorado Springs, CO United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Baca, Rod CRUISE CONTROL Los Lunas, NM United States

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the

adventure above all.

SANDIAPEAK.C OM

Enjoy a meal with a view! T E N3 T R A M. C O M

S A N D I AG O S. C O M

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Bair, Ray KALEIDOSCOPE Albuquerque, NM United States

Baird, Andy STARS AND STRIPES Dexter, MI United States

Ball, David GYPSY DRIFTER Cherry Valley, CA United States

Ballengee, Kelli AIRRAGEOUS Placitas, NM United States

Barnes, Kent HEATWAVE Murray, UT United States

Bartra, Alex AIRMOSA Rio Rancho, NM United States

Bauwens, Mike BETTY’S BABY GRANDE Park City, UT United States

Beebe, Ken TORTUGA DEL FUEGO Rio Rancho, NM United States

Bell, Graham BLANK CZECH Malvern, Worcestershire Great Britain

Bergeon, Tom MICKEY’S RAINBOW Mason, MI United States

Bertetto, Mike NERFER Albuquerque, NM United States

Biernacki, Buzz MORNING MAGIC Albuquerque, NM United States

Bloom, Branden ROYAL RACER Indianola, IA United States

Bloom, Kirk RADIOACTIV Indianola, IA United States

Bobel, Dave THAT-A-WAY Fort Myers, FL United States

Bojanovic, Jernej JACK FM Belmont, Ontario Canada

Bonney, Linda HIGH HOPES Albuquerque, NM United States

Boulger, John DAKOTA SUNRISE Fargo, ND United States

Bowie, Manning RISING STARS Martinez, GA United States

Bowman, James DOT Oklahoma City, OK United States

Boyd, Gary THE GRATEFUL RED Albuquerque, NM United States

Braddock, Mike FINALEY Brandon, FL United States

Braden, Kris RAINBOW RYDERS Rio Rancho, NM United States

Braden, Morgan HIGHBISCUS Lake Havasu City, AZ United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Bradley, Troy RAINBOW RYDERS Albuquerque, NM United States

Brandt, Phil TAIYO San Marcos, CA United States

Breffeilh, Margaret DIAMONDS Driggs, ID United States

Bristol, David ORANGE CRUSH Sautee, GA United States

Broker, Bill EXCELLENCE Frisco, TX United States

Brown, Tom TOMFOOLERY Plainwell, MI United States

Browning, Derek THIS END UP Louisville, KY United States

Buckner, Jason THE USUAL Albuquerque, NM United States

Burgess, Zach RAINBOW RYDERS Monroe, OH United States

Bussey, Bill BLUE DIAMOND Longview, TX United States

Butko, Alex COLORFUL Moscow Russia

Butler, Bill MONKEY BUSINESS Alamogordo, NM United States

Buzzard, Earl BUZZARDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ROOST 2 Albuquerque, NM United States

Byer, Randy DOUBLE TROUBLE Corrales, NM United States

Caldwell, Trent WILD CHILD Albuquerque, NM United States

Candelaria, Joe MO-JOE BLUE Albuquerque, NM United States

Carlson, Brian DREAMS FULFILLED Wakarusa, KS United States

Carlton-Vish, Donna SUNNY SIDE UP Danville, IL United States

Carpenter, Michael SWEET CAROLINE II Rio Rancho, NM United States

Carreathers, Lonnie SPECTRUM Rio Rancho, NM United States

Carroll, Sean TWISTED DRIFTER Marietta, GA United States

Carter, Buddy FLYING RAINBOW Pleasant Garden, NC United States

Cass, Gary RED HOT Yuma, AZ United States

Cathey, Phil SKITTLES Roswell, NM United States

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Caton, Tom TIME TRAVELER Byrnes Mill, MO United States

Chando, Morghan MOJO’S REVERSE GRAVITY MACHINE Albuquerque, NM United States

Chando, Pat PATTURNS IN CZECH Albuquerque, NM United States

Chavez, Laurie JESSE’S GIRL TOO Albuquerque, NM United States

Christian, Bret RESURREXION Indianola, IA United States

Clark, Richard OUR TREAT Calgary, Alberta Canada

Cline, Don DAY BREAK II Greensboro, NC United States

Cliver, Bubba BUBBALLOON Lewisville, TX United States

Cliver, Chris HAPPY HOUR Lewisville, TX United States

Cloyd, Timothy GLORIOUS DRIFTER Runnells, IA United States

Coan, Larry SUPERFLUOUS New Hudson, MI United States

Cochran, Tony COLORADO Broomfield, CO United States

Coffing, Steve TWIST OF FATE Albuquerque, NM United States

Cook, Kelli HIGH MAINTENANCE Greenwood Village, CO United States

Cooper, Hal UPTUIT Port Hope , Ontario Canada

Copas, Jerry EZ BALLOON Sellersburg, IN United States

Courtney, Greg SMILE HIGH Dallas, TX United States

Cowen, Dave TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL Corrales, NM United States

Cowgar, Jeremy BLOCK PARTY Norton, OH United States

Cowlishaw, Brenda ZOE Bulverde, TX United States

Cox, Jordan PATCHES Indianapolis, IN United States

Crawford, Grant JR. Los Lunas, NM United States

Crouch, Clayton FINISH LINE Denver, CO United States

Cuneo, Peter SANDIA SUNRISE II Albuquerque, NM United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Curry, Ron 770 KKOB Corrales, NM United States

Cutter, Will LIBERTY Phoenix, AZ United States

Davie, Ryan TWILIGHT ZONE Rio Rancho, NM United States

Davis Jr., Gil HUWAKA Albuquerque, NM United States

Derebey, Steven GOT THE HOTZ Roscoe, IL United States

Despres, Denise BOOBOULINA Cedar Crest, NM United States

DeVaney, Mark POP-A-TOP, AGAIN Bosque Farms, NM United States

Dickey, Frank 2ND WIND Albuquerque, NM United States

Dieringer, Nathan TEXAS BLUEBONNET Menasha, WI United States

DiLibero, Barry LARRY THE PHOENIX Chester Springs, PA United States

Dimmitt, Bill SUNRISE ANGEL Los Lunas, NM United States

Dinkler, Fred CARRIED AWAY Livingston, TX United States

Doll, Penny RACING WITH THE WIND Roeland Park, KS United States

Donley, Dean RAINBOW RYDERS Albuquerque, NM United States

Dougherty,Don DARK SUNRISE Colorado Springs, CO United States

Draughn, Ken XTREMELY CONTAGIOUS Burlington, NC United States

Drennan, Ben SHOVELMAN Cordele, GA United States

Drganc, Luka SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada

Duff, Jeff SINCERELY Albuquerque, NM United States

Dumke Jr, Don FLO Florence, WI United States

Edmiston, Fred STARS Maxwell, TX United States

Eichhorn, Dave MARAUDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MARK Corrales, NM United States

Eismin, Tom BLUE MAGIC West Lafatayette, IN United States

Eklund, Timmerly KALISTA Washburn, IL United States

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Eldridge, Stacy REDNECK COWBOY Rio Rancho, NM United States

Ellis-Ostgulen, Debi PLUM FIRED-UP Albuquerque, NM United States

Emry, Gordon FRESH AIRE III Norfolk, NE United States

Evans, Tim CREW BALLOON Cedar Crest, NM United States

Ewer, Dan BLUE MOON Tucson, AZ United States

Fall, Darrin BAZINGA! Jackson, MI United States

Fenske, David CRIMSON STAR Albuquerque, NM United States

Ferguson, Ken ITSA TOUCHIE SUBJECT Albuquerque, NM United States

Fischer, Jason FIBONACCI Swarthmore, PA United States

Fisher, Tom BREEZY RIDER Albuquerque, NM United States

Fitch, Matt PLUM FANCY Albuquerque, NM United States

Fitzgerald, William VOYAGER Lubbock, TX United States

Fitzpatrick, William INTEGRITY Albuquerque, NM United States

Fleury, Mike FLEUR DE TUCSON Red Rock, AZ United States

Fogue, Patrick IMTS Columbia, MO United States

Ford, Mike WHITAKER’S GIFT Albuquerque, NM United States

Francois, Jean-Michel DRAGONFLYES La Viguerie, Salles Courbaties France

Fox, Mark ALF Cocoa Beach, FL United States

Francouer, Danielle A SMILE FROM THE SKY Montreal, Quebec Canada

Freedman, Neil RAINBOW RYDERS Albuquerque, NM United States

Gabriel, Jason SPIRIT OF ‘76 Aurora, CO United States

Gallant, Mike AURORA’S FLAME Columbus, IN United States

Garcia, Gregory ELLA-VATION Albuquerque, NM United States

Garcia, Jerry TENTAI THE SEQUEL Albuquerque, NM United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Gardner, Tom AJUUA DREAMER Albuquerque, NM United States

Gauthier, Guy ORANGE CRUSH Henderson, TX United States

Gauthier, Marty T BABY Waterford, MI United States

Gauthier, Ted DAY DREAMER Pontiac, MI United States

Gauthier, Travis CANDY CORN Waterford, MI United States

Gebhart, Aaron STEP-N-UP Milford, IA United States

Gebhart, James DOUBLE TROUBLE Indianola, IA United States

George, Peter GRAND BRITANNIA Oxford, Oxfordshire Great Britain

Gianetti, Michael FIESTA SUNRISE Boulder, CO United States

Gilles, Jeff TCBALLOONTOURS Traverse City, MI United States

Gindlesparger,Mark PHENOM Murphysboro, IL United States

Glas, Richard HEAD WEST Phoenix, AZ United States

Gleed, David PEGASUS Coldstream, British Columbia Canada

Glen, Bill HEAVENS QUILT Maricopa, AZ United States

Godlevsky, Curt SUNWALKER Littleton, CO United States

Goldbloom, Jenn WONDERFUL WHIRLED Norristown, PA United States

Gonzales, Michael THE JOURNEY Rio Rancho, NM United States

Goodman, Bill BUTTER FLY Alturas, CA United States

Goosey, Rick TJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOY Pleasant Hill, MO United States

Gorenflo, Mike TM FLUFNSTUF Albuquerque, NM United States

Goss, Dick LAST MANGO Leander, TX United States

Graf, Sandy AMERICAN RACER Flower Mound, TX United States

Graff, Gerry LOFTY Albuquerque, NM United States

Graham, Sandy INSTAGRAHAM Alta Loma, CA United States

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Grassbaugh, Robert I DON’T KNOW Albuquerque , NM United States

Grauberger, Sheldon RAINBOW RYDERS Gardnerville, NV United States

Green, John INTREPID Albuquerque, NM United States

Greenwood, Eric ENCHANTED Albuquerque, NM United States

Griego, Jeff AMERICAN BEAUTY Albuquerque, NM United States

Grote, Matthew JESTER UNWINDZ Rio Rancho, NM United States

Gunter, Ryan WIZZARD Albuquerque, NM United States

Haarhuis, Sanne ARIANA Breda, North Brabant Netherlands

Hackett, Myia RIK RAK Walla Walla, WA United States

Hahn, Allan HEAVEN BOUND, TOO Aurora, CO United States

Hajek, Wayne FLYING COLORS Tyndall, SD United States

Hance, Mike MIKE’S 2 IRRESISTIBLE Mckinney, TX United States

Handl, Stefan SANDIA SUNLITE Heroldsbach, Bavaria Germany

Harbold, Clarke IT’S A ZOO Charlotte, NC United States

Harris, Mark FULL CIRCLE Denver, CO United States

Hartshorn, Sharon SEEKING NIRVANA Amarillo, TX United States

Harwell, Pat MAVERICK Keithville, LA United States

Haynes, Anthony ALMOST THERE Houston, TX United States

Haynes, Kevin LA CUMBIA Bogotá, Distro Capital Colombia

Hays, Craig BEAUTIFUL NOISE Coppell, TX United States

Head, Tarp HIGH OVER HEAD Helen, GA United States

Healy, Bob AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ Albuquerque, NM United States

Heap, Brian BLACK DOG Albuquerque, NM United States

Heartsill, Joe TEXAS RACER San Angelo, Tx United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Heartsill, Lucas TEXAS RACER II San Angelo, TX United States

Heartsill, Rhett TEXAS STAR Fort Worth, TX United States

Heavin, Gary ALMOST HEAVEN Gatesville, TX United States

Hebrlee II, Bud DIAMOND GIRL The Villages, FL 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

Heinrich, Sally PATIENCE Phoenix, AZ United States

Held, Adrian CUPID’S HEART Lachen, Schwyz Switzerland

Hennigan, John USA Indio, CA United States

Hernandez, Mike VELMA Fort Edward, NY 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

Hoch, Darcy HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS Milo, IA United States

Hodges, Eric KKISSES OF FIRE Rio Rancho, NM United States

Hoefler, Greg CAPRICE DU CIEL Chaillon, Lorraine France

Hofer, John JYNS TONIC Tijeras, NM United States

Hofheins, Mark THE VIKING DRAGON Rio Rancho, NM United States

Hoge, Peyton PHEISTY Louisville, KY United States

Hoidahl, Jim SQUIRREL La Luz, NM United States

Holmes, David JOSEPH’S COAT Rocheport, MO United States

Holt, Judy DESERT DRIFTER Phoenix, AZ United States

Hooper, Jerry S.S. AMERICA Corpus Christi, TX United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

TOWN OF

BERNALILLO

SMALL TOWN | BIG EVENTS

Authentic Native American Arts Festival

May 2-3, 2020

10am-6pm | Loretto Park, Bernalillo

Rio Grande Celtic Festival

May 2-3, 2020

9am-6pm | Rotary Park, Bernalillo

Memorial Day

May 25, 2020

11am-1pm | Rotary Park, Bernalillo

Farm House Ale Event

June 6, 2020

12 Noon-6pm | Loretto Park, Bernalillo

4th of July Celebration / Mayor’s Bash

July 4, 2020

11am-4pm | Rotary Park, Bernalillo

August 9-11, 2020

327th Annual Fiestas De San Lorenzo Time TBA | Rotary Park, Bernalillo

August 15-16, 2020

51st Annual Sheriff's Posse Rodeo 6pm-9pm | Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Grounds

7th Annual Mountain West Brew Fest

August 29, 2020

11am-7pm | Loretto Park, Bernalillo

November 7-8, 2020

AKC Sporting Dogs Show 8am-5pm | Rotary Park, Bernalillo

December 4, 2020

36th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting 6pm | Bernalillo Town Hall

December 5, 2020

36th Annual Nighttime Christmas Parade 6:30pm-8pm | Camino del Pueblo, Town of Bernalillo

www.townofbernalillo.org

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Hora, Tomas G-DADDY Praha Czech Republic

