There are two varieties of shape balloons. The first type embellishes the basic inverted teardrop design. The second type does away with the teardrop altogether and takes some serious engineering. Some of these are rather simple and others are quite complicated with multiple air chambers.
Propane is used in conjunction with a burner which works by heating the funneled into the balloons. Gas balloons depend on helium or hydrogen to lift them. These fly much higher and for longer periods than hot air balloons do.
Propane is used in conjunction with a burner which works by heating the funneled into the balloons. Gas balloons depend on helium or hydrogen to lift them. These fly much higher and for longer periods than hot air balloons do.
How It All Started.
Balloon Fiesta
The event was somewhat of a numbers game at its outset. In 1972, the radio station, KOB along with a few charter members of the local club set out to at least match the biggest race of balloons to date. Nineteen balloons would have to enter the competition to pull this off. They were only able to gather thirteen balloons to compete but the race was called its own that first year. It was not too long after this that gas balloonists threw in their lot with the competition.
What is the Albuquerque Box?
Darth Vader
The winner of the race is the team who can traverse the greatest distance. Teams can end up as far away as Canada with races lasting several days.
There is a lot of talk among the enthusiasts about the "Albuquerque Box" which is a wind pattern created by the Rio Grande River. Cool air from the north blows in one direction when the box is functioning correctly. At the same time higher winds blow in the opposite direction. This gives balloon pilots the ability to begin at one course and then in mid-flight boomerang back to the location where they started tracing the pattern of a box in the air.
Pilots can maneuver with precision when the conditions are ideal so they are able to pluck an envelope suspended on a twenty foot pole with bare hands during the "Grab a Key" competition.
There is a lot of talk among the enthusiasts about the "Albuquerque Box" which is a wind pattern created by the Rio Grande River. Cool air from the north blows in one direction when the box is functioning correctly. At the same time higher winds blow in the opposite direction. This gives balloon pilots the ability to begin at one course and then in mid-flight boomerang back to the location where they started tracing the pattern of a box in the air.
Pilots can maneuver with precision when the conditions are ideal so they are able to pluck an envelope suspended on a twenty foot pole with bare hands during the "Grab a Key" competition.