Sunrise launch at the National Balloon Classic We attended one day of the annual National Balloon Classic in Indianola, IA last weekend. The event featured hot-air balloon competitors from all over the country. The morning event started about 6:30 AM with three hot air balloons lifting off from the launch area in front of the spectators. Then the competitors, who launched their balloons from a few miles away, started to slowly drift in on almost no breeze at all, with a goal to drop a streamer on a big X on the ground in the event area. At one point many balloons were bunched up almost on top of each other trying to navigate over the drop site. It was fun to watch and photograph.
The evening event started about 6:30 PM with four balloons taking off from the launch area. Again, the competitors launched from a few miles away in a different direction, relying on the changing wind (and the skills of the pilot) to guide them to the event area where the pilots were to throw a streamer on to a big X on the ground and try to snatch one of several helium-filled birthday party balloons tethered around the big X on the ground. Because of the wind currents at different altitudes the hot air balloons were all over the place this time, with several missing their mark. Most of the balloons then landed in the event area to prepare for the grand finale of the evening - the "Nite Glow" - when it got dark. On a signal from the announcer and a chant from the crowd all of the pilots would light their burners at the same time in their already inflated balloons to light up all of the balloons at once. Quite a sight to see.
Click to see many more images of the National Balloon Classic
Also see the time-lapse video below.
The evening event started about 6:30 PM with four balloons taking off from the launch area. Again, the competitors launched from a few miles away in a different direction, relying on the changing wind (and the skills of the pilot) to guide them to the event area where the pilots were to throw a streamer on to a big X on the ground and try to snatch one of several helium-filled birthday party balloons tethered around the big X on the ground. Because of the wind currents at different altitudes the hot air balloons were all over the place this time, with several missing their mark. Most of the balloons then landed in the event area to prepare for the grand finale of the evening - the "Nite Glow" - when it got dark. On a signal from the announcer and a chant from the crowd all of the pilots would light their burners at the same time in their already inflated balloons to light up all of the balloons at once. Quite a sight to see.
Click to see many more images of the National Balloon Classic
Also see the time-lapse video below.
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