Howell, Dustin HIGH CIRRUS Minden, LA United States

Howes, Skip WILDFIRE Colorado Springs, CO United States

Hueschen, Rick TOOTS Cedar Crest, NM United States

Humiston, Charles FLAMEBUOYANT 2 Albuquerque, NM United States

Humphreys, Ben COX811BALLOON Columbia, MO United States

Hungerford, Brenda HOT FLASH Dayton, NV United States

Hunter, Seth ZILTOID! Albuquerque, NM United States

Hurst, Matt THE CAPTAIN Truxton, MO United States

Ibbotson, Mark MARIAH Grand Prairie, TX United States

Ibbotson-Sullivan, Amanda STARDUST Fort Worth, TX United States

Jackson, Neil FLYING CIRCUS Albuquerque, NM United States

James, Gay WANDERER Orland, CA United States

James, Rick AIRBENDER Judson, TX United States

Johnson, Colleen MARY ALICE IN WONDERLAND Mitchell, NE United States

Johnson, Jeff KEMO SABE Arroyo Grande, CA United States

Johnson, Mike SKYTREK Mitchell, NE United States

Johnson, Randy AIR SHE GOES Bosque Farms, NM United States

Jones, Chris SERENITY Amarillo, TX United States

Jones, Jason RAINBOW RYDERS Overland Park, KS United States

Jones, Joel BREAKING WIND Seale, SC United States

Jones, Richard POLAR DAWN Concord, NH United States

Jones, Steve TEXAS MAGIC Belton, TX United States

Karlsson, Diane AFTER MIDNIGHT Chandler, TX United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

SUNWEST STRENGTH,

LEGACY & SPIRIT SUNWEST SILVER CO INC 324 Lomas Blvd., NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 (800) 771-3781 Sunwest on the Plaza 56-58 Lincoln Ave. Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 982-022

Shop Southwest Style at Sunwest

1 (800) 771-3781 sales@sunwestsilver.com

offers.sunwesthandmade.com/balloonfiesta

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Kassam, Munir ROAD TRIP Nairobi Kenya

Kaufman, Blair STARS AND STRIPES Tulsa, OK United States

Keefe, Chris NIFTY GADGET Cross Plains, WI United States

Keller, Kelli FUNNER La Quinta, CA United States

Keller, Tom FUNNEST La Quinta, CA United States

Kelly, Mike PRIMARYDREAM Albuquerque, NM United States

Kenworthy, Chris ON THE ROCKS Rio Rancho, NM United States

Kerber, Rick RAINBOW RYDERS Wayland, MI United States

Keyser, Ralph EOS Albuquerque, NM United States

Kimball, Jayson DISCO Napa, CA United States

Kious, Thomas DREAM ON Albuquerque, NM United States

Kirson, Damian RAINBOW RYDERS Albuquerque, NM United States

Klein, Ray SKUBI RACER Scottsdale, AZ United States

Knuth, Paul SOMETHING CAME UP Crestwood, KY United States

Koenig, David BLULOON Menasha, WI United States

Kollin, Dennis MINI PHEE Oxford, MI United States

Komadina, Mark NEVER FORGET Rio Rancho, NM United States

Kross, Bob MORNING MANNA Rapid City, SD United States

Kugler, John STILL FLAMING McCook, NE United States

Lajoye, Laurent LBI Scy-Chazelles France

Lamb, Patrick AERO CORDERO Las Cruces, NM United States

Lang, Dale JELLY BEAN Taber, Alberta Canada

Lard, Anthony IRIS Albuquerque, NM United States

LaRotonda, Carol AEROTONDA Albuquerque, NM United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Lavoie, Michael CAT SASS Arizona City, AZ United States

Lavorgna, Bruce AERODACTYL Austin, TX United States

Lawson, Alan BASS PRO SHOPS Kirbyville, MO United States

Lee, Bill TRUE-LEE NEW MEXICO Gallup, NM United States

Lescarbeau, Alan RAINBOW RYDERS Phoenix, AZ United States

Lete, Cheryl AIRLOOM Rio Rancho, NM United States

Libel, Steven AIRHAWK Marco Island, FL United States

Liberti, Chris AIRTIGHT Highlands Ranch, CO United States

Liberti, Daniel MORNING WOOD Box Elder , SD United States

Lindsey, Greg FLOATING AWAYSIS Safford, AZ United States

Lips, Arne LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN Oostende, West Flanders Belgium

Lites III, Art DOUBLE FLASH Albuquerque, NM United States

Little, Lee PHENIX Mustang, OK United States

Llado-Costa, Josep M TRAMUNTANA Igualada, Catalonia Spain

Loflin, Jack EMERALD Aurora, OR United States

Lombardi, Steve WINNERS CIRCLE Edgewood, TX United States

Lowenstein, Al SUNSET MINI Albuquerque, NM United States

Lutz, Keith HIGH MAINTENANCE II Saint Charles, MO United States

Lynch, Bill SIZZLER Neosho, MO United States

Lynch, Jim WHIRLAWAY Destin, FL United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

MacKechnie, Roger SILVER SPIRIT Tucson, AZ United States

MacLean, Tristan TIME FLIES Albuquerque, NM United States

Macskimming, Mark MOVIN’ MAGIC Harrisburg, PA United States

Maes, Ted WELLS FARGO II Albuquerque, NM United States

Mancini, J.J. NIGHTLIGHT Albuquerque, NM United States

Manus, William MEH Bosque Farms, NM United States

Marshall, Jimmy MORNING GLORY Sonoma, CA United States

Martens, Eric HOTSHOT Indianola, IA United States

Martin, Ronald LOUIE Tampa, FL United States

Martindell, Donald DAWN SONG II Albuquerque, NM United States

Martinez, Frankie BONNIE BLUE Los Lunas, NM United States

Marx, Michael FIRED UP TOO Prosper, TX United States

Mason, Jaybird FLAME ON Albuquerque, NM United States

Mass, Robert PITA’S KISS Albuquerque, NM United States

Mast, Bill RAVEN Albuquerque, NM United States

McClinton, Scott US BANK Prospect, KY United States

McConnell, Tom ZIA Albuquerque, NM United States

McGrath, Pat KERRY GOLD Yucaipa, CA United States

McGuire, Dan WILD THING TOO! College Station, TX United States

Meleski, Nicholas IZIA BALLOON Albuquerque, NM United States

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Melton, Dave PURPLE HAZE New Harmony, UT United States

Mezzancello, Steven MEZZMERIZE Albuquerque, NM United States

Michalek, Gary OSLIVE VZDUCHO Lafayette, CA United States

Mick, Bryan ALBUQUERQUE HOPPER Albuquerque, NM United States

Miller, Dick THUNDERSTRUCK Miami, FL United States

Monk, Chris RAINBOW RYDERS Glastonbury Great Britain

Morgan, Gary GARY’S BALLOON Bedford, NH United States

Moughan, Gavin ANGEL WINGS Albuquerque, NM United States

Msuya, Moses CHYM FM Belmont, Ontario Canada

Mullinax, Tom 5 O CLOCK HIGH Greenville, SC United States

Mumm, Karalyn CITRUS IN THE SKY Reno, NV United States

Nakamura, Judith BOUNCE Placitas, NM United States

Nash, Johnny DOUBLOON CON NEGRO Parker, CO United States

Neubauer Jr, Rick BREAKING WIND Port Orange, FL United States

O’Brien, Bob NAVAJO BOB Waupaca, WI United States

O’Byrne, Clarke FUEGO ENCANTADO Albuquerque, NM United States

Oldenburg, Sue J.A.M. Albuquerque, NM United States

Olguin, Paul SILVER LINING Chandler, AZ United States

Olivier, Orvin EARTH CHILD Sioux Falls, SD United States

O’Neill, Mark SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Osborne, Dwayne SKYSCRAPER Phoenix, AZ United States

Ostrand, DJ DEN’S Oxford, MI United States

Owen, Brooke ADKBALLOON.COM Saratoga Springs, NY United States

Paisley, Jr., John SUNDANCE III Burlington, NC United States

Pattyn, Dale HYGGELIG Kennesaw, GA United States

Paulin, Jerry TREE TOP FLYER Yuma, AZ United States

Paulin, Mathew UNWIND Yuma, AZ United States

Pawar, Sangram CHECK RIDE Pune, Maharashtra India

Peek, Fred O’LOUGH Albuquerque, NM United States

Peete, Lichele SILVER LINING Albuquerque, NM United States

Pendleton, Craig SPIRIT TOO! Albuquerque, NM United States

Person, Bud SCREWED UP GATOR Gainesville, FL United States

Peterson, Deborah BLUE AWAY Mabank, TX United States

Peterson, Rick PETE’S PRISM Mabank, TX United States

Petrehn, John CANON- SEE IMPOSSIBLE Houston, TX United States

Petrehn, Maury FARTHER ON Olathe, KS United States

Petrehn, Paul PHILLIPS 66 Rio Rancho, NM United States

Philpott, Martin AUSPICIOUS Bixby, OK United States

Pivic, Bruce MISS WYOMING Rock Springs, WY United States

Polito, Tony BIRD WILLY Inlet Beach, FL United States

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Ponticelli, Jack CAROLINA KALEIDOSOPE East Bend, NC United States

Powers, Daron TEQUILA SUNRISE Pewaukee, WI United States

Price, Kelly PRIMARY COLORS Rio Rancho, NM United States

Pulaski, Bob SKI LIFT Pineville, LA United States

Ramirez, Oscar FIG-LEON Mexico City Mexico

Raper, Robert FALLEN ANGELS North Bend, OR United States

Raya, Shawn SULLAIR A HITACHI GROUP COMPANY Highland, MI United States

Ret, Richard GOLDEN HIGH Dallas, TX United States

Rice, Brad HEARTS A’FIRE Rio Rancho, NM United States

Rice, Deborah FOXTROT Houston, TX United States

Rice, Dick SPIRIT OF FIESTA II Albuquerque, NM United States

Richardson, Shane WILDTHANG! Albuquerque, NM United States

Rieger, Virginia FEELIN’ GROOVY Sheridan, WY United States

Riley, Theron CHERRY BOMB Columbia, MO United States

Ritchie, Dale EMILY Golden, British Columbia Canada

Robinson, Cody GRAND BANANA 2.0 Kansas City, MO United States

Rodden, John SONRISE Owasso, OK United States

Roholt, Jesse RAINBOW RYDERS Glendale, AZ United States

Ross, John PACKERS 1 Appleton, WI United States

Rucker, John NOT YET NAMED Genoa City, WI United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Rudy, Walt HOUR BIG BUNDLE OF JOY Wadsworth, OH United States

Ruth, Dale DAWNS DELIGHT Albuquerque, NM United States

Sabia, Chris WONDER BREAD Overland Park, KS United States

Sabin, Richard SEA BREEZE Henderson, TX United States

Sachenbacher, Rudi NEVER TOO OLD Lowell,MA United States

Salazar,Alfred RAINBOW RYDERS Bernalillo, NM United States

Salazar, Katelyn SKY MAGICK Los Lunas, NM United States

Sanchez, Elijah UNITY Albuquerque, NM United States

Sanchez, Ron WELLS FARGO 1 Albuquerque, NM United States

Sandlin, Tony STOP LIGHT Fishers, IN United States

Sasser, Daniel MAS TEQUILA! Charlotte, NC United States

Scheer, Steve MARGARITA Castle Rock, CO United States

Schick, Chuck BRILLIANT SHADOW Bosque Farms, NM United States

Schill, L. Jane WHISPERING SPIRIT Albuquerque, NM United States

Schmitz, Jon FLYER Littleton, 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

Schwemmer, Kasey GAME ON! Wichita, KS United States

Scott, Michael SPIRITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RAINBOW Oklahoma City, OK United States

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

See, Glenn RACY MADAME Elephant Butte, NM United States

Seghers, Jos SKY STAR Breendonk Antwerp, Belgium

Seibel, Zach SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada

Shelhav, Shai SANDIA Albuquerque, NM United States

Sherman, Carol THE FINAL FRONTIER Kansas City, MO United States

Sherrill, Dan BUCKET LIST Manchaca, TX United States

Short, Dennis CHAMPAGNE COWBOY Broken Arrow, OK United States

Skach, Bruce ZROZRO7 Wichita, KS United States

Skelton, Meg MAHARANI Castle Rock, CO United States

Sklute, Kenneth FRACTALS Tempe, AZ United States

Skocdopole, Cliff REDDEE ‘N WILLING Condor, Alberta Canada

Smart, Chris DREAM CATCHER III Huntington, IN United States

Smatana, Bernard EMINENCE El Paso, TX United States

Smith, Kathy LEVITY Albuquerque, NM United States

Smith, Neal FIRST LIGHT Albuquerque, NM United States

Soffera, Janet VACATION Albuquerque, NM United States

Spanier, Mark OH ZONE Peachtree City, GA United States

Spear, Jeff RAINBOW RYDERS Sonoma, CA United States

Squires, Rick HIGHER DESIRE Rio Rancho, NM United States

Standefer, Wayne AIR TOY Italy, TX United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Steinbock, Tom SUNSET GLOW Crestwood, KY United States

Stevens, Patrick RAINBOW RYDERS Phoenix, AZ United States

Stockley, Don MOONSHINE Murray, UT United States

Strang, Andy ART DECO Shelby Twp., MI United States

Strang, Richard FREEDOM Oxford, MI United States

Strickland, Dave SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE Columbus, OH United States

Stukas, Dan CAROLINA BREEZE Central, SC United States

Stukas, DJ LUCKY STRIKE Central, SC 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

Taggart, Greg WHATCHAMACALLIT Citrus Heights, CA United States

Takach, Keith TAKACH ANOTHER BREEZE Albuquerque, NM United States

Taylor, Brian MAJOR AWARD Columbia, MO United States

Taylor, Tim DEE IV Salt Lake City, UT United States

Tennis, David CAVU Tijeras, NM United States

Thacher, Elaine I’M BANANAS 2 Albuquerque, NM United States

Thomas, George TIGER PAW EXPRESS Hallsville, MO United States

Thomas, Glenn MAEZ/FROST Crestview, FL United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

XTO Energy and ExxonMobil are proud to be part of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® as we reach new heights in New Mexico. We’re committed to providing energy for businesses and families to thrive while limiting our environmental footprint. As one of the nation’s leading producers of oil and natural gas, environmental responsibility is key to our operations and at the heart of what we do every day.

