Mass Ascension
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
The start of the Balloon Fiesta was a mass ascension scheduled for shortly after sunrise.
After paying a $6 per person admission fee, we could walk right out on
the launch field and wander among the balloons being readied for the
mass ascension. This balloon pilot is testing the propane burners that
heat the air in his hot-air balloon.
To inflate the balloons, they were first stretched out on the grass, with the basket attached and lying on its side.
A closer look at the basket, which contains the propane tanks, burners, etc.
A fan is used to provide the initial inflation of the balloon before the propane burners are turned on.
Once the fan has inflated the balloons the propane burners are turned
on. The burners put out a pretty impressive jet of flame. Justing
standing nearby, you can feel the heat from it.
When the air in the balloon is hot enough to start to lift the balloon,
the basket and balloon is rotated into the vertical position.
Almost ready to go. Those riding in the balloon climb aboard, while the
ground crew holds the basket down. When the pilot is ready to lift off,
he gives the signal and the ground crew releases the balloon.
They are off! Five people were in the basket in this balloon, so it was
probably a bit crowded. I also saw balloons launched with only one or
two people aboard.
And away they go.
Doesn't that look like a neat way to travel? Of course, you can't be in
a hurry, and you have little control over where you are going, but it
seems to me that the view would be great.
Wandering among all the balloons being readied for launch was a
photographer's delight, with all the bright colors and different
shapes.
Pretty soon, the launch field was filled with balloons. Awesome!
The sky became filled with balloons. What a glorious scene!
There seemed to be no end to the balloons being launched. We heard
later that about 600 balloons were launched in a period of about
an hour and a half.
There were also many special shape balloons.
The mass ascension was truly an amazing experience, well worth getting
up before sunrise for. Even if the rest of the balloon fiesta were
cancelled because of bad weather, this single event made it worthwhile
to come here.