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A postcard from Balloon Fiesta (76)
jvachon Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 59 N: 723] (3428)
It is Balloon Fiesta time in Albuquerque--the balloon capital of the world. 600 plus balloons from all over the world. It is so exciting to go to the fields and see them take off in waves. The colour, the big cheers as the balloons launch, the sounds of the gas burning, the drop competitions, and the pilots shouting at one another to "Get out of my way". It is all go!!

Darth Vader, in the BG has been a huge success, especially with the youngsters. There is a big buzz around this balloon. There are 6 men in costume signing autographs for the kids.
Darth Vader is one of the biggest balloons and hails from Belgium.

In the WS is a special shape balloon, the Creamland Dairy Cow. This is the biggest balloon in the world:3 stories tall, 120 feet long and weights 900 pounds. It takes forever to blow up.
Balloons cost anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000. The special shape balloons are in another category.

PP
original, resize, sharpen, frame
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jvachon Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 59 N: 723] (3428)
closeup
Edited by:jvachon Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 59 N: 723] (3428)
A close up of the dairy Cow.
The people help to lend some idea of scale and the size of this monster.
The pilot has to be very skilled. This is like the 747's of airplanes.
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jvachon Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 59 N: 723] (3428)
special shape balloon
Edited by:jvachon Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 59 N: 723] (3428)
The cream land dairy cow balloon. A really huge balloon.
These boyos are quirky to fly due to their configurations and size. They also need huge landing sites.