Mini 2 Balloons, Balloons

[CorralesDan]

The big event for our area, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, will start in a little over a month. Even though there are COVID travel restrictions for a lot of the international balloonists, they're still expecting almost 600 balloons with almost 100 special shape balloons. Several of our local balloonists were flying this morning, Friday, and I took the chance to video them as I flew my Mini 2. These balloons took off from an airfield quite a few miles from us. The Fiesta balloons will take off from the Fiesta field that is only about 5 miles from us. If the winds cooperate, it's not uncommon for a couple of dozen balloons to land in the sage areas around our house. I hope to fly when they do, but there may be a temporary flight restriction (TFR) imposed that may keep me grounded. If not and I can fly, I will still stay a good distance away from the balloons in the air. I don't want to be one of those idiots that give us drone pilots a bad name.

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[Prop Wash]

I hope you get to fly! That would be spectacular! Many of those balloons are so colorful. I haven't been to the AIBF, but I sure would like too. Several years ago, I went to the Reno Balloon Festival. I thought that was a lot of balloons. Not even close to the Albuquerque Festival. What a showing of color and shapes!! We even got up for the Dawn Patrol. Awesome to see the balloons lit up from inside maiking them look like giant lanterns against the pre-dawn sky.

 

[CorralesDan]

They do the Dawn Patrol here as well. Besides the show they put on, they are testing the upper winds and passing that information back to the control center.

 

[Duckhunter50]

That balloon festival is on my bucket list.

 

[CorralesDan]

Well worth your time. It has to be experienced in person to fully appreciate it. Pictures and video don't do it justice.

 

[New England Droning]

The Quechee balloon festival is labor day weekend (much smaller) in Quechee Vermont and it no TFRs in place I will try to get some shots of them...
Here is a youtube video I shot from 6 years ago

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[CorralesDan]

Very nice video. Creative. I expect a TFR here because of the number of balloons involved. The Air Force at Kirtland AFB even provides an Apache helicopter to fly around and patrol the margins of the event. Quite a few years ago, a person flying a motorized hang glider wandered down among the balloons and the Apache escorted him out. Never found out what happened to him. I don't think an Apache helicopter would come after me, but I will do my best to follow the legalities.