When hot air balloons begin to rise into the sky today, the pilots say the atmosphere in the air will be similar to that of a family reunion.
“Some of the folks that come out to fly, we only get to see them at balloon festivals,” said Kristy Darling, owner of Big Oh! Balloons in Cleveland and pilot in BalloonFest since 1981. “We look forward to it for that and also it’s a great, fun festival. There’s a lot going on that we enjoy.”
The 39th Carolina BalloonFest kicks off this afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Statesville Regional Airport. The first day of the festival is free to the public.
Should the weather cooperate, and forecasts say the chance of rain is scarce although wind could affect the ability to launch, around 50 balloons will dot the evening sky. Lift-off is scheduled between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
The people who pilot the balloons come from across the country and several countries, and include the current national and world champion in hot air ballooning.
“I’m excited that we have a waiting list of pilots that want to come to Statesville – we have 50 of the best pilots that will be attending,” said Balloonmeister Sam Page.
Ray Smith, owner of AirPlay Balloons in Fort Mill, S.C., has been flying the festival for 15 years. He, like many of the pilots in town this weekend, make taking part in balloon festivals a habit. Larger festivals are held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Leon, Mexico, during October and November that are sandwiched around Carolina BalloonFest.
“There’s only so many of us same old guys and we’re getting older,” said Smith. “People are always trading tips, things they’ve learned….It’s a close-knit group of people.”
This year’s Balloonfest is dedicated to the memory of Edward Ristaino, a hot air balloon pilot who died in March after his balloon was caught in a storm while taking skydivers up in the air during a festival in Georgia. His maneuvering and advice saved the lives of the divers, but Ristaino was forced to stay with his balloon, which lost the ability to inflate while being tossed about by the storm. The 63-year-old man was found dead in his balloon three days later after it crashed to the ground miles away from where he had planned to land.
“It might be in the back of your mind,” said Smith of the danger of being at the mercy of the weather. “I think what Ed did makes him kind of a hero. He wasn’t thinking about safety. He was thinking about the jumpers.”
Balloon pilots say flying in eight- mile-per-hour winds is questionable and 10-mile-per-hour winds dangerous, although some will brave the elements. Several competitions between pilots will take place during the weekend and include attempting to drop a hula-hoop like device onto a pole and pinpoint landings. Most important, Page said, will be how the pilots read the wind direction.
“There’s a lot of weather involved because there’s no steering wheel,” Page said. “The only control we have is up and down. Other than that, we have to ride the winds.”
WANT TO GO?
Friday schedule (admission free):
Gates open 3 p.m.
3:30 p.m. Papa John & the House Party
4:30 p.m. Mass Balloon Ascension
5:30 p.m. Matt Walsh
7 p.m. Part Time Blues Band
8:30 p.m. Gates close
New shuttle service:
Free parking at Iredell County Fairgrounds; save $2 off admission; available Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.
http://www2.statesville.com
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