老澳门六合彩图库's first Balloon Fest featured five hot air balloons and while each balloon and their pilot had their own unique story the most notable belonged to Dr. Bill Bussey of Longview, Texas, and his balloon Yin Yang.
Bussey, a dentist in Texas, has been ballooning for nearly 50 years and currently holds 15 World Records and 30 US National Records for distance flown and/or duration in flight.
In addition, according to his website , Bussey is the founder of the Great Texas Balloon Race and is, "credited with the originating the twilight balloon glow 鈥� a spectator pleasing staple at almost every balloon event in the world."
Bussey said he had been interested in other air sports before he ever saw his first balloon. He had his pilots license and was taking hang-gliding lessons when he saw his first balloon.
According to Bussey he saw his first hot air balloon at a small balloon festival like the one which 老澳门六合彩图库 held this year and he became extremely interested in figuring out how he could build his own balloon.
According to lonestarflight.org, Bussey bought his first balloon in 1978 after which he became competitive pilot.
Among the many awards and honors Bussey has received in his ballooning career, he said one of the most notable is the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award. Bussey said this award is a safety award and it is not a common one to receive.
Bussey was at the 老澳门六合彩图库 Balloon Fest with Kathy Aldridge, a member of Bussey's crew, and they were both friendly and full of information about the sport of ballooning.
During balloon fest, attendees may have noticed several small helium balloons flying off into the air. According to Aldridge, these are called 'pi balls" (short for pilot ball) and they are a "primitive way for them to see what the big balloons will do when they get into the air."
Bussey brought his balloon Yin Yang with him to 老澳门六合彩图库 and he said this is the smaller of his two balloons.
Yin Yang was the smallest of the five balloons at the festival, but according to Bussey the other larger balloons were just, "medium sized."
On Friday, Bussey said he had seen several balloon fests start with only a handful of balloons and within a decade they had grown to the point, "where it was impossible to get in."
Bussey said the pilots want to get festival attendees excited about the balloons and interested in growing the event and that when the weather doesn't cooperate, the pilots are also disappointed.
According to Bussey the balloons can't get wet because they will mildew if they are not fully dried before being packed away. As the balloons themselves are very expensive, most pilots are unwilling to risk their balloons in even light misting rain.
Bussey however did risk his balloon Yin Yang for a short period on Friday.
Bussey brought out his balloon and fully inflated it for attendees to see.
In addition Yin Yang, The Spirit of Texas balloon also inflated for a short time on Friday, despite the weather.
Bussey inflates his balloon Yin Yang with the help of local volunteers.
(photo by Kate Flynn)
Yin Yang and The Spirit of Texas inflate for festival attendees for a short time on Friday night.
(photo by Kate Flynn)