XTOENERGY.COM

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Thompson, Jon RAINBOW RYDERS Kissimmee, FL United States

Thompson, Phil BURR Galena, IL United States

Thongdee, Nithis SINGHA FROM THAILAND Bangkok Thailand

Thornton, Floyd THUNDERCLOUD Saint Louis, MO United States

Trapp, Brian TINY Lebanon, OH United States

Trieber, Steve RAINBOW RYDERS Eastport, ME United States

Trillanes, Elisa PHAT STUFF Albuquerque, NM United States

Trillanes, Mark SKINNY STUFF Albuquerque, NM United States

Turner, Steve DIAMOND-AIRE Atlanta, GA United States

van Dyck, Chris ZEPHYR Albuquerque, NM United States

Van Sant, Kurt BURNING DESIRE Albuquerque, NM United States

Van Sant, Lori BLACK MAGIC WOMAN Albuquerque, NM United States

VandeHoef, Ed COLORADO BALLOON Broomfield, CO United States

Vencel, Travis RAINBOW RYDERS Bloomington, IN United States

Vereb, Fred LUCY Tampa, FL United States

Vesely, Scott TOO GRATEFUL Wylie, TX United States

Voorhees, Mike CRYPTONAUT Albuquerque, NM United States

Wadley, Mike RENEGADE Weldon Spring, MO United States

Walker, Bill HONEY DO Albuquerque, NM United States

Walker, Elizabeth LOOKING GLASS Rio Rancho, NM United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

BALLOON DIRECTORY

Wallace, Marilyn RAINBOW THRU HEAVEN Santa Monica, CA United States

Walsh, Dan DISTRACTION X Redlands, CA United States

Waner, Andrew HUBBABUBBA El Paso, TX United States

Watson, Barney COOL BEANS!! Placitas, NM United States

Watson-Meinke, Peggy STARLITE Santa Paula, CA United States

Weir, Nathan JACK FM Belmont, Ontario Canada

Wells, Bill SIERRA SUNRISE Carson City, NV United States

Welz, Zerek GUILTY Albuquerque, NM United States

West, Kay RED, WHITE & POOH Sioux Falls, SD United States

West, Mark SUNDOG Sioux Falls, SD United States

White, Cheri TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVES Lakeway, TX United States

Whiting, Mark BIG TOP Denver, CO United States

Whitling, Ian ROY-G-BIV Albuquerque, NM United States

Wiley, Samuel WILEY COYOTE San Marcos, TX United States

Wilkinson, Steve HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZAZ Palm Desert, CA United States

Williams, Andy HIGH LIFE Galena, IL United States

Williams, Jim PIX Katy, TX United States

Williams, Sr., Lewin SPLIT-TAIL Las Vegas, NV United States

Wilson, John SPECTRUM Albuquerque, NM United States

Wilson, Petra ZIPPITY DOOHA Hot Springs, SD United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Woehlke, Dave RAG TIME Oxford, MI United States

Wolfe, Dennis ZULU Tampa, FL United States

Wolfe, Jonathan INFINITUDE Albuquerque, NM United States

Wolters, Layne BLUE THUNDER Holts Summit, MO United States

Wong, Dale URSA MINOR Rancho Cucamonga, CA United States

Wood, Bruce SOCKO Carbondale, CO United States

Woodhead, Bill HIS SKY Harrison, ID United States

Woodruff, Adele AIRE-N GO BRAGH Albuquerque, NM United States

Word, Glen FLAMETHROWER Anthony, NM United States

Wright, Thomee CHAIN GANG Albuquerque, NM United States

Wyss, Chuck WINDSWEPT Fort Wayne, IN United States

Young, Debby RE/MAX Albuquerque, NM United States

Zamora, Loretta SAKI BOMBER Albuquerque, NM United States

Zielinski, Alan FEATHERLIGHT II Niles, IL United States

Zimmer, Jesse FRUIT LOOP! Rio Rancho, NM United States

Zimmer, Rachel HUCKLEBERRY Rio Rancho, NM United States

Zvada, Joe STINGER McAllen, TX United States

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

Other Participating Pilots Bacon, Robert SUN FLYER Albuquerque, NM United States Ball, Lauren GYPSY SPIRIT Cherry Valley, CA United States Bennett, Brian JAB3 Agency, IA United States Bolton, Kenneth STEP-N-UP Carlisle, IA United States Book, Wally FIESTA Albuquerque, NM United States Bradley, Savannah LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN Albuquerque, NM United States Bradshaw, Sam LEVITY Albuquerque, NM United States Brossett, Gary BREAKING WIND Midland, GA United States Burman, Leo A SMILE FROM THE SKY Montreal, Québec Canada Byrd-Dickey, Niki 2ND WIND Albuquerque, NM United States Caton, Roy TIME TRAVELER Cedar Hill, MO United States Cloney, Kevin HIGHBISCUS Las Vegas, NV United States Davis, Bryan HUWAKA Albuquerque, NM United States DeSantis, Rebecca ABQ HOPPER Albuquerque, NM United States

Dickey, Bill 2ND WIND Corrales, NM United States Dickey, Carol 2ND WIND Corrales, NM United States Dickey, Jamie 2ND WIND Albuquerque, NM United States Enloe, Stuart DIAMOND-AIRE Woodstock, GA United States Foxenberg, Robert BLULOON Black Creek, WI United States Fricke, Barbara SANDIA SUNRISE II Albuquerque, NM United States Galaz, Yvette PHAT STUFF Albuquerque, NM United States Gallegos, Frank SKY MAGICK Los Lunas, NM United States Gates, Jon EMOJI Oswestry, Shropshire Great Britain Goade, Mike LADY JESTER Albuquerque, NM United States Green, Mike THE FINAL FRONTIER Des Moines, IA United States Griffin, Dan DIAMONDS Fort Collins, CO United States Handl, Sabrina SANDIA SUNLITE Heroldsbach, Bavaria Germany Heinrich, Philip PATIENCE Phoenix, AZ United States

Hernandez, Duncan MAVERICK Albuquerque, NM United States Hiben, Eric WANDERER Columbus, GA United States Hillary, Garrett LINDY Scales Mound, IL United States Hoover, Mike STORMS END Amarillo, TX United States James, Russ WANDERER Orland, CA United States Karlovec, Frank DESERT DRIFTERS Scottsdale, AZ United States Kennedy, Craig RISING AZ Phoenix, AZ United States King, Christopher DOUBLE TROUBLE Urbandale, IA United States Knuth, Dee SOMETHING CAME UP Crestwood, KY United States Larson, Marty RED, WHITE AND POOH Rapid City, SD United States Lavoie, Tammie CAT SASS Arizona City, AZ United States Liberti, Mike AIRTIGHT Rio Rancho, NM United States Lindsey, Susan FLOATING AWAYSIS Safford, AZ United States Loeffler, Steve DAWN’S DELIGHT Albuquerque, NM United States

Lowenstein, Ryan SUNSET RISE Suisun City, CA United States Lupton, Sally LADY JESTER Albuquerque, NM United States Makin, Jessica INTEGRITY Rio Rancho, NM United States Mares, John Paul BURNING DESIRE Albuquerque, NM United States Martin, Karen SILVER SPIRIT Tucson, AZ United States May, Rod PEPPERMINT DREAM TOO Albuquerque, NM United States McAllaster, Phred SILVER LINING Albuquerque, NM United States McClinton, Adam U.S. BANK Charlotte, NC United States Monk , Claire BUSBY THE QUEENS GUARD Glastonbury, Somerset United States Newcomer, Jesse RAINBOW RYDERS Mount Joy, PA United States Newlin, Pat FEELIN’ GROOVY Riverton, WY United States Nickerson, Eric NEVER TOO OLD Milford, NH United States Obieglo, Susanna IZIA BALLOON Weiãÿenhorn, Bavaria Germany Olstad, Richard SUNDOG Hot Springs, SD United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Parsons, Ian ROGER THE PANTHER Bristol Great Britain Pendleton, Mae Bell PITA’S KISS Albuquerque NM United States Phelan, Jim VELMA Lincoln, IL United States Phelan, Teresa VELMA Lincoln, IL United States Podruski, Jenn LOUIE High River, Alberta Canada Rafn, Jesse RACER X Wilsonville, OR United States Reineke, Kathy PEG LEG PETE Mahomet, IL United States Rosenlof, Dean BALLOONAFUL SUNRISE Tempe, AZ United States Runge, David SPIRIT’S RAINBOW Grand Prairie, TX United States Sabia, Amanda WONDER BREAD Overland Park, KS United States Sanders, Chase HOT SHOT Norwalk, IA United States Seymour, Joe JAB III Indianola, IA United States Shortall, Raymond SQUEAKIE, Bath Great Britain Shumate, Kenny RISING STARS Orlando, FL United States

Smith, Al STARS AND STRIPES Grass Lake, MI United States Stanko, Nick BUCKET LIST Austin, TX United States Stokoe, Mark HYLA THE FROG Newark On Trent, Nottinghamshire Great Britain Strand, Tim SUNNY BOY Bloomsbury, NJ United States Suttle, Penny SUNNY SIDE UP Strasburg, OH United States Tollefson, Tom DAKOTA SUNRISE Detroit Lakes, MN United States

Vesely, Kim TOO GRATEFUL Rio Rancho, NM United States Watkins, Jon HALELUCINATIONS Albuquerque, NM United States Williams, Steve MISS WYOMING Corrales, NM United States Wilson II, Dale CYNTHIA SEAL Augusta, MI United States Wood, Ryan GYPSY DRIFTER Truckee, CA United States Yob, Dave TOMFOOLERY Colorado Springs, CO United States

Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2019 Official Program

THE “FIESTA” BALLOONS BY WALLY BOOK FOR THE AIBF HERITAGE COMMITTEE

t seems only appropriate that the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®, as the world’s premier ballooning event, should have its own balloon -- and of course it does. However, there actually have been, and are still, three “Fiesta” balloons, one by happenstance and two by the Balloon Fiesta’s design. All are airworthy and frequently grace the skies in and around Albuquerque, and occasionally, out of country. Spirit of Fiesta II went to France with Balloon Fiesta Director of Operations, Sam Parks, in the summer of 2019. The original “Fiesta” balloon was not created for the Balloon Fiesta itself, but it may have been an outgrowth of a short-lived attempt to create a new, Albuquerque-manufactured balloon brand. Bob Ruppenthal was a mechanical engineer by trade (at the engineering consulting firm Bridgers and Paxton), and an avid balloonist, Thunder balloon dealer, and owner of AERCO Balloonport, a balloon repair station in Albuquerque. He was in the unique position of being able to capitalize on a grand idea. Sid Cutter is legendary for his general aviation roots and his

huge part in promoting and furthering the sport of ballooning. Bob and Sid were much more friends than they were competitors. The balloon they designed in 1978 was going to be the test bed for a line of balloons called “Nomad” that were in some respects –

The original Fiesta flying with other balloons in Pagosa Springs, CO.

PICTURE PERFECT

for example, plans to have a door in the side of the basket – way ahead of its time. Large scale production was never initiated and Nomad never took off, presumably because of the high cost of liability protection. But some of the design concepts eventually took flight in the form of the first “Fiesta” balloon, designated model A77, serial # 0001, registration N2287Z. Fiesta was built as a 12-gore balloon that was visually reminiscent of an early Thunder balloon but not as bulbous. It was sewn on the bias like a Barnes or Balloon Works balloon. Sewn on the bias means that the gores (those banana peel shapes that together give a balloon its inverted tear drop shape) were cut and sewn at an angle (on the bias) rather than on the perpendicular (at right angles) like many balloons. The original fabric was nylon taffeta, chosen because a major fabric manufacturer happened to be having a big sale on canary yellow fabric. It was incredibly strong, durable and long lasting but very, very heavy. Once construction was completed, Ruppenthal and other ballooning friends proceeded to the testing stage. The FAA requires that test flights of experimental aircraft be conducted from an airport (or balloonport) in an uncongested area. The idea is to prevent flight in congested areas where bystanders might suffer injury caused by an experimental aircraft incident. The slot top vent and deflation system didn’t function as well as they would have liked, but Ruppenthal was sold on the concept and really wanted to make it work. The main issue was a high rate of rotation caused by air escaping through the slots which wouldn’t always close up completely. Brian Tyree, one of the pilots that often flew Fiesta on those early test hops, relates that on one of the flights,

the balloon was spinning enough that the pilots had to keep a visual reference on the horizon in sight by standing in the middle of the basket and turning in the opposite direction than the direction that the balloon was rotating. The slot top design continued to be problematic – it also didn’t release hot air as quickly as desirable in a high wind landing -- and, in the end, was abandoned. Eventually, the balloon was fitted with a Velcro deflation panel, similar to the early Raven/ Aerostar balloons, and, ultimately a parachute top, like most current production balloons. Ruppenthal sold AERCO to Dar-

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

The rebuilt, reborn Fiesta flies again!

ryl Gunter, who had been working there and who was also an avid balloonist. Gunter and AERCO retained the responsibility for the “work in progress” balloon in the deal, even after Norm Courtney bought into the company. Gunter brought together the envelope and system equipment and finished the task of making the balloon legal in the experimental category. Balloon registration number N2287Z was born on paper in 1978-79 and was first certified in the experimental category in 1980. AERCO was named as the owner on the original registration certificate.

This photo taken during inflation shows the diagonal cut of the panels.

The second “Fiesta” balloon, Spirit of Fiesta I.

PICTURE PERFECT

Darryl Gunter and his friends flew the original balloon through much of the 1980s, and then for many years it sat in storage. The balloon was rebuilt in 2017 using a much lighter but still durable fabric in use in balloons today. Ryan Gunter, a relative of Darryl’s, now owns and flies Fiesta.. It has about 30 hours on the new fabric. The Second “Fiesta” balloon, Spirit of Fiesta I, was intended to be the grand prize for the winner of the 1998 Balloon Fiesta. The balloon is mostly yellow, with a white space around the middle with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta logo. The logo is the work of Lynda Crispino, a gifted graphic design artist, who also happens to be employed by Balloon Fiesta. (To learn more about this and other Balloon Fiesta logos, turn to page 74.) However, it turned out that that winning pilot decided to sell his prize. What to do with a beautiful new balloon with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta logo on it? Board members Mark Sullivan and Steve Komadina felt that they did not want just anyone flying the Balloon Fiesta logo so they put together a group of those directors and staff members who wanted to keep the balloon for Balloon Fiesta. It was operated like a club balloon and the owners paid per hour to fly it with the goal of generating enough revenue to defray some of the cost of registration, insurance and annual inspection fees. Each owner was responsible for repairing any damage they created

while flying. The balloon is a Cameron model N-77 (77,000 cubic feet), serial # 6181, and registration # N5310U. It was manufactured in July, 1998. Through the years, other board members asked to join the club as they wore out their personal balloons and Gary Bennett, Harry Season, and Mike Rice were added to the group. A time came when even more board members wanted to join in, and they wanted a newer, larger (than a 77,000 cubic foot model N-77), balloon to fly. The dilemma then became: what to do with the old balloon? Steve Komadina recognized it as a great opportunity to acquire a balloon to use as a training platform for those of his family members interested in learning to fly. He bought out all the existing owners and became the sole owner. His son Mark learned to fly in Spirit of Fiesta I. Another benefit to Komadina – whose other balloon was the his signature Stork special shape (Great Eggspectations) -- was that it was much easier to inflate the regular-shaped Spirit of Fiesta I at glow events. Steve loves the balloon and plans to keep it airworthy and

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

flying for many years to come. There is already a design for a replacement envelope but the Board is considering whether to allow the AIBF logo on a balloon owned by one individual. The board members anxious for a newer, larger balloon didn’t have long to wait. The Third “Fiesta” balloon, Spirit of Fiesta II, came along in August 2012. It is currently owned and flown by nine club members: seven members of the AIBF board and two Balloon Fiesta employees. It is a Cameron balloon, model Z-90 (90,000 cubic feet), and the registration number is N65455. As of this writing the balloon has logged approximately 130 hours. Dick Rice, club treasurer, reports that it is used primarily to promote the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and awareness of the sport of ballooning in general. Rice believes the balloon is not flown often enough, and that it would be good for it to have more exposure. Most of the LLC members have their own balloons and only fly Spirit of Fiesta II at Balloon Fiesta and other ballooning events. This balloon is also operated as a club balloon within an LLC (limited liability company), whose members must be Board Members or Employees of AIBF. Repairs are the responsibility of the member under whose control the damage incurred. Members pay $1 per minute of inflated time. It is identical to the second “Fiesta” balloon except that the basic balloon color is all yellow without the white present around the equator in Spirit of Fiesta I. Many thanks to Steve Komadina, Ryan Gunter, Norm Courtney, Dick Rice, Marge Ruppenthal, Tom McConnell, Brian Tyree, George Hahn, Marilee Schmit Nason, and Beth Wright-Smith for their contributions to this article.

