Balloon Crew Training at Emerson Elementary School in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Kathy, Eric & Dave in the

Emerson Elementary School

parking lot at 6:20 am.

Principal Denise Brigman

welcomes us.

We are waiting for Dave and Leslie to bring their balloon to the school to for Albuquerque Aloft. This event at Emerson Elementary School, and other elementary schools in Albuquerque, kicks off the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Dave & Leslie arrive with

their truck.

Everything they need to launch Pi is carefully packed in this truck.  Let's get to work...

Dave drives onto the school's
lawn.

Let the unpacking

begin...

The balloon is in
this bag.

 

The basket is unloaded

next.

The clouds turn pink
at sunrise.

The propane tanks take

up most of the space

in the basket. 

Installing the propane
burner onto the basket.

Team members "run the

balloon bag" across the

lawn, laying out the

balloon as they go.

Parents and school children are watching the balloon unravel across the school yard. 

Pi is a HUGE balloon!

Team members hold open the

throat, the bottom opening of

the balloon as a fan blows

cold air into it.

Pi fills with
cold air.

Dave turns on the propane

burner to heat the air inside

the balloon from the basket,

that is laying on its side.

The heated air causes
Pi to rise.....

When fully inflated, Pi
is a 90,000 cubic foot
happy apple.

The basket is now upright.

The propane burner heats

the air, expanding

the balloon.

The demonstration is over.  The school bell rings.  It's time to deflate Pi and start the process of packing up the balloon and basket.

The vent at the top of the
balloon is opened &
Pi deflates.

Taking the burner off

the balloon basket.

The basket goes back
into the truck.

Leslie takes a picture of

the trainees & Dave.

We learned a lot this morning.  Dave and Leslie are great teachers.  We all want to crew for them, but they already have a crew assigned to them.