Breathtaking; Beautiful balloons grace the sky.Byline: Valerie Franchi HUDSON - With all the high-tech equipment in the skies today, it's nice to see that old-fashioned air travel still draws a crowd. Maybe it's the bright colors, or the idea of floating above the trees and going where the wind takes you. Maybe it's "The Wizard of Oz Wizard of Oz reaches and departs from Oz in circus balloon. [Children’s Lit.: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz] See : Ballooning Wizard of Oz false wizard takes up residence in Emerald City. [Am. Lit. ." Whatever the reason, something about hot air balloons This article is about hot air balloons themselves. For the associated activity, see Hot air ballooning. The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology, dating back to its invention by the Montgolfier brothers in Annonay, inspires people to get up before 6 a.m. on a foggy fog·gy adj. fog·gi·er, fog·gi·est 1. a. Full of or surrounded by fog. b. Resembling or suggestive of fog. 2. morning. Although hot air balloons have been around for centuries - the first manned flight took place in France in 1783, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. ballooning Web site www.eballoon.org - they are still fascinating to young and old alike. All ages were on hand for the launch of this weekend's fourth annual Hudson Elks Club Hot Air Balloon Festival at its recreational field on Park Street. Yesterday morning's takeoff of about a dozen balloons was delayed because of low cloud cover. But that didn't deter onlookers, who wandered around watching the balloons being prepared to fly. At about 7:30 a.m., the sun came out and the balloons went up. Last year, the festival attracted more than 4,000 people. This year they're expecting even more. "It's been very successful," explained organizer Billy Hopkins. "It's grown every single year." The community event raises money to provide scholarships for students in Marlboro and Hudson. This year, the event, held in association with the Hudson Public Library, attracted 15 balloonists from Massachusetts, New Hampshire New Hampshire, one of the New England states of the NE United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts (S), Vermont, with the Connecticut R. forming the boundary (W), the Canadian province of Quebec (NW), and Maine and a short strip of the Atlantic Ocean (E). , Maine, Connecticut and New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . "We've doubled the size of the event in four years," noted Bob Martel, a balloon pilot from Sterling. Concord, N.H., pilot Rick Jones has a show-stealing "cloud hopper" balloon - a one-person balloon with no basket, just a seat for the pilot. "Maybe next year the crowd will chip in so I can buy a basket for next year," he joked. Yesterday afternoon, in addition to the popular tethered Attached to a data or power source by wire or fiber. Contrast with untethered. balloon rides, fairgoers were treated to a state police K-9 dog demonstration, live music and dancing, children's games and contests, clown and karate performances and a display of vendors from the region. Paul Veilleux from Cumberland, R.I., has displayed his wares at all four of the Hudson Balloon Festivals. He has one of the largest selections of hot air balloon gifts and jewelry, including a colorful, stunning array of spinning balloon-shaped wind catchers. At sundown yesterday, pilots were scheduled to take off for the "balloon glow. "In the twilight, the balloons are illuminated from the propane burners. Another balloon ascension Ascension, in Christianity Ascension, name usually given to the departure of Jesus from earth as related in the Gospels according to Mark (16) and Luke (24) and in Acts 1.1–11. is scheduled for today followed by a pilots' breakfast. It is sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club Girls Club is a 2002 American television series created by David E. Kelley, who was also it's producer and executive producer. Only two out of a total of thirteen episodes created were broadcast on Fox Television in the United States and Global Television in Canada. of Metrowest. Senior pilot Dr. Clayton Thomas, from Brimfield, has been flying since 1967 and is considered by his peers an expert in the sport of ballooning. A physician as well as an FAA examiner and ballooning instructor, Dr. Thomas took his 100th and 101st students for training in yesterday morning's flight. They are in the process of receiving their FAA certifications. Dr. Thomas has trained many of the balloonists at the festival. "I started with parachuting and then moved on to ballooning," he said. For a private certification, students must log 10 hours of training; for a commercial license, 35 hours. While earning a certification is not difficult, ballooning is not a popular sport - probably because of the expense. The balloon itself can run from $12,000 for a used one to $55,000 for new. The pilot's four grown children are continuing the ballooning tradition. And based on the number of visitors to the Hudson festival, the sport of hot air ballooning Hot air ballooning is the activity of flying hot air balloons. Attractive aspects of ballooning include the exceptional quiet (except when the propane burners are firing), the lack of a feeling of movement, and the bird's-eye view. will not soon become extinct. "It beats mowing mow 1 n. 1. The place in a barn where hay, grain, or other feed is stored. 2. A stack of hay or other feed stored in a barn. the lawn," Dr. Thomas said. Throughout the years, Dr. Thomas says he has made many friends through ballooning. When he lands his balloon in a stranger's yard, he always gives them a bottle of champagne. "No matter how ugly you are, they're always looking at the balloon, so you know you're OK," he laughed. ART: PHOTOS CUTLINE: (1) Above and in top photo, balloons take off during the fourth-annual Hudson Elks Club Hot Air Balloon Festival, which runs through today. (2) Early risers on Harriman Road in Hudson come out of their houses during the start of the balloon festival. (3) All eyes were on the skies as shutterbugs captured the hot air balloons in flight. (4) Hot air balloons rise at the start of the festival. (5) A balloon is reflected in the water yesterday morning. PHOTOG pho·tog n. Informal A person who takes photographs, especially as a profession; a photographer. : T&G photos/TOM RETTIG |
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