THE IRISH BALLOONIST BLESSING BY DICK BROWN FOR THE AIBF HERITAGE COMMITTEE

he original author is unknown, the text has multiple variations and, surprisingly, according to Tom McCormick, Irish Ballooning Association past president, the Irish Balloonist Blessing has not been in common use in Ireland since the late sixties when modern hot air ballooning got its start. As to finding its source, Tom cautions there are many similar Irish blessings. Some call it a blessing, some a prayer. Dr. Tom McConnell, past president of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, turns to the dictionary. A blessing is to invoke divine favor, to consecrate something by rite, action or word, and to express gratitude. A prayer seeks God’s favor and protection, a solemn request for help, but is also an expression of thanks. Here is the common text for a blessing recited at post-flight ceremonies, and sometimes at special celebrations honoring aeronauts who have passed on: The winds have welcomed you with softness. The sun has blessed you with its warm hands. You have flown so high and so well that God has joined you in laughter And set you gently down into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

an bothar leat”, which literally translates as Go (may) n-éirí (rise) an bóthar (the road) leat (with you), in other words, “May you be successful on your journey” or “Have a safe journey”. The French would simply say “Bon Voyage”. While the author of this particular blessing is also unknown, many attribute it to St. Patrick as it is similar to his writings. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

This popular version contains the natural elements of ballooning – wind and sun – but also the human emotions of love and joy. In July 2017, James Wilson, writing for IrishCentral, a digital media company catering to Irish Americans, suggested one possible source of this blessing is a favorite traditional Irish blessing often used as a prayer, “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You”. In Gaelic, it is “Go n-éirí

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Again, wind and sun are included in this prayer, but rain too, perhaps in reference to the Emerald Isle’s lush green landscape. The ancient Irish were said to have a deep appreciation for nature. Having the wind at your back may imply lack of any hardships or severe challenges. Sailors always wish for “Fair Winds and Following Seas” – a nautical blessing, origin also unknown, and another way of saying “Have a safe journey”. It has long been used by seafarers hoping for the safest and smoothest way ahead, in other words, ideal wind speeds (as in ballooning) with travel in the same direction as the ocean currents. Imagine a vessel being

The sun has blessed you with its warm hands. . . Photo by David Dickinson

pushed along as the wind pushes a balloon along. Even in the current of the Rio Grande, pilots exercising a splash n’ dash have experienced the linear combination of “Fair Winds” and “Following Seas”. Tom Lewis, an Irishman and 24-year veteran of the British Royal Navy’s submarine service, has written the lyrics of a song that combine the Irish prayer “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You” and the nautical blessing “Fair Winds and Following Seas”. With his permission, his first stanza is provided below: May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind ever be at your back,

May you find old friends waiting to greet you, there on the outside track. We’re gathered together old times to remember, ‘tis but for ourselves we would grieve, So we’ll sing you a chorus and bid you farewell - fair winds and a following sea. As Tom McConnell points out, there is a slightly modified pre-flight prayer version of the Irish Balloonist Blessing that also uses the word “may”. May the winds welcome you with softness. May the sun bless you with its warm hands. May you fly so high and so well that God joins you in

PICTURE PERFECT

Drifting Downstream Photo by Bennie Bos

laughter and May He set you gently back again into the loving arms of Mother Earth. Incidentally, the heritage of Tom McConnell, affectionately known in local ballooning circles as Father Time, goes back to the Scottish Clan Donald on the Isle of Skye just off the northwest coast of Scotland’s mainland, and 270 air miles north of Dublin. We may never know the exact origin of the Irish Balloonist Blessing but we think we know when it landed in Albuquerque. Early New Mexico balloonists believe it came with the two pilots of the Dublin Balloon Club, David Hooper and Charles Michael Alexander, when they competed in the first World Hot Air Balloon Championship in February 1973. These Irish aeronauts were befriended by Bill Douglas, Jim Toler, Frank Bacon, and Ray Bonda who crewed for them. Then Piccard dealer Michael O’Grady Russo sold them his

May you fly so high and so well... AIBF photo

Ozone Ranger balloon and helped them form the Buffalo Chip Chapter of the Dublin Balloon Club. Irish balloonists continue journeying to Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta. Pauline Ann Baker flew in the Fiesta during the years 2010-2016 and Malcolm Ernest White flew during the years 2014-2017. While the Irish Balloonist Blessing may no longer be used in Ireland, here at the Albuquerque International Bal-

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

loon Fiesta, and throughout this state and this country, it will likely continue to invoke safe flights and safe landings and honor those who have flown so high and so well. The author thanks three Toms in the development of this story: Tom McCormick of Dublin, Ireland; Tom Lewis of Shipley, Yorkshire, England; and Tom McConnell of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, USA.

2019 ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA

Â®

BRANDING BALLOON FIESTA

A logo is a symbol used by an organization to identify its products or services. A theme is a recurring subject that identifies an experience. BY TOM MCCONNELL FOR THE AIBF HERITAGE COMMITTEE

No matter how big or how small, almost all businesses and organizations sooner or later face the challenge of coming up with some kind of symbol, or logo, that at a mere glance not only identifies the organization to its customers, but also leaves the customer with a clear impression of what the organization is and does. Golden Arches, anyone? “Swooshes” on shoes? How ‘bout that apple with the bite out of it? None of those logos include the organization’s name – but most people can rattle off the name of the company without even thinking about it.

The Albuquerque Inter® national Balloon Fiesta is no different. Even for the very first Balloon Fiesta in 1972 (which was called “International Balloon Festival & Rally”), founder Sid Cutter had to come up with a logo that would convey the magic and fun of a world-class balloon event. Sid ultimately decided to use a southwestern theme copied from the Hare & Hound races of early European and American balloon events, where the Hare balloon takes off first, chased by the Hound balloons. He knew that the fleetfooted seldom-flying roadrunner was the state bird of New Mexico. He contacted Warner Brothers, the creators of the famous Roadrunner and Coyote animated film cartoons, and got permission to use two of their

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

copyrighted animals for his balloon rally. Hence, the stylized roadrunner in the balloon for the 1972 program. Sid also used this same Roadrunnerin-a-balloon logo for the title-page of his newly formed balloon club: Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association. The famous Coyote was added for the actual race, the first ballooning competition to come to New Mexico. The next year, when Sid agreed to host the first World Hot-Air Balloon Championships, he again contacted Warner Brothers and got permission to use the Coyote and the Roadrunner to advertise the second event. Several posters were made to promote the 1973 event, and the title was changed to “Albuquerque International Coyote-

PICTURE PERFECT

Roadrunner Balloon Fiesta.” (Purists note that it should have been “Roadrunner-Coyote Balloon Fiesta,” since the Roadrunner was being pursued by the Coyote and not the other way around.) Sid even had a special Raven balloon made with the Warner Bros. Coyote on one side and the Roadrunner on the other – the image here was used as the cover photo on the 1974 program. This balloon, Roadrunner II, was often used as the “Roadrunner” for subsequent balloon races. In 1974, Sid had the idea of creating a corporation to produce and host other balloon rallies. He called it World Balloon Championships, Inc. That was when Sid’s famous World balloons began appearing. He ultimately had five of them, of various sizes. When he organized and produced the second World Hot-Air Balloon Championships in 1975, he again lost money on this hugely acclaimed event. This was when a non-profit organization came into being, supported by local businesses and volunteers and our thenmayor, Harry Kinney, which became known as “Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.” with a President, a committee, bylaws and the begin-

nings of an active planning and implementation group. This corporation has been financing and producing the AIBF event for 44 of our now 48 years. Various attempts at finding a suitable logo for the corporation resulted in the creation of a new logo in the mid 1980s. An article in the 1984 Balloon Fiesta program attributes this design to Albuquerque freelance artist Rick Rhodes, whose submission was chosen from among dozens of entries. This logo had a capital “A” for Albuquerque, created by using a balloon as the center of the “A.” Some said this logo looked like two seals barking at each other. The circa 1985 logo endured until 1998 when Lynda Crispino, a long-time balloonist and graphic artist and presently the AIBF receptionist, created the current logo. It cleverly spells out “Balloon Fiesta” using both graphics – the multicolored balloons – and the word “Fiesta,” and represents a bold, colorful identity for a bold and colorful event. The logo in various colors and forms appears on everything from the balloon to jackets, letterhead, bumper stickers, pins, patches, tote bags ... pretty much any-

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

thing that can be logoed. Sometimes the colors change, but the basic logo remains the same on all the various uses. In addition to the Balloon Fiesta’s corporate logo, each year’s event has its own slogan, or catchprase – for example, this year’s theme is “Picture Perfect,” and appropriately acknowledges Canon as the presenting sponsor.

ADVENTURE AWAITS! CHECK OUT THE AARP BLOCK PARTY. Experience our Making Memories match game and Connect2Affect activation along with our fun photo booth, interactive vending machine and a prize wheel. Show us your AARP Membership card to receive an AARP Members only gift!

Serious Golf Lovers: We do this for you. Our coverage reflects our passion for the game. And we have plenty of reasons that anyone who lives, breathes, eats and sleeps the game needs to come to our pages for the most comprehensive coverage of our sport.

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Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2019 Official Program

GETTING THERE IS HALF THE “FUN” BY PAUL SMITH, AIBF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

raffic. Perhaps the most dreaded word in the planning of Balloon Fiesta. Clearly there are lots of critical issues in the operation of Balloon Fiesta, such as flight regulations, airspace, pilot and balloon qualifications. However, traffic is one area where we have little or no control. Balloon Fiesta employs a full-time Transportation Manager. His areas of responsibility include Park & Ride, Courtesy Shuttles and parking, as well as traffic. Throughout the year, we meet with Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, City of Albuquerque Transportation Department, the NM Department of Transportation and the traffic control device company. Together we devise

the traffic control plan for Balloon Fiesta access. Physical limitations Balloon Fiesta Park is located in the City of Albuquerque and its location presents certain challenges for access. The launch field is bounded on two sides by AMAFCA drainage channels. The only public access over these channels is by two vehicular bridges and three pedestrian/bicycle bridges. The third side of the Park is the Sandia Pueblo Reservation. While our relationship with Sandia Pueblo is stronger than ever, we aren’t allowed to construct roadways through their reservation. The fourth side, the east side of the Park, includes I-25. The Interstate highway does a great job of allowing

PICTURE PERFECT

This aerial photo, looking south from over the Sandia Reservation, shows some of the access limitations to Balloon Fiesta Park. There just aren’t many roads. I-25 is at upper left.

north-south traffic around the area of the Park but it also creates a boundary with only two access points from the east side of Albuquerque-Alameda Blvd. and Tramway Road. Demands on the Infrastructure Our guests have sometimes commented that we’ve been conducting Balloon Fiesta for almost 50 years and we should have traffic issues resolved by now. There have been comments about how other large events have been able to resolve their traffic issues, so why can’t we? Part of the answer is to look at other events’ “solutions”; and in doing so we’ve found other large events face the same challenges. I visited the NASCAR race at Las Vegas and after the race, we sat in the parking lot for three hours before we could leave. Generally, Balloon Fiesta’s parking lots will be empty 45 minutes-one hour after the close of each session.

Another part of the response is based on our infrastructure and our demand on it. AIBF has access to about 15,000 parking spaces during Balloon Fiesta. Public access to the Park includes Alameda Blvd to Balloon Museum Drive (two lanes); San Mateo (two lanes) to San Diego or Balloon

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Fiesta Parkway and Balloon Fiesta Parkway (two lanes) from I-25. Assuming 25’ per car, filling every traffic lane available, this many cars would equal more than 8.5 miles of cars in each lane! Assuming we can process one car every six seconds in each lane, it would take 183 minutes-about three hours- to park 11,000 cars! Obviously we need to, and do, park cars more quickly than that. We constantly review our procedures to speed up the process. We work to hire more parkers and parking fee collectors; add signage to prepare drivers for the parking fee collection; work with the City to offer additional access points to the Park. This year, the New Mexico Legislature allocated $7.5 million to fund improvements to Balloon Fiesta Park access. How those funds will be used has not yet been determined but some ideas include: acquisition of parking near the Park with shuttles into the Park; repurposing a portion of the RV lot south of Alameda Blvd for automobile parking; constructing an entrance ramp to, and from, I-25; and re-design of the Park & Ride loading/unloading areas. We realize traffic will continue to be an issue for Balloon Fiesta and any event as large as ours. We also realize that addressing this issue will even more important as we approach our 50th Event in 2021.

From 1986-95, the south RV parking lot was the Balloon Fiesta’s launch site, and portions of it are still used for landings. Reconfiguring the site might create extra parking. Alameda Blvd. is at the bottom of this image.

The author, hoping to learn something . . .

Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂŽ 2019 Official Program

LIFE LESSONS LEARNED WHILE

BALLOONING BY KIM VESELY

allooning is a great teacher. We’re not talking academics here, though ballooning is both science and art and a wonderful starting point for teaching both. Rather, ballooning is a great teacher about life. It develops responsibility, discipline, and character. Sure, some people learn this stuff hang gliding or quilting or a thousand other noble pursuits. But there’s nothing quite like having to problemsolve a thousand feet in the air – you’d better figure it out ‘cause it’s a long way down. Here are just a few of the lessons learned over 40 years pursuing ballooning on the ground and in the air: Ballooning teaches patience. In a balloon, you go where the wind goes. End of story. It’s true you can go up and down to find winds going different directions and speeds at different altitudes (in a balloon, it’s how the pilot “steers”). But no matter how much you wish the balloon would go this way, if the wind’s going that way, it is what it is and you’re stuck with it.

