Fall is official in Albuquerque

**tundramanq** · 7th October 12, 11:24 AM

Westy - was a cold front on the eastern plains that blew thru the pass at 35 - 45 MPH all night right past my house - was 42, now it's 68 - The wind died just in time for the balloons to launch this AM. Hate it when people come a long way and don't get to see least one mass ascention.
Still await seeing a kilted piper, special shapes balloon. "What's under your kilt?" " Don't know but it shoots a 30 foot flame!"

With the burner sounds, add some real pipers piping to the gondola, and every dog in the valley would lose their mind.

**mookien** · 7th October 12, 04:21 PM

Chuck: Great idea about the "kilted piper, special shapes balloon"! I'd drive 80 miles just to see that. A guaranteed shot on the front page of the Journal, too.

Here, the low was 34F last night. Both our furnaces kicked on. It is now (late afternoon) 58F - quite pleasant, actually. But, no moisture, no snow.

John

**gordontaos** · 7th October 12, 05:38 PM

20 inch thick adobe walls mean that we have at least a week or so before we have to stoke the fires.

**McClef** · 8th October 12, 02:39 AM

I wondered if there has been a sudden increase of hot dogs and jumping frogs...

**tundramanq** · 8th October 12, 07:10 AM

Looking at the cost of balloons for the idea of the kilted piper special shape balloon.
While the conventional tear drop shapes are in the $20K-90K range depending on size, the special shapes run $90K to 250K due to construction complexity and having to get every one individually FAA certified.
I can see why few private special shapes are around. Here, they would be competing with our kilt budgets.

With few exceptions, all the kilt makers are small businesses that would be really strained to sponser a "billboard" of this size. Actual operation is dirt cheap but shipping it and the non-volunteer crew around to the events worldwide could add up. Most of the crew to handle the balloon are volunteers local and people who spend their vacation time ballooning.

Thinking tartans - at the national or international level clan sponsorship is possible?
The pipers organizations?
A generic or Spirit of Scotland tartan could work for putting all Scots, kilt wearers and pipers in the donation pool.
With a $1 a year donation from that large of a base - purchase, operation and replacement balloons (they have a service life) is easily possible.

BTW - I am not a pilot and my experiance is limited to volunteer chase crew for a couple of years at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiestas.
Lot's of fun for all!

**mookien** · 8th October 12, 08:35 AM

Chuck: Thanks for the brief summary of hot-air balloon economics. I had no idea they were so cheap!

Looks like I'll have to stick with the helium balloons on a stick from Wal-Mart, ... if they can find enough helium.

Your idea of wealthy clan sponsorship might work, if you can find one with the the requisite interest and enthusiasm. Is there a Clan MacRothschild? Maybe my favorite Scottish restaurant would sponsor one - MacDonalds.

As for getting a large pool of independent-minded, stubborn, frugal Scots to agree on a plan, forget it. They would argue it to death. Maybe a small hot-air balloon tax could be added to every purchase of Scottish attire.

BTW - as you have probably surmised by now, I know nothing about hot-air balloons, ... but I have a lot of hot air to offer.

John