From Rebecca Elkins, our Balloonmeister

Weather Permitting?

Dear Balloon Festival Spectators,

We hope for favorable weather conditions during balloon launches, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas.  On a flight by flight basis, it is my job to evaluate weather and determine if conditions are favorable for a safe outcome.  My role as Balloonmeister is to protect the event and public, a responsibility that I take very seriously.
Balloon operations are extremely weather sensitive. Balloons do not have steering wheels or brakes, but rather float on the breeze like a soap bubble, with up and down controlled by heat.
Balloons launch at dawn and then again 2 hours before sunset when winds are most predictable and usually calmest. Flights last about 1 hour.  Mid day tether balloon rides are a possibility but those performances are more weather sensitive than flights.  If morning fog or surface wind in excess of 8 kts develops, our flight operations may be cancelled or delayed.
The balloon pilots attending this festival are handpicked, high hour, professional pilots. They love to fly. I hope that you have confidence in our collective abilities to provide you with a colorful and most importantly, safe, air show.

Respectfully submitted,

Rebecca Elkins, Balloonmeister
rebeccaelkins@hughes.net

Thanks for letting me be a part of your beautiful festival.

Special attractions at the event:

Misty Blues (all female skydiving team) www.mistyblues.com

Team RV (precision formation flying team) www.teamrv.us

Dialed Action Sports Team (BMX) www.dialedactionsportsteam.com

Highland Lake Recreation Club (ATV drag racing) www.highlandlakerecreationclub.com

Special thanks to our 2010 Sponsors!