Every balloonist has been there, or soon will be. I remember spending a year one morning over the sewage treatment plant in Las Cruces, going up and down trying to find a wind layer going somewhere – anywhere! -- suitable as a landing site. Frustrating? Oh, yeah. Smelly, too. And I couldn’t do a thing about it but wait for the wind to change. Eventually, a breath of wind did materialize, and we got to a decent landing site. We just had to wait it out. As astronaut Jim Lovell, the commander of the trouble-plagued Apollo XIII flight, famously noted, you can panic and bounce off the walls, but in the end you’ll be right back where you started and you still have to solve the problem. So you might as well be patient. Ballooning teaches flexibility. Like all aviators, balloon pilots launch with a flight plan: launch here, fly for an hour in this direction (or directions), and land there. You take off, and—voilà! -- halfway through the flight the wind direction changes. So much for the flight plan. So you’d better have a plan B, and C, and D . . . because what goes up must come down somewhere.

Ballooning makes you a better driver. Oh, some of my friends are going to contest this one . . . soon after I got my pilot license, I took aloft a normally talkative friend who didn’t say a word the whole flight, and then after I landed allowed, almost as an afterthought: “You fly better’n you drive.” But seriously. To fly a balloon successfully, just as in driving a car successfully, you have to think ahead and anticipate potential problems. Analyzing what’s coming up on the road ahead, thinking about what you’d do if something unexpected happens, and leaving a margin for error minimizes the potential for trouble – behind the wheel and in the air. (Of course – here’s the knock-on-wood line – behind the wheel and in the air even if you leave that margin for error, sometimes stuff happens. Crunch.) Ballooning teaches you to leave a margin for error: About that margin for error – it’s one of life’s most valuable lessons. In driving, it means not following too closely. In ballooning, it means leaving enough room when you land so if the wind changes direction suddenly, you don’t get pushed into something

PICTURE PERFECT

Over trees, powerlines, and buildings: a situation calling for patience and flexibility.

(building, power line) you don’t want to run into. At work, it means getting things done enough ahead of deadline that you’re not “toast” if something happens at the last minute. In short, that margin for error keeps you out of trouble. Ballooning nurtures leadership ability. When you become a balloon pilot, you also become the leader of a team, responsible for the safety and well-being of your passengers, crew, spectators, and anyone else who might show up in your flight path. Crew, passengers, spectators, all look to you for direction … and more. There are a zillion quotes about what leadership is and isn’t, but few leaders have been around longer and earned more respect than Queen Elizabeth II. She says: “…Over the years, I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their enthusiasm, and their inspiration to work together.” As team leaders, the best balloon pilots do just that. Ballooning teaches teamwork. If there are a zillion quotes out there about leadership, there are a zillion and one about the importance and value of teamwork. Ballooning is a team sport, period, requiring a ground crew that helps inflate, chase, and retrieve the balloon. (There are a few pilots who fly very small one-person balloons without

a crew, but that’s the exception.) Ken Blanchard, the “One Minute Manager” guy, says “None of us is as smart as all of us,” and the members of the best crews know that. In the interest of safety and fun they do their work as if the balloon, the pilots, their fellow crew members, and everyone else involved are their own family members, Over time, they truly become a family. They have each other’s backs, and trust in each other to speak up if they see something amiss (vital in keeping everyone and everything safe). Over time, these bonds often transcend

ballooning into lifelong friendships. They’re priceless. Ballooning teaches responsibility. Everything about being involved in ballooning screams having to be responsible – to yourself, to the balloon team, to other pilots in the sky around you, to the landowners where you land (more on this later), and for being safe and having fun. Ballooning teaches discipline. The balloonist’s day begins before dawn... as in, often in the middle of the night. Before even getting to the launch site, the pilot has been in contact with Flight Service and evaluates weather data from a variety of sources, from sophisticated websites to sticking a finger into the air to see if the wind’s blowing. He or she has taken a quick inventory of the balloon equipment because it’s

A good place to leave a margin for error! (The balloon is further away from the power poles than it appears….)

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Hard work, lifelong bonds: Jonathan Wolfe with his balloon team.

really embarrassing to show up at the launch site to find out you left the instruments at home, the inflator fan is out of fuel, the radio batteries are dead, or – horrors! – you forgot to put ice in the cooler. On a more serious note, discipline also involves being “fit to fly” mentally and physically . . . and not flying if you aren’t. Ballooning teaches judgment. There’s an old saying in ballooning that “the hardest thing about flying is not flying.” You’re all dressed up and ready to go, you’ve hauled your crew out of bed at the crack of dawn, and it’s just breezy enough that you’re not entirely comfortable with the conditions. Compounding this is that other people (whose skill set and comfort levels are different than yours) are flying, and oh, if she can do it, surely I can (a very

subtle form of peer pressure). It’s in these situations you really have to know yourself, know your skills, and correctly judge whether you should be in the air. It sometimes helps to remember the other old ballooning saying: “It’s better to be down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing you were down here.” Ballooning teaches diplomacy. There are few sports where a participant is more dependent on the goodwill of others more than ballooning. Unlike airplanes, balloons don’t gener-

Dropping into the neighborhood: a time for diplomacy?

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ally land in a nicely-designated location like an airport. Their landing sites are open fields, parks, sometimes city streets or even backyards, and a balloonist landing there is dependent on the landowner’s hospitality. Most landowners are thrilled to see you. But others are not – especially if they have horses or other animals that can be spooked by the noise of the burner. Maintaining good relations with landowners is imperative, both for individual balloonists and for big ballooning events like the Balloon Fiesta. It really comes down to the Golden Rule – treating the people on whose property you land as you would want to be treated if a balloon landed at your house, and training your crew to do the same. This includes asking permission – or attempting to – before entering someone’s property, and making sure that if you open a gate to

Happy to see you!

get inside that you close it again. It also includes always, but always, listening to, apologizing to, and respecting the landowner, no matter how upset he or she may be. The guy who came up with the saying, “Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘nice doggie’ until you can find a rock” definitely doesn’t belong on a chase crew or in a balloon basket.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Ballooning teaches life skills. Ballooning is a great incubator for the skills that make one a successful parent, colleague, and friend. The list of attributes employers look for in job candidates – showing up on time appropriately-dressed, taking responsibility for your job (and your inevitable mistakes), working with your fellow team members, respecting those around you – all apply every time you fly. Planning ahead, anticipating both obstacles and opportunities, having contingency plans, and leaving a margin for error to accommodate the inevitable snafus in work and life are valuable skills to have, both at the office and at home with the spouse and kids. And just think of all the fun you had learning them, making yourself and others happy and discovering friends from all walks of life, surrounded by the beauty and magic of ballooning.

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2019 Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaÂ®

Special Shape Directory

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

SPECIAL SHAPE DIRECTORY

Ary, George BLACK SHEEP Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil

Baker, Dave ADELAIDE THE KOALA Thatcham, Berkshire Great Britain

Boulet, Mark PIRATE JACK Newport Beach, CA United States

Carlton, Dean WAGZ Danville, IL United States

Ashton, Greg MISS BELL Meridian, ID United States

Ballinger, Barry IN THE BUFF Lubbock, TX United States

Boyer, Don ITSY BITSY Belen, NM United States

Cassell, James BEAGLE MAXIMUS Albuquerque, NM United States

Assis, Luiz Audenaert, Koen August, Joe SAXON SMURF ROCKET, THE FLYING SQUIRREL São Paulo, São Paulo Destelbergen, Oost-Vlaanderen Newport Beach, CA Brazil Belgium United States

Berry, Keith SPYDERPIG Poplar Bluff, MO United States

Brown, Toby KERMIE Denver, CO United States

Bonimcontro, Marcos ARMADILLO (TATU) São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Burrows, Paul BUSTER THE BULLDOG Bristol, Banes Great Britain

Cavin, John YELLOW BIRD Indialantic, FL United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Celentano, Michael ANNIE THE LADYBUG Allen, TX United States

Baker, Bill BIMBO Tyler, TX United States

Bonner, Paul SIMBALOO Basingstoke, Hampshire Great Britain

Campanale, Frank CAROUSEL Orchard Lake, MI United States

Cesnik, Luke FREEDOM FLIGHT V Saint Cloud, MN United States

Chieruzzi, Maria THE LOVEBIRDS Simi Valley, CA United States

Cox, Jordan ONE EYED JACK Indianapolis, IN United States

de Toledo, Paulo BIG HUG Guarujá, São Paulo Brazil

Edwards, Don SNOBIRD Valdez, AK United States

Garcia, Mike 1 DOWN 8-2GO Albuquerque, NM United States

Glen, Christopher JOEY BEE Spokane, WA United States

Griswold, Scott POKEY Selkirk, NY United States

Folley, Tamie TE AMO Salt Lake City, UT United States

Glen, Michael JOELLY Mesa, AZ United States

Gruenberg, John TOMCAT Longmont, CO United States

Davis, Tim BUSBY Worcester, Worcestershire Great Britain

Fonseca, Luiz NITROFISH São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Graham, Colin BUD E. BEAVER Belgrade, MT United States

Haliczer, Jeff INFAMOUS FOOT Reno, NV United States

Davison, Neil BALLOONAFUL SUNRISE Phoenix, AZ United States

Fortney, Wayne SUNNY BOY Kingsport, TN United States

Griggs, Katie SUSHI Dayton, NV United States

Hlebechuk, Kristopher PUDDLES Wasilla, AK United States

De Almeida, Ricardo WOOZI São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Gantt, Doug HAM-LET DeLand, FL United States

Grimes, Doug BILA Albuquerque, NM United States

Holly, Andrew TALL STEVE Breadstone, Gloucestershire Great Britain

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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

SPECIAL SHAPE DIRECTORY

Holmes, Jerry COSMOS 1 Fort Worth, TX United States

Komadina, Steve THE STORK Corrales, NM United States

Langford, Neal SPLASH Bath, NC United States

Little, Rollie SARAH THE WITCH Glendale, AZ United States

Hooper, Lee EMOJI Oswestry, Shropshire Great Britains

Kalousdian, Rubens MR. FISH São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Kubicek, Petr CON AIR Brno Czech Republic

Laloi, Christoph DICKER ANTON Kiel Germany

Lapointe, Wil KEYSTONE WILLY2 Owasso, OK United States

Lawhorn, Rich HUMPTY DUMPTY Louisville, KY United States

Loy, Mike HIGH KITTY Cedar Hill, TX United States

Lupton, Robert LADY JESTER Albuquerque, NM United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Karlsson, Diane WALKIN’ ON AIR Chandler, TX United States

Lambert, Benoit DARTH VADER BALLOON Court -Saint-Étienne Belgium

Lawton, Jeffrey OWLBUQUERQUE Godalming, Surrey Great Britain

Macedo, Warley LOTTIE DOTTIE CHICKEN São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Kolba, Jon CHIC-I-BOOM Crooks, SD United States

Lambert, Michel MASTER YODA BALLOON Court -Saint-Étienne Belgium

Liley, Brian CATHY’S HOPE Fall Branch, TN United States

Macskimming, Mark SIMBA Harrisburg, PA United States

Martin, Ian LIGHTHOUSE Falfield, Gloucestershire Great Britain

Mitchell, Max EL FONZ Champaign, IL United States

Naccarato, Francisco BABY MONSTER Ribeir達o Preto, S達o Paulo Brazil

Nilz, Patrick SAHUARO GRANDE Marana, AZ United States

Romaneschi, Bob LILLY BEE Peoria, AZ United States

Shrum, Mike LA RISTRA Salt Lake City, UT United States

Schuler, Jay PENCIL BOY Reno, NV United States

Silvestre, Luis RACCOON S達o Paulo, S達o Paulo Brazil

Monahan, Todd ALLYCORN Lake George, NY United States

Procopio, Peter KOSHARE GALLUP Gallup, NM United States

Scott, Ken SQUEAKIE Bath Great Britain

Sines, Gary COCO THE CLOWN Ashland, MO United States

Moore, Ashley WES THE WOLF Wickwar, Gloucestershire Great Britain

Randall, Thomas ENCHANTED KOALA Placitas, NM United States

Semler, Jack SMILEY SCARECROW Westfield, IN United States

Sines, Janice BUZZY BEE Ashland, MO United States

Moore, Gary OWLBERT EYENSTEIN Lake Havasu Cit, AZ United States

Mumm, Karalyn OFF THE WALL Reno, NV United States

Reineke, Dave PEG LEG PETE Mahomet, IL United States

Rolfe, Pat CYNTHIA THE SEAL Battle Creek, MI United States

Sevrin, Sidney BELZEBUTH Villers-la-Ville, Walloon Brabant Belgium

Sharpe, Ian DUMA Caterham Great Britain

Sneed, Josh MR. BIDDLES Hutto, TX United States

Sproul, Keith SCORCH North Brunswick, NJ United States

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

SPECIAL SHAPE DIRECTORY

Stokoe, Steven BILLY THE KID Lutz, FL United States

Stukas, DJ FLYING BARN Central, SC United States

Tremblay, Sylvain PIKO Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec Canada

Urbanski, Frank UNCLE SAM Dakota Dunes, SD United States

Van Overwalle, Peter PRINCESS NELLY Nazareth, Oost Vlaanderen Belgium

Vaillancourt, Jacob OONS KEARLKE Trois-Rivières, Québec Canada

Viner, John HYLA THE FROG Newark-On-Trent, Nottinghamshire Great Britain

Wright, Thom MISTER Z Albuquerque, NM United States

Tatum, Daryl LUCKY Cumming, GA United States

Thomas, Steve ROGER THE PANTHER Bristol Great Britain

Vaillancourt, Richard OONS WIEFKE Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec Canada

Waltman, Debbi PONDEMONIUM Windsor, CO United States

Wright-Smith, Beth WELLS FARGO CENT’R STAGE Albuquerque, NM United States

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Taveira, Valdemir LITTLE DOG Osasco, São Paulo Brazil

van der Horst, Scott OFF YOUR ROCK’R Sebastopol, CA United States

Wooge, Scott LINDY St. Louis, MO United States

Wynn, Alan SMOKEY BEAR Albuquerque, NM United States

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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

International Pilots Ary, George BLACK SHEEP Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil

Cooper, Hal UPTUIT Port Hope , Ontario Canada

Handl, Sabrina SANDIA SUNLITE Heroldsbach, Bavaria Germany

Laloi, Christoph DICKER ANTON Kiel Germany

Naccarato, Francisco BABY MONSTER Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil

Assis, Luiz SAXON São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Davidson, John 101.1 COUNTRY RADIO Belmont, Ontario Canada

