ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KFDA) – Fall has been in the air this week for our area as cooler weather finally arrived. For our neighbors in Albuquerque, the autumn air will soon be filled with hot air balloons.
Just down the road in Albuquerque, the largest hot air ballooning event in the world will take place in just over a week as hundreds of balloonists from around the globe gather for the international balloon fiesta.
As somewhat of a preview of the event, Doppler Dave Oliver recently teamed up with the Rainbow Ryders outfit for a flight and to learn more about the science and art associated with hot air ballooning.
Most flights begin early around daybreak when cool, calm conditions are present below a layer of warm air aloft that creates an inversion. The Albuquerque area in general offers suitable weather conditions frequently.
“We have the Sandia Mountains to the east and the mesa out towards the west of town. We also do get some very light winds during the morning hours,” said Michael Anand, NWS Albuquerque Meteorologist.
On this morning, conditions were perfect with quiet weather, clear skies, and hardly any wind. Pilot crew and passengers were anxious to get into the air.
Taking to the air and embracing becoming part of the sky is an incredible experience as you slowly drift up and along and take in your vast surroundings from this vantage point. It’s easy to understand why some pilots just can’t fly enough.
“To rely on mother nature and a certain skill set is really more of an art yeah. To drive these things around in the sky. My altitude record, I have gone up 17,986 feet,” said Anthony Lard, Rainbow Ryders Balloon Pilot.
The peaceful nature of flying surprises some people.
“The calmness. Everybody seems to have this notion that it’s like a roller coaster ride or some sort of fancy elevator ride, but it’s calm. It’s relaxing. Just floating along with the wind,” said Lard.
He adds, “Generally, the balloon rides right about 90 to 100 degrees warmer than the ambient temperature to create the lift needed.”
Pilots in the air around Albuquerque attempt to utilize an interesting phenomenon called “the box,” where wind currents blow from different directions at different altitudes.
“And that effect basically causes balloons to basically go down to the south towards downtown from balloon fiesta park and then go up and then return back to balloon fiesta park,” said Anand.
“So, on the surface, it’ll be going from the north to the south. And then from there, you can climb to an altitude generally, and the prevailing winds will be coming from the south to the north. So, in theory, you can take off in one spot, travel to the south, climb up, come back, and land in the same place you took off from,” said Lard.
Oliver asks Lard, “Have you ever pulled that off?”
“Oh, yeah. Yeah. Plenty of times.”
It’s no coincidence that the upcoming fiesta is located in this region and at this time of year.
“Sitting down in this valley with the mountain off to the east of us, it’s generally calm on the surface in the mornings, and we typically get three hundred to three hundred and thirty days a year that are flyable here,” explains Lard.
Anand said that the fall period gets lighter winds conducive to ballooning.
During the fiesta, meteorologists play a crucial role in safety, primarily monitoring wind.
“Generally, the event organizers, their thresholds for normal, hot air balloons is under 10 miles per hour, for the wind,” said Anand.
So far, all systems are go for a great fiesta this year, and it’s just a day trip away from our area.
“So, a unique environment puts our region on the international stage for hot air ballooning,” said Oliver.
Now that’s some good news.
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