Up up and away: Beakerhead hot air balloon event a success despite pesky winds
Slater Park welcomed a Beakerhead massive hot air balloon on September 13th.
When the blowing wind put everybody’s enthusiasm on hold, Gary Fehr and his team didn’t hesitate and tried to send the hot air balloon off for more than two hours. The crowd — still clinging to a balloon ride — never left the park. But a good thing is worth waiting for. Fehr and his crew went on a fourth attempt — nothing was stopping them this time. Once the wind stopped blowing, the balloon started to take shape and the crowd was in awe with the enormous structure lifting the hot air balloon basket.
Two hours later,Calgarians were flying their kites in the sunshine, among others enjoying free balloon rides.
Read the full article here.
Photos by Ingrid Mir
Published on Sptember 30, 2016
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Slater Park is the site of the Beakerhead hot air balloon event on Friday Sept. 13th
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Hula hoop artist Alice Patterson amuses the crowd as they wait for hot air balloon to lift off at a Beakerhead event.
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The event fills Slater Park with many colours and shapes. Caiti Brook, Alice Patterson’s friend, joins her as everyone waits for a hot air balloon to lift off.
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Gary Fehr, Al Toews and Don Carter set up their balloon while long line of people wait for the rides.
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After hot air balloon pilot Gary Fehr tests the burner, the long line starts to encourage him to the cry of “boom, boom, boom!”
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The balloon slowly inflates by using a ventilation fan that lets hot air into the shell.
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Bad news. Wind grounds the balloon.
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Calgarians put on a brave face. The wind isn’t lifting up the hot air balloon, but it’s sending kites up into the air.
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Colton Milles (left) flies a kite supplied by the Arts, Recreation and Community Hub supplied. Meanwhile, astronauts Stephanie Hope (left) and Nathaly Pizarro (right) wait for their spaceship to blast off.
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When the wind finally stops blowing, pilot Gary Fehr doesn’t hesitate. With help from his crew, the team achieves lift-off.
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Commander Stephanie Hope is all smiles, exhausted, and ready to go home after the September 13 Beakerhead hot air balloon event.
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Calgarians enjoy the view of the city in a hot air balloon ride.
Slater Park is the site of the Beakerhead hot air balloon event on Friday Sept. 13th
Hula hoop artist Alice Patterson amuses the crowd as they wait for hot air balloon to lift off at a Beakerhead event.
The event fills Slater Park with many colours and shapes. Caiti Brook, Alice Patterson’s friend, joins her as everyone waits for a hot air balloon to lift off.
Gary Fehr, Al Toews and Don Carter set up their balloon while long line of people wait for the rides.
After hot air balloon pilot Gary Fehr tests the burner, the long line starts to encourage him to the cry of “boom, boom, boom!”
The balloon slowly inflates by using a ventilation fan that lets hot air into the shell.
Bad news. Wind grounds the balloon.
Calgarians put on a brave face. The wind isn’t lifting up the hot air balloon, but it’s sending kites up into the air.
Colton Milles (left) flies a kite supplied by the Arts, Recreation and Community Hub supplied. Meanwhile, astronauts Stephanie Hope (left) and Nathaly Pizarro (right) wait for their spaceship to blast off.
When the wind finally stops blowing, pilot Gary Fehr doesn’t hesitate. With help from his crew, the team achieves lift-off.
Commander Stephanie Hope is all smiles, exhausted, and ready to go home after the September 13 Beakerhead hot air balloon event.
Calgarians enjoy the view of the city in a hot air balloon ride.