Handl, Stefan SANDIA SUNLITE Heroldsbach, Bavaria Germany

Lambert, Benoit DARTH VADER BALLOON Court -Saint-Étienne, Belgium

Obieglo, Susanna IZIA BALLOON Weiãÿenhorn, Bavaria Germany

Audenaert, Koen SMURF Destelbergen, Oost-Vlaanderen Belgium

Davis, Tim BUSBY Worcester , Worcestershire Great Britain

Haynes, Kevin LA CUMBIA Bogotá, Distro Capital Colombia

Lambert, Michel MASTER YODA BALLOON Court -Saint-Étienne, Belgium

O’Neill, Mark SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada

Baker, Dave ADELAIDE THE KOALA Thatcham, Berkshire Great Britain

De Almeida, Ricardo WOOZI Sao Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Held, Adrian CUPID’S HEART Lachen, Schwyz Switzerland

Lang, Dale JELLY BEAN Taber, Alberta Canada

Parsons, Ian ROGER THE PANTHER Bristol Great Britain

Bell, Graham BLANK CZECH Malvern, Worcestershire Great Britain

de Toledo, Paulo BIG HUG Guarujá, São Paulo Brazil

Hoefler, Greg CAPRICE DU CIEL Chaillon, Lorraine France

Lawton, Jeffrey OWLBUQUERQUE Godalming, Surrey Great Britain

Pawar, Sangram CHECK RIDE Pune, Maharashtra India

Bojanovic, Jernej JACK FM Belmont, Ontario Canada

Drganc, Luka SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada

Holly, Andrew TALL STEVE Breadstone, Gloucestershire Great Britain

Lips, Arne LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN Oostende, West Flanders Belgium

Podruski, Jenn LOUIE High River, Alberta Canada

Bonimcontro, Marcos ARMADILLO (TATU) São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Fonseca, Luiz NITROFISH São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Hooper, Lee EMOJI Oswestry, Shropshire Great Britain

Llado-Costa, Josep M TRAMUNTANA Igualada, Catalonia Spain

Ribeiro , Fabricio JUPITER MAN Barueri, São Paulo Brazil

Bonner, Paul SIMBALOO Basingstoke, Hampshire Great Britain

Francouer, Danielle A SMILE FROM THE SKY Montreal, Quebec Canada

Hora, Tomas G-DADDY Praha Czech Republic

Macedo, Warley LOTTIE DOTTIE CHICKEN São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Ritchie, Dale EMILY Golden, British Columbia Canada

Burman, Leo A SMILE FROM THE SKY Montreal, Québec Canada

Gates, Jon EMOJI Oswestry, Shropshire Great Britain

Kalousdian, Rubens MR. FISH São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Martin, Ian LIGHTHOUSE Falfield, Gloucestershire Great Britain

Schultz, Marvin SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada

Burrows, Paul BUSTER THE BULLDOG Bristol, Banes Great Britain

George, Peter GRAND BRITANNIA Oxford, Oxforshire Great Britain

Kassam, Munir ROAD TRIP Nairobi Kenya

Monk, Chris RAINBOW RYDERS Glastonbury Great Britain

Seghers, Jos SKY STAR Breendonk, Antwerp Belgium

Butko, Alex COLORFUL Moscow Russia

Gleed, David PEGASUS Coldstream, British Columbia Canada

Kubicek, Petr CON AIR Brno Czech Republic

Moore, Ashley WES THE WOLF Wickwar, Gloucestershire Great Britain

Seibel, Zach SUNDANCE BALLOONS Belmont, Ontario Canada

Clark, Richard OUR TREAT Calgary, Alberta Canada

Haarhuis, Sanne ARIANA Breda, North Brabant Netherlands

Lajoye, Laurent LBI Scy-Chazelles France

Msuya, Moses CHYM FM Belmont, Ontario Canada

Sevrin, Sidney BELZEBUTH Villers-la-Ville, Walloon Brabant Belgium

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Shortall, Raymond SQUEAKIE Bath, Great Britain

Thongdee, Nithis SINGHA FROM THAILAND Bangkok, Thailand

Silvestre, Luis RACCOON São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil

Tremblay, Sylvain PIKO Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec Canada

Skocdopole, Cliff REDDEE ‘N WILLING Condor, Alberta Canada Stokoe, Mark HYLA THE FROG Newark On Trent, Nottinghamshire Great Britain Taveira, Valdemir LITTLE DOG Osasco, São Paulo Brazil Thomas, Steve ROGER THE PANTHER Bristol Great Britain

Vaillancourt, Jacob OONS KEARLKE Trois-Rivières, Québec Canada Vaillancourt, Richard OONS WIEFKE Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec Canada Van Overwalle, Peter PRINCESS NELLY Nazareth, Oost Vlaanderen Belgium Viner, John HYLA THE FROG Newark-On-Trent, Nottinghamshire Great Britain Weir, Nathan JACK FM Belmont, Ontario Canada

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

Gas Pilots

FOXTROT CHARLIE

Barbara Fricke

Peter Cuneo

Eric Decellieres

Vincent Leÿs

UNITED STATES

FRANCE

MISIA

LE GRAIN DE FOLIE

MARIE MARVINGT

Andy Cayton

Krzysztof Zapart

Benoît Pelard

Benoît Petérlé

UNITED STATES

POLAND

FRANCE

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

WARSTEINER

SKYLINE GMBH

Cheri White

Mark Sullivan

UNITED STATES

INTREPID

Christian Wagner

Thomas Lewetz

Brian Duncan

Brenda Cowlishaw

AUSTRIA

UNITED STATES

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

CHARLIE BRAVO

Noah Forden

Bert Padelt

Al Nels

Andy Baird

UNITED STATES

PICTURE PERFECT

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

Gas Committee/America’s Challenge Officials Chair, AIBF Gas Balloon Committee:...........................Mark Sullivan America’s Challenge Event Director:...........................Sam Parks Deputy Event Director: ......................................................John Petrehn Safety Officers:........................................................................Wally Book Chuck Raskob Launchmaster:..........................................................................Tomas Hora Meteorologists:........................................................................Randy Lefevre Brad Temeyer Scoring Officer:.......................................................................Jim Byrd Jury:........................................................................................................Tarp Head (Jury President) Richard Sabin Ken Draughn Internet Flight Tracking:.....................................................YB Tracking Command Center Director:...............................................Ruth Lind

Command Center Controllers:....................... Ben Anello Jeff Davis Guy Feltman Richard Iverson Chris LaFleur Carolyn Lilley Cliff Tvede John Wilson Onboard Tracking Equipment:...................... Harris “Goody” Goodwin Chuck Raskob Media Liaison:......................................................... Kim Vesely Field preparation:................................................. Janie Jordan Hydrogen Fueling:............................................... Jose Cisneros Event registration:................................................ Jennifer Garcia Hospitality:............................................................... Dodie Bernal Anna Nalley

America’s Challenge Winners

YEAR

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

100

PILOT

CO-PILOT

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 Peter Cuneo Barbara Fricke Nicolas Tièche Laurent Sciboz No event

COUNTRY

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA UK / USA USA USA USA USA UK USA USA Spain USA Switzerland

DISTANCE KM

DISTANCE MILES

DURATION HOURS

2241.9 706.6 1465.3 2234.9 3215.5 2095.6 2797.08 1787.72 984.23 2407.28 2380.99 1698.21 1419.76 2175.86 1538.66 2623.33 2299.79 1914.3 1394.96 3670.76

1393 439.1 910.5 1388.8 1998.1 1302.2 1738.11 1110.89 611.6 1495.81 1479.48 1052.89 880.25 1349.03 953.97 1626.46 1425.87 1186.87 864.88 2275.87

60.2 38.1 45.7 58.8

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

64.1 58.4 43.13 63.23 35.97 46.14 60.45 61.5 68.58 58.16 71.51 62.3 60.4 53.33 54.65 59.32

America’s Challenge Records

Distance: Nicolas Tièche and Laurent Sciboz, Switzerland, 3670.76 km /2275.87 miles (2017) Duration: David Hempelman-Adams and Jonathan Mason, UK, 71 hours, 31 minutes (2011) Multiple winners: Richard Abruzzo: five wins (1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004) Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke: four wins (2001, 2010, 2013, 2016) Andy Cayton: two wins: (2006 and 2007) David Levin and Alan Levin: two wins (1996 and 2000) Mark Sullivan and Cheri White: two wins (2008 and 2012)

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REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK:

THE EPIC 2017 AMERICA’S CHALLENGE

he goal is simplicity itself: launch from Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta Park and fly further than any of your fellow competitors. If you win, you get a trophy and bragging rights – and, if you’re exceptionally skilled and lucky, you might break a record or two. In between? The journey is everything. The 2017 America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race was one of the greatest competitions in the history of competitive ballooning. Before it was over, two teams annihilated the old America’s Challenge distance record of 1,999 miles, and also bested the longest distance ever flown in the other great gas ballooning distance race, the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett. Winners Nicolas Tièche and Laurent Sciboz of Switzerland landed near Labrador City in Canada, traveling 2,276 miles (3,670.76 km). Runners-up Krzysztof Zapart of Poland and Andy Cayton of the U.S. made a valiant effort to overtake them, staying aloft more than 69 hours, but had to land about 90 miles short as they ran out of ballast and real estate. Eight of the nine competing teams flew more than 1,000 miles. Pilots in the America’s Challenge fly 1,000 cubic meter (approximately 35,000 cubic ft) balloons which use a

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BY KIM VESELY

lighter-than-air gas such as hydrogen, rather than hot air for lift. These gas balloons can stay aloft for several days and travel as far and fast as the wind takes them. With no prize money at stake, the teams’ reward is the experience itself, an experience unlike any other in any sport. They see America in a way few others have before them – suspended thousands of feet aloft as mountains, plains, cities, farms, and rivers (and often clouds) slowly glide below them. The teams come from different backgrounds and different nations but they share a transcending love of flying, an adventurous spirit, and the will to win. American Noah Forden, who is set to fly his third America’s Challenge, says, “I love the aspect that with every balloon launch, you have only a rudimentary idea of where you are going and no idea of who you might meet when you land, and I love that challenge of dealing with whatever comes up.” Two-time America’s Challenge champion Cheri White says, “We love the adventure of being able to fly across the United States …we love the America’s Challenge because it is fun to fly with other teams and the excitement of doing it during Fiesta.” Laurent Sciboz, who was flying a gas balloon race in America for the first time, was awed

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

by the sheer scope, with hundreds of hot-air balloons inflating for the evening Balloon Glow providing a backdrop for the launch: “We’ve never experienced a take-off of this magnitude, so many balloons, it’s only a few hundred feet from the ground that we understand that we are part of the world’s biggest aerostatic festival.” The pilots in the 2017 America’s Challenge were able to take advantage of a rare meteorological weather setup which gave them a fast track northeast towards New England and eastern Canada. A fast low-level jet stream developed between a strong low-pressure system in the west and the remnants of Hurricane Nate headed up through the eastern US, allowing some of the teams to reach blistering (for a balloon) speeds of more than 65 mph. Tièche and Sciboz marveled at the sight. ”[I remember] the sunrise over Kansas and its fragmented puzzle-piece broken round plains,” Sciboz wrote. “The crossing of Mississippi in Wisconsin and of course the crossing of the Canadian border in the middle of the upper lake [Lake Superior], floating in the middle of a blue sphere, no longer distinguishing the sky from the ground. At the end of the night crossing Canada’s north at an altitude of 16,000 feet, for Europeans

Balloons poised to begin the 2017 America’s Challenge AIBF photo by Bennie Bos

accustomed to seeing human presence everywhere, it’s a discovery to feel alone in the world.” French competitor Benoît Pelard was excited to fly over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Even Americans who’ve flown the race multiple times, like fourtime champion Barbara Fricke, never tire of the magnificent view: “What I love about being in the basket is seeing all the sights — the stars, shooting stars, the towns, cities, farms, sunrises, sunsets, the lakes we crossed — that was special.” For the teams, life aloft can be both elating and stultifying. “The daylight came, the sun curtains came up, the sun set, the curtains came down and

became blankets for our laps. The sun is brutal during the day … at night the cold can be serious,” writes longtime competitor Phil Bryant. For many teams, the toughest part of the flight is being cooped up with one other person – no matter how well they get along – for up to three tense days. Noah Forden puts it this way: “Let’s be frank: living in an open, hand woven wicker basket the size of a small broom closet with another man for a couple of days is not something

A journey of 2,000 miles begins with a single step: 2017 victors Laurent Sciboz and Nicolas Tièche begin their journey, with everything they might need during three days aloft tied to the basket. Photo by Missi Leonard

PICTURE PERFECT

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and lakes… Our balloon, the Freiburg Challenge, was four miles from the city and we had the help of the Fire Brigade to help us transport, dry and fold it up. Our chase team accomplished an incredible 6,200-mile trip in six days with our camper van, of which 400 miles was on unpaved roads. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our Canadian friends and, of course, all the help we received from the aeronauts present in Albuquerque and the prodigious organization of the America’s Challenge, the race where records are possible and only ask to be surpassed.” Leaving Albuquerque... Photo courtesy Laurent Sciboz

Over Lake Superior, “floating in the middle of a blue sphere, no longer distinguishing the sky from the ground”. Quote and photo courtesy Laurent Sciboz

I would have ever thought I would want to do.” After two or more days aloft, the pilots are tired. But they must have sufficient mental focus and physical strength to execute the most challenging phase of the flight: the landing. For those competitors pushing the limits of their strength, endurance, and equipment, landing can be a real adventure. Says two-time America’s Challenge champion Andy Cayton (who with Krzysztof Zapart was 2017’s runner up): “We ran out of land, ran out of ballast, and didn’t have much sunlight left … we dumped our last three sandbags and began throwing things out of the basket.” Third-place finishers Barbara Fricke and Peter Cuneo were in a similar position, completing their flight of more than 1,900 miles. Says Cuneo, “[The landing was] harrowing and hair-raising due to clouds, lots of trees, and low ballast ...The fourth [attempt] we just had no ballast left and

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we found a spot that at least the trees were thin enough that it would allow us to get through so that the basket was on the ground and not hanging 50 feet up in the air…” Fricke was more succinct: “The landing was interesting – and [I am] thankful Peter still had enough ability to get us to a safe put down among trees.” The winners, Tièche and Sciboz, had their own adventures: “At the end of the [last] night we had snow that made the balloon heavier. Our goal was to reach a city and Labrador City Newfoundland was a good goal with some landing possibilities outside of forests

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

The 2019 America’s Challenge: In writing about the 2017 America’s Challenge and the opportunity to set the opportunity to fly record distances, French veteran Benoît Pelard writes, “This is the only place where you can do it. Europe is too small and our great champion and my friend, Vincent Leÿs should come one day to America…” Pelard knew what he was writing about. In the 2017

Noah Forden and Bert Padelt in their “small broom closet” aloft. Photo courtesy Noah Forden

To get their balloon out of the Vermont woods the helpful citizens of Island Pond suggested Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke use a “moose hauler” – a horse specially trained to tow heavy loads (like moose) out of roadless remote areas. The horse, a 16-year-old Belgian named Gold Digger, and owner Dennis Bingham towed the basket and envelope out of the woods to an accessible road in just a couple of hours. Photo courtesy Ray Palmer

America’s Challenge he and his co-pilot, Benoît Petérlé, had themselves established a record for the longest flight by a French team in their balloon size and type. Pelard was prescient in another respect: this year, the legendary Vincent Leÿs will indeed make the journey to Albuquerque to compete in his first America’s Challenge. Leÿs holds the record for the most victories (9) in the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, the world’s oldest air race and the world championships for distance gas ballooning. Leÿs will be flying as co-pilot with his countryman Eric Decellieres. The other international competitors will be Pelard and Petérlé, the Austrian team of Christian Wagner and Thomas Lewetz, and three-time America’s Challenge runner-up Krzysztof Zapart, teamed up with American Andy Cayton, a two-time America’s Challenge champion. The Europeans will face a five-team U.S. contingent with a mix of seasoned veterans and first-time competitors. The veterans includ four-time America’s Challenge champions Barbara Fricke and Peter Cuneo, two-time champions Cheri White and Mark Sullivan, and 2016 third-place finishers Noah Forden and Bert Padelt. The other two teams are making their

America’s Challenge debuts. Two time world and national hot air balloon champion Al Nels will be joined by Andy Baird, the president of Cameron Balloons US and for several years the chair of the America’s Challenge jury. Brian Duncan and Brenda Cowlishaw are newcomers to gas ballooning, but even they have experience flying out of Balloon Fiesta Park. They completed a training flight in Albuquerque in 2018. The America’s Challenge was not held in 2018 because the end of the competition window for the 2018 Gordon Bennett overlapped the beginning of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. We are excited to once again host America’s premier competition for gas balloons and to welcome our national and international teams back to Albuquerque.

