Teddy, watched from the pool deck. It was easier than joining the thousands at the fiesta park.
The craft continued to drift to the south. And that brought back a story...
Several years ago (1996 I think) we volunteered as the chase crew (pickup truck & all) for a balloonist who came to the fiesta from France. We enlisted the help of a French friend - she understood what they were saying. We chased them to areas where they were not really supposed to go, including an alfalfa field about 20 miles south of the field.
And then there was the final day of flight that year:
Breezes much like those today, carried the balloons across the city on a direct line with Albuquerque International Sunport (and Kirtland Air Force Base). Balloons and airplanes don't mix. Balloons and air bases don't mix, either.
We chased the balloon and crew around every open space and parks and school yards all over our northeast part of town. Looking skyward, pulling in to every available parking lot, and jabbering in French on the walkie talkie.
Landing space (and flying fuel) was running out. It was apparent Michel wasn't going to land at a neaarby golf course, so we knew what was next.
Despite warnings to the the contrary, he landed at Kirtland.
Imagine the international awareness of this particular day.
Air Force One carrying President Clinton was going to land at Kirtland 5 hours later, only a few hundred yards from the balloon's landing spot. So, here comes a balloon, with French registration, carrying French citizens, flying over the fence into the secure area.
The folks at Kirtland were ready for this - much more than we were. All came out fine, the balloon and enveloped got loaded and we were on our way, under the watchful eye of military security police (and I'm sure satellite surveillance at NORAD or somewhere like that).
In the bowels of Interpol and the United States Secret Service video of that incident exists.
I wonder if it was ever been used as an training awareness tool?
Imagine what they were thinking at NORAD about that time!
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