by Marcella Ortega
Daily Lobo
Student Alan Takach said the balloon fiesta is more like a party than a competition for serious balloonists.
"We go out to fly for fun on our own and do competitions," he said. "The balloon fiesta is more about gathering the balloonists from around the world."
Takach, who is training to be a pilot, went on his first balloon ride in 2000.
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"We were in Durango over the snow and saw all the wildlife below," he said. "It was really majestic. We took off on snow and landed on snow."
Alan and his father, Keith Takach, began taking flight lessons from their friend Eric Hodges in 2000.
"I've always had an attraction for the balloons but never knew anybody (pilots) personally," Keith said. "So, after flying with him, I started coming out and crewing every weekend. Eventually Eric said, 'Go get your student license, and let's start flying.'"
Keith became a licensed pilot in September 2001. In 2003, he bought his own balloon, Takach-A-Breeze.
It is the second year he has flown his balloon in the fiesta. Keith said it costs about $30,000 for a new, small balloon and could cost more than $100,000, depending on size, art and shape.
Keith and Hodges learned to fly in Hodges' balloon, Kisses of Fire. Hodges said pilots need 10 hours of flight time with a commercial pilot and to attend ground school to get a private pilot's license.
Hodges said learning to fly a balloon is only difficult in the
beginning.
"You have to learn how to fly ahead of the balloon because what happens is when you burn, the heat goes to the top of the balloon, and the top of the balloon is like 60 feet away," Hodges said. "So, it takes a few seconds for the burn you put into the balloon to actually affect the balloon. So, you're kind of flying ahead of the thing all the time."
Hodges said pilots need to adapt to constantly changing factors.
"The balloon is losing weight because you're burning fuel," he said. "It's also getting hotter outside the farther you fly into the day. So, the temperature changes. The weight changes. Everything changes."
Alan, who has completed five hours of flight time, said he is not in a hurry to finish the requirements.
"Personally, I would try to take in more about how other pilots maneuver a balloon," he said. "If you just jump into it, 10 hours is not a lot of time to understand the weather. I think it would be overwhelming with the amount of variables that happen throughout the day."
Keith said the fun part of
ballooning is that it attracts different people.
"A lot of people just enjoy the chase," he said. "They don't want to become pilots, but they have a great time helping set up the balloons, launching, trying to figure out where the balloons are going and getting ahead of them, because a good crew is there before the balloon gets there."
Alan said the best part of the experience is spending time with his family and friends and watching first-time flyers.
"It's fun to take first timers up," he said. "It doesn't matter if they are young or old. They always have the same excited reaction."
