By Catherine Ellerton

Moapa Valley Progress

Slowly the Smiley Face Balloon rises into the air to the majestic strains of The National Anthem. Below the bucket, Balloon Meister Gayle McCoy, has hung the American and POW/MIA Flags. With a cheer and a benediction of “Gentle Winds and a Soft Landing,” the race is on for the other pilots to inflate their envelopes and to begin the Hare and Hound Race. Bean Bags are held ready to throw at the “X” that the Balloon Meister previously has set up.

Bernadette Anthony, Christian Adderson and Gayle McCoy took on the challenge given them by Mesquite Gaming and AmeriGas of St. George to launch the Inaugural Hot Air Balloon Festival in Mesquite held last weekend. It took them six weeks to put together this three day affair.

DAY 1 – Pilot Ingrid Martell and her husband, Steven, of Sparks, Nevada, presented a ballooning workshop to the students of the Virgin Valley Elementary School.

It was here that one had the opportunity to learn what ballooning was all about. The pilot must obtain an FAA License for lighter-than-air aircraft. This involves 10 lesson hours and a ground school which teaches weather, regulations and exactly what the pilot is allowed to do.

It was in the workshop that one learned the true immensity of the balloons – at least 105,000 cubic feet inflated, the fabric (or envelope) is made of ripstop nylon which weighs 260 pounds and the basket with 2 twenty gallon canisters of propane weighs roughly 350 pounds. If all conditions are right, these 40 gallons of propane will allow the pilot to stay aloft for 2 ½ to 3 hours. The lift capacity at sea level is 1800 pounds.

Under the supervision of the pilot, the crews, usually volunteers, lay out the 46’ x 68’ protective tarps, pull out and unwrap the envelope, make sure the cables are smooth and straight, set up the basket, and make sure the crown and the throat are positioned properly. The cold air is injected by a large fan and as soon as the balloon inflates and all the “wrinkles” are out, the burners are turned on. The hot air rises to the top and soon the balloon itself begins to rise.

DAY 2 – The pilots from Nevada, Utah, California and Arizona, and the volunteer crews, gather at the Casablanca Golf Course. The morning starts out cold and windy.

The Pilot Ball, a helium filled balloon, is released and all eyes are fastened on its rise. On this day, the P-Ball made a crazy left turn and one could hear the mutual holding of breath. After several P-Ball releases and reading of data from weather centers, it was decided that it was better to be safe than sorry.

Per Pilot Ingrid Martell, “Sometimes it is better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air rather than being in the air wishing you were on the ground.”

The pilots, who had already begun to set up their balloons, decided to limit the day’s activities to a show of inflated, tethered balloons – which was impressive in itself.

DAY 3 – The day began way before the sun even was thinking about coming up. The temperature was about 20 degrees warmer and the wind was almost non-existent. As I entered my mechanical beast to begin the journey over the mesa, once again, I knew this was going to be THE day.

The excited volunteers raced across the “greens” to the Pilot’s Meeting. Past “Moonshine” from Utah and “Misbehavin’” from Spring Creek, NV and “Spilt Paint” from Las Vegas, we were in time to hear 060 (direction) at 7 (A.M.) at 2 (mph) and a cheer went up. The launch was on!

I joined the crew on the “Wind Rider” owned and piloted by Vince Casey of Reno, Nevada, a former Board Member and Trustee of the Reno Hot Air Balloon Show. I then had the opportunity to take a flight into the wild blue yonder!

Enthusiastically chores were completed and we climbed into the basket. We waited our turn and slowly, ever so slowly, we began to ascend over the cars, over the onlookers, over the unlaunched balloons. We were free! We were airborne!

That moment when you look out and see the majestic earth below and feel the power and might of its beauty is awe inspiring! All is quiet. All is serene. This, yes this one moment, is what it is all about. Thank you, Vince, for affording me that moment.

See you next year. Until then – “Gentle Winds and a Soft Landing.”