Wednesday, 10/5/2011: The rain continued throughout the night, leaving the launch field pretty soggy, and the breezes were too strong for any launches, so the Flying Events were cancelled for the day. We visited the Balloon Museum in the morning.
Many people don't realize that ballooning in Albuquerque began some 20 years before the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk and over 100 years before the first modern ballooning celebration there.
The "City of Albuquerque" balloon was launched by "Professor" Park A. Van Tassel on July 4, 1882. This first Albuquerque balloon flight ascended from a vacant parking lot on Gold Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets. Van Tassel himself later recalled of this ascent that:
"...The town was just beginning and the gas plant from which I filled my balloon was so weak it took two days to fill the balloon, during which the customers went without heat or light. But they were willing as it was the first ascension that they had seen. Needless to say, I was the hero of the hour."
Many flights were made from Albuquerque in ensuing years. Today, Albuquerque is known as the "balloon capitol of the world" due in large part to hosting an international balloon fiesta since the early 1970's.
Three other types of powerless flight:
At 4:00 p.m. it was Social Time again in the Hospitality Tent, followed by a Chuck Wagon Dinner. The dress was western, and most did their best to look the part. After dinner, we were entertained by Syd Masters. Syd writes and arranges a lot of his western and country music and has played with many country stars. He was fabulous!Syd Masters (center)
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