Tracking System Changes Coming to 2019 America’s Challenge The America’s Challenge will also be moving to a new tracking app this year. YB Tracking provides satellite-based tracking services for yachting, auto racing, and a number of other competitive sports. The Gordon Bennett adopted YB Tracking a couple of years ago. The new tracking system uses much smaller lightweight trackers that will save weight for the balloon teams and should provide more reliable coverage than the former system used by the America’s Challenge. It also includes a number of exciting features for spectators, including the ability to lay the balloons’ tracks over a number of map overlays. For the first time, the America’s Challenge will report altitude data, as well as distance and duration. America’s Challenge fans can download the YB app for free, and/or can follow the progress of the race live via the Balloon Fiesta website, www.balloonfiesta.com

Nicolas Tièche and Laurent Sciboz’s remote landing site outside of Labrador City, Labrador/ Newfoundland. Both pilots and balloon were retrieved by helicopter. Photo courtesy Laurent Sciboz.

PICTURE PERFECT

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OPEN EVERY DAY DURING BALLOON FIESTAÂ®! BUY TICKETS ONLINE Sunday - Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Friday - Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Before you drive up, reserve a check-in time! Meow.wf/tix

IN REMEMBERANCE

JODI BAUGH

CHUCK CLARK

BILL CUTTER

Few people’s contributions in the history of the Balloon Fiesta equal those of Jodi Baugh, who in the 1990s transformed the marketing of the event. In slightly more than a decade, Jodi created a sponsorship structure which brought in much needed revenue, helping to grow the Balloon Fiesta and improve its amenities for corporate sponsors and guests. She also oversaw major improvements to accommodations for the media and the revamping of the Balloon Fiesta’s souvenir program. Jodi stepped down after the 2002 Balloon Fiesta, but continued to help out with special events for the Balloon Museum (notably the International Balloon Federation (FAI) Hall of Fame induction ceremony) and to support the Balloon Fiesta. Last fall, presciently or not, she told friends that year’s FAI ceremony would be her last event, as indeed it was. She passed away, quietly and unexpectedly, this spring.

Genial, kindly Chuck Clark loyally served the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta for 18 years as a member of the Board of Directors, two of them as Board Secretary (2006-07). Chuck was a US Navy veteran and partner with his brother Don in the family business, Clark Truck Equipment. He flew both airplanes and balloons, and considered the ballooning community and the Balloon Fiesta family to be his extended family. Chuck lost his courageous battle with prostate cancer last December, and is much missed by his colleagues on the board and the balloon field.

In June 1971, two brothers ascended – accidentally or not – into the Albuquerque skies and inadvertently changed our city’s history. One, of course, was Sid Cutter. The other was his brother Bill, who like Sid was already a legendary aviator and his partner in the pioneering aviation business founded by their parents. Like Sid, Bill caught the ballooning bug, taking the balloon back to Phoenix, where he was running Cutter Flying Service’s Arizona operations. Though Bill lived in Arizona and ran Cutter Aviation for the rest of his life, he continued tangentially to play a role in Albuquerque and the Balloon Fiesta. Bill was one of the “Original 13” participants in the very first Balloon Fiesta in 1972 and was a regular participant in the event for decades. The fact that Bill was able to take over the family business arguably freed Sid up to pursue a full-time career in ballooning and to nurture what became today’s Balloon Fiesta. A master pilot who spent a lifetime in the sky, Bill is missed by aviators throughout the Southwest.

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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE DURING THE BALLOON FIESTA ! ®

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4040 Pan American Freeway NE • Albuquerque, NM 87107 • (505) 884-4928

ALL-YOU-CAN-PLAY PASS

95 per guest

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BOWLING • BILLIARDS • LASER TAG & MORE! Offer valid every day from open to close. Limited time only. Limited number of packages available. Not valid on arcade games. Promotion may end at any time without notice. Certain restrictions apply. Price does not include bowling shoes or tax. Activity time limited to space availability. Not valid on food or beverage purchases. Main Event reserves the right to place up to five people per lane. Lane time may be limited to one hour, based on availability. Restrictions apply. Not valid toward group reservations. Valid day of purchase ONLY. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 25 in the Billiards area. Laser Tag and Gravity Ropes have a height requirement of 48” to play. Rock Climbing has a height requirement of 42” to play.

LIMIT ONE COUPON PER GUEST PER VISIT. This offer may not be transferred or forwarded. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or redeemed online. Arcade play will be added to a FUNcard as bonus value and is valid for arcade game play only. Cannot be used as cash or payment towards other activities, food, beverage, group events or refunded for cash (unless required by law). Any resale of the FUNcard will render it void and subject to forfeiture. Main Event is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged FUNcard. Valid at all Main Event locations. Valid thru the end of the day 10/14/19.

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7/8/19 1:12 PM

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

NAVIGATORS Douglas Abel John Abel Sheri Abrams Nancy Abruzzo David Adams Melanie Patrice Adams Sidney Margaret Adams Delana Aerts Ryan Ahrens Luz Ahumada-Abeyta Beau Akers Shanon Akers Donna Aldrich James Allen Jean Allen Daniel Althoff Yolanda Alvarado Anthony Ambriz Sally Ambriz Diana Anderson Jeff Anderson Linda Andrews Benjamin Anello Richard Aranda Vanessa Arballo Christina Arias John Arias Santiago Arias Steve Arndt Lorrie Auble Aimee Awonohopay Anthony Baca Mike Baca Robert Baca Jordan Bacoccini Kyle Bacoccini William Baggett James W Bagley Eric Bailley Carol Bair Denise Baker Andrea Balestri Joe Balestri Lanena Balestri Lucian Balestri Joseph Balistreri Harris Balkin Joseph Ballengee Linda Ballenthin Kathleen Banks Na Na Barfi Denise Barlock David Barnes Eric Barry Eva Barry Gregory Barry Jacob Barry Laurel Barry Luke Barry William Barry DeeVonda Batres Marj Baxter Samantha Baxter Shannon Baxter Samaya Beachem Debbie Beck Edward Beck John Beck Patrick Beck Dawn Bell Jostein Bell Sharon Bell Amber Benavidez Laura Berger

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Dodie Bernal Margaret Billson Gayle Blackaby Sondra Blackaby Deborah Blake Rol Blauwkamp Dusty Blech Gay Blech Ruth Bleich William Blum Diane Bockwoldt Karl Bockwoldt Edward Bogdan Joan Bogdan Alice Bolen John Bolen Melissa Bond Jeffrey Boner John Boner Charles Book Patricia Boozell Robert Boozell Robert Borruel Frank Bouchier Nance Bouchier Harmony Boudreaux Shawn Bowman Renee Boyd Susie Bracamonte Fred Bradley Margaret Bradley Cliff Brashar Bill Brennan Jane Brennan Rita Brennan Evelyn Brickner Teresa Bridges Cynthia Brittain Mary Broemel Bonnie Brogan Carla Brooks Dale Brown Dick Brown Jane Brown Melissa Brown Mike Brown Yvonne Brown Steve Bruke Peg Buell Thomas Bueno Connie Burd John Burd Frank Burhenn Frank Burhenn Sarah Burney Elisa Bustamante Alan Butts Judy Butts Shar Buxton stanley buxton Carol Byrd James Byrd Clarissa Cadman Janna Callison Joie Cameron-Brown Susan Capaldi Judy Carran Albert Carrillo Geraldine Carrillo George Carrillo Jr Ayla Caruso Louie Caruso Louis Caruso Cathleene Casas Sharon Casper

Thomas Casper Steven Castillo Erin Caswell Doyle Caton Jennifer Catron Noah Cavenee Denise Cavner Mabel Center Randolph Center Lawson Chacon Joann Chambers Glenna Chapman Cheryl Charles Chuck Charles Aaron Chavez Chris Chavez Kyle Chavez Maria Chavez Nicholas Chavez Gary Cherniak Tom Christopher Mary Lou Christophersen David Ciccarelli Michael Ciccarelli Roger Clark Cameron Clements Katherine Clements Pradelia Clemons Steve Coffing Terri Cohenour Bob Colclough Barbara Cole Dewayne Cole Stephen Coleman Leslie Comer Patty Congdon Rachel Conine Barry Conley Kristi Conley Tamara Conley Kristin Conner Mindy Connolly Joan Connor Linda Connor Kirby Coon Rex Corbin Rosie Cortez Jane Coryell Thomas Council Neida Courtney Bueno Cheryl Cox Paullette Craner Brandon Crawford Ana Creamer Margie Creel Manny Crespin Dianne Cress Bruce Criel Laura Criel Todd Criel Matthew Crocker Terri Crocker David Crossland Joyce Cruickshank Neffitti Cruickshank Alan Cuales Barbara Curry Shauna Curtiss Dylan D Guy Dahms Fred Daily Cyndi Danen John Danen Gary Danford

Shirley Danford Kathleen Daniels Christine D’arco Russell Dash Jack David Margie David Loretta Davila Mike Davila Jeffrey Davis John Davis Karen Dawson Teresa DeAnda Frank Dearmin Billy Deen Jr Carol Degon Salvatore Degon James Deline Loretta DeLine Mark Derubeis Terry Derubeis Faith DeShong Deb Detorie Donna Detweiler Kyra Dewart Mike Dewart Betsy Dickenson David Dickinson Linda Diener Jeff Dill Charysse Dillingham Romana Dillingham Bill Dimmitt Joan Dingmann Rueben Dirk Vickie Dirk Don Dobson Bryan Dominguez Wendy Donahoo Judy Donigian Philip Doonan Stephen Doonan Victoria Dore A. Elizabeth Dow James Dow Celina Dowling Jansen Downs Maria Dudley Keely Dumars Rick Dunagan Kathy Duncan Kenneth Duncan Gerrold Dunn Jennifer Dunn Domenica Duran-Arias Ambrose Edwards Julie Ann Edwards Marion Edwards Tami Edwards Patricia Edwards Witmer Stacy Eldridge Andrea Elkins Lester Elmer John Elrick Donald Engdahl Johnny Esquivel Sheri Essen Joanne Evans Henry Feltman Jr Kathy Fennell David Fenske Claudio Fernandes Lori Ferraro Richard Field Kimberly A.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

Fincher-Lucky Gaylene Finney Patrick Finney Donald Fischer Valerie Fitzsimmons Karen Fleetwood Anthony Fleg Theresa Fleming Wayne Fletcher William Focke Andrew Folmer Audrey Folmer Frances Fontenot Kenneth Fontenot Brenda Forsee Bill Forsythe Pamela Foss Cathy Fournier Robert Fournier Eugene Foxworthy Shelly Foxworthy Lucia Franco Kathleen Freebern Keith Freebern Kevin French Barbara Fricke Giovanni Fuentes Jeannette Fuller John Fuller Brenda Furber Lawrence Furber John furey Maria Furey Herman Gabaldon Karen Gabaldon Doug Gallagher Janice Galvan Eunice Garboski Albert Garcia Cindy Garcia Cory Garcia Gary T Garcia Kathy Garcia Keelie Garcia Lorraine Garcia Mike Garcia Triston Garcia Cynthia Garza Beate Gefeke Ruediger Gefeke Gayle Geis Cheyanne Gensinger Darla Gensinger Larry Gensinger Fred Gessner Vicki Gibbons Becky Gibson Steven Gibson Darrla Giersch Denae Giersch Jadyen Giersch John Giersch Kendra Giersch Leon Gilbert Nanci Gilbert Brent Gillespie Laura Gillespie Stan Gillespie John Gillett Mike Gilligan Diana Gilson Barbara Girouard Richard Giudice Vivian Giudice Jerry Gladish

Kathleen Glaspey Steve Glass Elsa Glassman Janell Glenn Mackenzie Glenn Richard Glenn Catherine Glover James Godfrey Rebecca Godfrey Georgia Golling Robert Golling Debbie Gonzales Miquelina Gonzales Alfredo Gonzalez Nancy Gonzalez Sophia Gonzalez Harris Goodwin Kimberly Goodwin Patricia Gorman Thomas Gough Tony Gradillas James Graham Michelle Graham Theodore Gransbury Kay Grant Colleen Gregory Penny Griego Rodney Griego Benjamin Griggs Jack Grisham Linda Grisham Edward Groenke Ginger Grossetete Jeffrey Guide Norene Gurule Karen Guziel Gina Guzman Edward Haagsma Teresa Haagsma Lisa Hada Rick Hada Bonnie Hahn Debra Hall Anita Hallstrom Greg Hallstrom Katie Hallstrom Lori Hallstrom Regina Hampton Nicole Hancock Charles Handfield Cynthia Handfield Marion Hanna Keith Hannon Dennis Harders Scott Hardy Selena Hardy Susan Hardy Arlene Harmon Annie Harrison Maria Hay Anna Haynie Andrea Heacock-Reyes Michelle Healy Shana Heath Rita Helak Kurtis Helvie Stuart Helvie Brittany Hendrickson Carmen Henkel Richard Henkel Harriet Hernandez Miguel Hernandez Kristina Herrera Amy Herring Raymond Herrington

