Courtesy of Bard Balloon: “Congratulations to Bill Broker & Uplifting Adventures for the construction and beautiful execution of two, twin, brand-new Bard Balloons designed special shape hot air balloon envelopes.
The pink Llama is named Como Se Llama and owned by Stephanie Maughan from the St. Louis area.
The dark grey Llama is named No Prob Llama and owned by Bill Broker.
These balloons use the BARD Racer profile and use smooth skin gores with no visible lofting between load tapes. With a base volume of only 65k, a total volume of 71.3k, and with those super-tall ears they stand a full 106 feet tall. Using Bard Balloons brand-new second generation FLOATCOAT lightweight fabric in custom dyed colors, these two envelopes only weight 201 lbs each.”
Rise & Shine and have a good time with more than 30 hot air balloons at the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival on September 18-21. Among the special shapes includes Ms. Autumn that is a giant pumpkin with a massive green stem, and Barnstormer that features a cow, horse, pig, farmer and silo; representing the American farmers that feed our great nation. Voluntold is a historical nod to the first balloon flight in 1783 and pilot Gary Moore has incorporated a sheep, duck and rooster into the design to honor the passengers who originally flew and safely landed. Ziggy the Raccoon is ready for adventure, Bud E Beaver weighs 700 pounds, and fans will adore seeing Lovebirds, Fire Dog, and Police Dog on the field.
H-E-B Pilot: Amie Cato Paris, TexasWHISK AWAY Pilot: Matt Robison Fort Worth, TexasPOLICE DOG Pilot: Brian Chase Moscow, PennsylvaniaBUD E BEAVER Pilot: Colin Graham Belgrade, MontanaBARNSTORMER Pilot: David Adler Belgrade, MontanaZIGGY Pilot: Mike Fielding and Michael Wilson Oak Point and Hickory Creek, TexasContinue reading “RISE & SHINE WITH HOT AIR BALLOONS & PILOTS SEPT 18-21”
“This year we invite attendees to walk inside a cold inflated hot air balloon envelope that will remain laying on the ground. We’ve partnered with Uplifting Adventures to create an experience that allows an inside out view, great photos, and educational facts about the fabric of the envelope, structure of the basket and more. The walk thru is free for all ages,” says Amy Leone, Balloon Operations Coordinator and Vice/Chair – Secretary on the Plano Balloon Festival Board of Directors.
COLD INFLATED BALLOON WALK-THRU SCHEDULE:
Friday, September 20, 2024 @ 4:00 p.m. Saturday, September 21, 2024 @ 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Sunday, September 22, 2024 @ 7:00 a.m.
Festival attendees are welcome to walk to the end of the field where the envelope of the balloon will be cold inflated and laying down. Walk into the balloon, take pictures, and observe the parts of a hot air balloon from within. Fun favors will be available for children to select from and adults will receive the Parts of a Hot Air Balloon flyer along with the Hot Air Balloon Q&A. Special thanks to Uplifting Adventures owner Billy Broker, a licensed commercial pilot flying Excellence, the official City of Plano balloon.
In celebration of our 45 years, the 2024 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival is going to Light Up The Sky on September 19-22! This year includes 10 big-eared and smiling special shape hot air balloons: Annie the Ladybug, Larry the Bear, Flying Saucer, Ziggy, Amelia Bearhart, Mango the Seahorse, Purple People Eater, Gizzmo, Mr. Z and Haunted Mansion!
Yes, you can take a ride in a hot air balloon, but not fly away. Experience the sensation with a Tethered Ride that takes you up in the air hovering 20-30 feet above the ground for several minutes. This is just the right amount of time to get the feeling of floating, take magical photos and videos, and check “ride in a hot air balloon” off your lifelong list of things to do. Passengers must sign a waiver, be at least six years of age and rides are offered during the festival, weather permitting.
Opening day is Thursday, September 19 and the four-day festival weekend continues through Sunday, September 22. TICKETS are available online or at the gate. General admission is $10 for adults, $5 – kids 3-12 years old, $5 – Seniors 65 and older, free for kids 36″ and under, and free for all Military and First Responders (with valid ID).