Beth Herschman Taylor Herson Amanda Hessler Brad Hessler Deb Hillard Catherine Hines Jacqueline Hockey susan hodges Dennis Holbrook Patricia Holbrook James Holley Nancy Holley Cliff Holman Aidan Homan Traci Homan Erica Horton Erin Horton Josephine Hotle Nancy House Katherine Hower Austin Huber Crysol Huffman Scott Hughes Patricia Humphreys Cindy Hunt Michael Hurley J. Huss Kimberly Hutchison Raymond Hyde Marion Ingalls Brian Irwin Daniel Iverson Richard Iverson Harold Jackson Phyllis Jackson Jacqueline Jacobs Brandon Jacques Kathleen Januszewski Dalia Jaramillo Kalynn Jaramillo Dorothy Jassso Connie Jefferson Noel Jenks Richard Jenks David Jimenez Katherine Johnson Matthew Johnson Wyatt Johnson Karla Johnston Marshall Johnston Alex Jonard II Geneva Jones Jeffrey Jones Raymond Jones Rebecca Jong Blake Jordan Kimberly Judge Larry Kaibetoney Judith Kaley Keith Kalmerton Lisa Kalmerton Peggy Kaniho Christina Kaskabas Vicky Kauffman Steven Kay Kayla Keating Robert Keaveny Karen Keifenheim Kim Kelbe Liz Kellner Georgia Kelly Katherine Kelly Morgan Kelly William Kelly Jennifer Kemp

Jack Kendall Tiffany Kenworthy Anthony Kerns Barbara King Carl Kinnard Susan Kinnard Charlotte Kinney Jonelle Kinsey Jeanelle Kious Jon Kirkwood Lyn Kirkwood Susan Kirst-Millspaugh Jolie Kleinhenz Ellen Klempert Jaron Klock Linda Klock Alessa Kluge Roger Koehler Jacquelin Kohlasch Diana Koroluk Walter Koroluk Smadar Krell Steve Kreutzer Diane Krostag Blaine LaClair Zora LaClair Chris LaFleur Sally Lam Wayne Lam Brenda Landau Erika Lanford Katy Lang Jerry Langheim Rex Lanning Linda Larson Cristal Larue Mac Larue Mike Larue Molly Larue Billie Lattanza Brenda Law Billy Lawson Teresa Lawson Andrew Layman Patricia Le Edward Leary Patricia Leary Diane Leblanc Amy Lee Jon Lee Donna Leech Norman Leech Norma Leeper Monica Lefevre Randy Lefevre Dave Lemley Melissa Leonard Shawn Leonard Lyn Leshner Asa Lewis John Lewis Nancy Lewis Paula Lewis Kathie Leyendecker Mike Liberti Edward Licon Carolyn Lilley Ruth Lind Anna Linsky Deborah Lister Donald Lister Keverne Lister Bruce Little Seth Littlejohn Butch Llewellyn

David Llewellyn Janet Llewellyn Lawrence Llewellyn Mari Llewellyn Martha Llewellyn Michael Llewellyn Will Llewellyn Marlon Long Sigrid Christine Long Kathy Loven Mark Loven Kimberle Lowe Bob Lucero Cathy Luenenborg Judy Lujan Rachael Lujan Jay Luna Tammy Luna Mike Lyons Nadine Lyons Anthony Maestas-Wimpy Michael Maestas-Wimpy Nels Magnuson Dawn Marciszewski Gary Marciszewski Scott Marciszewski Kevin Marcus Kevin Marcus Jr Jan Marino Wade Marquette Christopher Marsh Kenny Martel John Martin Ronald Martin Thomas Martin Timothy Martin Felisha Martinez Guadalupe Martinez Izela Martinez Lucy Martinez Meghan Martinez Oralia Martinez Rose Martinez Victoria Martinez Ed Marynik Fran Marynik Lisa Massey Richard Massey Mina Mata Dave Mathews Rhonda Maxfield Nancy Maxwell Frank May Susan May Joan McCarthy Twyla McComb Kyle McConahy Lee Ann McCormick Danny McCoy Donald McCurdy Matthew McCurdy Diane McDermott Cat McGrath-Farmer Lourdes McKenna Lora McKown Kent McLoud Kathleen McMichael Rebecca McMurtry Barbara Medina Lorretta Medina Jennifer Melvin Scott Melvin Armand Mercier

Irene Mercier Elwyn Merrill Lawrence Merry Cathy Meyer Patricia Mezzancello Sarah Mezzancello Steven Mezzancello Dot Michaelson Marc Michaelson Holly Mickelson Joe Mickelson Pam Micker Arlette Miller Clyde Miller Cory Miller Freida Miller Melissa Miller Andie Mirabal Mairiene Miranda Michelle Miranda Mike Miranda Joe Mobley Diane Mock Larry Mock Darrell Moerch Marta Moerch Lia Moldovan Dan Monaghan Jan Montana Ruben Montana Cyndi Montoya Magdalena Montoya Tim Montoya Brenna Moore Everetta Mora Cecy Morales Frank Morales Rick Morales Elizabeth Morantes Karen Morgan Nathaniel Morgan Howard Morgenstern Judy Morgenstern Blair Morrison Don Morrow Julie Morrow Karen Morton Jeanie Moughan Sandra Mueller Daniel Muhindi Gillian Mulder Glendora Mulder James Mulder Mackenzie Mulder Matthew Mulder Adonis Mullins Kelli Murphy Marti Myers-Garver Cathy Myrick Alton Nail Vanessa Naimoli Johnny Naranjo Marilee Nason Dennis Neely Catherine Neilsen Kenneth Nelson Danielle Nettles Carol Neuhof Lesa Newberry Dennis Nicholas Linda Nicholas Brandon Nichols Karla Noble Ronda Norlock Patti Norris

Mary Noskin Elizabeth Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien Ceanne Ochel Arnel Oczon Caitlin Odom Valeria Olave Shelly Olguin Wendy Olivas Melissa Oranday Ann Overstreet James Overton Deborah Owen David Owens Gloria Owens James Pack Noelle Packard Chris Padilla Daniel Pagliaro Benjamin H. Palmer Manuel Palomarez Katrina Panozzo Lawrence Panozzo Beverly Pantages Jay Pape Lydia Parmenter Mary Kay Parsons Linda Pasternacki John Pata Barry Patrick Nancy Patrick Katrina Pattyn Skip Pearce Sarah Pearson Aaron Peay Gloria Penner April Perea Kat Perea Manny Perea Roberto Perez David Perkins Jan Perkins Patrick Perkins Lee Perry John Peters Sue Peters W Peters David Petersen Jane Petersen Elizabeth Petruno Nigel Philcox Boni Pienups Constance Pierce Emily Pine Daniel Poates Jeffrey Polk Violeta Polk Rachael Porlas Martha Porter Peggy Powell Mary Power Linda Prendergast Dana Price Dale Prichard Susan Prichard Lesley Pritchard Susan Pules Sally Quillan Karen Rae Beatrice Ramirez Chris Ramirez Julieanna Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez Sheila Ramirez Victor Ramponi Chuck Raskob

Richard Rathbun Sandra Rausch Joseph Rebarchik Cathy Reber Stephen Reber Terra Reed Elizabeth Reese Jimmy Reeves Richard Reid Mary Reilly Jeff Renegar Vickey Resner Andre Reyes Pearl Reyes Debbie Reynolds Kevin Reynolds Lynda Reynolds shylor reynolds Nancy Reynosa John Rice Kemper Rice Lindy Rice Richard Rice Carl Richards Rebecca Richards Char-Lynn Richardson Summer Riggs JĂźrgen Rimac Linda Rivard - Hilliker Susan Robaus Christina Roberts Jason Roberts Michelle Roberts Sherry Roberts Tara Roberts Renee Robillard Jerry Robinson Dorothy Rocha Elaine Roderick Nicole Rodgers Angelica Rodriguez Gil Rodriguez Susan Rogers Thomas Rogers Juanita Rohde Rachel Roller Stephanie Romero Henry Rosenbaum William Rosenbaum Debbie Rounds Christopher Rowan Douglas Rowley Vin Roybal Vincent Roybal Patricia Ann Rudy-Baese Bonnie Rusher Diana Rutz Lorraine Ryals Ricardo Ryals Thondup Saari Evelyn Sadt Deborah Sahd Dale Sain Kathleen Salamon Yvonne Salas Linda Samuels Amanda Sanchez Debbie Sanchez Janet Sanchez Michael Sanchez Samantha Sanchez Virginia Sanchez Caitlan Sandberg Manpreet Sandhu

Michelle Sandoval Frank Sandrock Michelle Sanford Jay Sanidad Jose Sanidad Kialaah Saraguard Autumn Sauer Jeff Saul Bradley Saum Susan Scarlett Karl Schaefer Jeroen Schilder Cornelia Schloss Leonard Schloss Steven Schooner Cyan Schrader Jeanne Schroeder Thomas Schroeder Geneva Schult Dave Schultz Shaun Schultz Ronni Scott Angelique Sedillo Katherine Segura Saul Segura Judy Seigel John Sellers Lisa Sellers Shelly Sellin John Sena Lindsey Seybert Stanley Seybert Laurie Shannon-Bailey Adrienne Shaw Brian Shaw Dennis Sheneman Terri Sheneman Paula Shephard Carolyn Shirley Jerry Shreve Meagan Sierra Meghan Sierra Brouard Anna L Silva Kieth Simon Marc Simon Judy Simons Roy Simons Shelly Skarlupka Judy Skelly Ivan Smith Jesse Smith Joan Smith Joanny Smith Karen Ann Smith Shameca Smith Rose Sneed Jeanette Solak John Solak Brian Solan

David Solinske Johanna Solinske Cheryl Somerfeldt Wagner Tabitha Stallworth Candice Stanford Roger Steinlage Loretta Stephenson Richard Stephenson Hal Stevens Richard Stidham Tammi Stidham John Stockamp Janette Stone Orbin Stone Daniel Stouffer Juanita Stoyka Della Stroup Susan Stucker Beth Suhr David Sullens Antoinette Sullivan Edwin Sullivan Jim Sullivan Lynn Sullivan Maury Sullivan Sarah Jean Sutherland Seth Sutherland Denise Suttle James Suttle Holly Sylvester Paul Tackett Nicole Tagart Ramona Taitt Diana Tanner Laurye Tanner Tom Tanner Gail Tate Deborah Taylor Julie Taylor Kathy Taylor Mike Taylor Renanah Taylor Valari Taylor Debra Teague Edward Teigeler James Telles Brad Temeyer David Tennis Shirley Thieda Christine Thomas Makahla Thomason Tom Thornhill Richard Thornton Rickey Thornton Michelle Thurik Lynn A Tillery Cindy Tolar Danny Tolar

Nichola Tootle Linda Tornes Norb Tornes Richard Torres Rosemary Torres Valerie Trader Elijah Trujillo Therese Trujillo Roberta Tuley Cliff Tvede Rolinda Tzamaloukas Chris Uhl Tiffany Uhl Gregory Underwood Joseph Vanderburg Mary VanHaverbeke Bob Vanzwoll Alex Vazquez Samantha Vazquez Vanessa Vazquez Jeff Venable Linda Venable Kimberley Vesely Yuriy Veytskin Nancy Vigil-Cottrell Mary Ann Villarreal Laura Virgin David Volker John Vonderheide Michael Vos Michael Wagner Berta Wagstaff Don Wagstaff Karen Wallace Xavier Wallace John Walsh Philip Walsh Nellie Walters William Walters Dylan Wambold Lawrence Wambold Clyde Wanatee Patrick Ward Robert Warner Tunell Watts Christina Weaver Janet Welch Caryn Welz Jennifer Werner Phil Werner Nancy Wertz James West Nancy West Rachel Wester Austin Wetsch Marvin Wetzel Robert Whalen Teresa Whalen Skye Wheeler

PICTURE PERFECT

Ellis Whitaker Patricia Whitaker William White Kimberly Whiteman Barbara Widrig Don Widrig Mary Wier Mark Wilkins Eloisa Williams Rachel Williams Joshua Willis Rachel Wills John Wilson Lee Wilson Robert Wilson Julie Wilson-Muhindi Stephen Wimpy Denise Winn Dylan Winn Mark Winn Rachel Winn Fred Winslow Sharon Winslow Jazzmin Winston Jean Winter Robert Wise Caroline Wood Cinda Wood James Wood Philip Wood Marjorie Woodall Robert Woodall Alice Wood-Garman Audrie Wormington Buck Wormington Janice Wrhel Ralph Wrons Leticia Wunch David Young Glenn Young Tyler Young Brendan Zajac Jenifer Zamora Loretta Zamora Petra Zavakos Rachel Zimmer Corey Zimmerman Michael Zink Nancy Zink Alex Zucosky L. Jane Zucosky + Thousands of Chase Crew Members

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2019 HERITAGE AWARD

HONORING GEORGE HAHN The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF) Heritage Award recognizes individuals who have made significant and long-time contributions to Balloon Fiesta through preservation of AIBF corporate or event history, promotion, communication, or educational activities, or through other innovations that have been shown to help achieve AIBF’s mission statement. This year’s winner has been part of the Balloon Fiesta for more than 40 years, playing a major role not only in AIBF, but in the ballooning community in Albuquerque and nationwide. In 1975, an Albuquerque orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Bob Benson, gave George Hahn his first balloon ride; and George’s life changed forever. He bought his first balloon (Snapdragon), and in quick succession in 1977 and 1978 earned his private and commercial pilot ratings, learning by flying at every opportunity when conditions even marginally permitted. By the summer of 1978, George was already a skilled – and gutsy -competitive pilot. He soon also earned

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a gas balloon rating and participated in the Balloon Fiesta’s early gas balloon competitions in the 1980s. In the next decade, George became a leading figure both in the Balloon Fiesta and in the ballooning community, especially well known for promoting continuing education for pilots and safe flying practices. He became the Chief Safety Officer for AIBF in 1984, Assistant Balloonmeister in 1985, and Balloonmeister in 1986 and 1987. George served 22 years on the Balloon Fiesta Board of Directors, including terms as Vice-President in 1989 and 1990 and as President in 1991. While on the board, George played a key role in improving the organization’s fiscal, management, and budgeting practices. His goal was to build a sound, businesslike operation while at the same time concentrating on safety and fun for participants in the Balloon Fiesta. Much of his work still guides AIBF’s operations to this day. Simultaneously, George remained involved in promoting ballooning generally. In the mid -1980s he acquired

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® 2019 Official Program

AERCO, one of Albuquerque’s and the country’s oldest and most established balloon sales and repair facilities. He ran AERCO for nearly 30 years and also briefly had an ownership interest in US balloon manufacturer Firefly (Balloon Works/Barnes). As a respected instructor and FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, George trained and/or certified dozens of balloon pilots. He was an organizer and participant in numerous safety seminars in Albuquerque and across the country and gave regular safety talks to groups of pilots. Although George and his wife Alice are now in retirement in Texas, he remains an active and avid supporter of AIBF. A great raconteur, George is still a trove of ballooning tales, all exciting, some even true, and all part of the magic that is ballooning and Balloon Fiesta.

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