MR. Z Pilot: Dan Stukas Central, South CarolinaZIGGY Pilot: Mike Fielding Oak Point, TexasANNIE THE LADYBUG Pilot: Michael Celentano Frisco, Texas
H-E-B Pilot: Amie Cato Reno, TexasWHISK AWAY Pilot: Joshua Cato Reno, NevadaAMELIA BEARHART Pilot: Michael Ford Fort Worth, Texas
GIZZMO Pilot: Matt Robison Fort Worth, TexasLARRY THE BEAR Pilot: Brian Chase Moscow, PennsylvaniaMANGO THE SEAHORSE Pilot: Rollie Little Glendale, Arizona
A rainbow of colors, animals, and shapes will be flying High in the Texas Sky at the 2023 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival on September 21-24! Lulu the leopard, Fire Dog, Mister Z, Daz the Whirling Rascal, and Spyder Pig are a few of the special shapes to be spotted among 37 hot air balloons. A Tethered Balloon Ride is a fun experience taking riders up in the air to hover 20-30 feet above the ground for several minutes. This is just the right amount of time to get the feeling of floating, take magical photos and videos, and check “ride in a hot air balloon” off your lifelong list of things to do.
The four-day weekend begins on Thursday, September 21 and continues through Sunday, September 24. TICKETS are available online or at the gate. General admission is $10 for adults, $5 – kids 3-12 years old, $5 – Seniors 65 and older, free for kids 36″ and under, and free for all Military and First Responders (with valid ID).
MR. Z Pilot: Dan Stukas Central, South Carolina
BIG RED AGAIN Pilot: Joseph Calabrette Hickory Creek, Texas
FIRE DOG Pilot: Brian Chase Moscow, Pennsylvania
RE/MAX Pilot: Steven Lombardi Edgewood, Texas
SPYDERPIG Pilot: Matt Robison Allen, Texas
STARDUST Pilot: Mark Ibbotson Grand Prairie, Texas
You could say it was love at first flight. Steve Jones’ father attended the US National Balloon Championships in Indianola, Iowa, in 1976, working on a balloon crew and then riding in the balloon. He called Steve on his way home, raving about the experience and trying to convince Steve to partner with him and buy a balloon. Steve was certain that his dad had lost his mind; nevertheless, he consented and soon thereafter he was hooked on the experience. He earned his pilot’s license, a requirement for balloon piloting, and became a member of the ballooning community, enjoying the camaraderie and the competitions.
Guy Gauthier was terrified. Being afraid of heights, he realized that taking a ride in a hot air balloon may not have been his best idea. He survived, but as he walked away, Guy declared, “I’ll never buy one of those things!”
He and his six brothers would pursue ground-level sports. However, after competing in motorcycle racing for a number of years, the siblings were looking for a new, less messy sport that they could participate in and still be clean enough to be welcome in restaurants or even in their homes. Several more refined pastimes were mentioned, such as hang gliding, sailing, speedboating, and yes, even ballooning.
That was on a Sunday evening. On Wednesday, Guy received a call from one of his brothers, telling him, “We just bought a balloon, and your part is $3000.”
“The Hot Business of Balloon Love” written by Maridee Dietzel
It began with a love story. Tamie Folley and Mike Shrum met at a ballooning event in the Philippines. They shared a passion for ballooning, and about a year later, they began dating.
Fast forward to 2016 when they opened their business, Happily Ever After Balloon Company. Tamie was crewing for a friend in Albuquerque when he mentioned that he had an idea that may interest them. He had noticed the shirts Tamie and Mike’s crew wore when working their pink camouflage balloon; the shirts feature a heart with wings on it. The designer wanted to build a balloon in the shape of a heart, but not just an ordinary heart. This heart has personality!
Balloon pilot Keith Berry caught a bug for hot air ballooning 29 years ago. “I flew as volunteer crew at a balloon festival in Missouri in 1990,” Berry recalls. “I was immediately hooked!”
That one act of service launched a decades-long commitment to the sport.
“It’s one of the most awesome feelings to be free and in control of a 75 foot tall, 50 foot wide bubble of hot air floating through the sky,” Berry says. “It’s like being able to walk on air!”
The InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival is thrilled to have the highly decorated, and equally charming, Scott Vesely return for what promises to be another epic flight.
At Dawn’s Early Light
A commercial balloon pilot since 1982, Vesely has been cruising the skies for decades.
“There is nothing like flying Dawn Patrol in Albuquerque,” Vesely recalls wistfully, “We watch the sunrise over the Sandia Mountains and the traffic come onto the field. There is nothing like that type of flight.”
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