Gas Balloon Tracking 2014

[Guest tx2sturgis]

The Gas Balloons are lining up.

 

You can track them here:

 

http://www.balloonfiesta.com/GasTracking/2014/

 

They are expecting winds aloft to carry the balloons more or less right over me here in the Texas Panhandle, then possibly on into the southern USA. This is all guesswork at this time...no one knows for sure until they get airborne.

 

Here is the latest launch update:

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Event News & Updates

 

Oct 6, 2014

Monday Evening Launch Set for America’s Challenge (Update 1 PM (1900Z) Monday October 6)

 

The seven teams competing in the 19th America’s Challenge race for gas balloons will soon be headed to Balloon Fiesta Park to begin assembling their equipment in anticipation of a launch this evening.

The latest trajectory forecasts offer the competing pilots several options in planning their flights. It’s expected the balloons will generally head east out of Albuquerque across Texas and into the southeastern U.S. However, there is an option that could potentially take the balloons on a track further northward through Missouri and eastward.

Pilots are expected to begin assembling their equipment around 4-5 PM (2200-2300Z) this afternoon. The pilots and officials will briefly meet again at 6:30 to take a final look at weather conditions. Assuming wind conditions at Balloon Fiesta Park remain favorable, it is expected actual inflation will begin sometime around 7 PM this evening, with a launch. Launch could occur as soon as two hours after inflation.

We’ll keep you posted with any changes to this plan. Once the race starts later this evening, you’ll be able to cheer for your favorite team(s) by following live tracking at www.balloonfiesta.com or via the 2014 Balloon Fiesta app.

 

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[Guest tx2sturgis]

They're up and traveling over Eastern NM.

 

http://www.balloonfiesta.com/GasTracking/2014/

 

[Flyinfool]

I always wonder just how much of the race is skill and how much is blind luck finding the best wind.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

I always wonder just how much of the race is skill and how much is blind luck finding the best wind.

 

It is a lot of both, but year after year, its the same 3 or 4 teams who win, so there is a lot of pilot skill involved, knowing which altitude to pick which will yield the best speeds, day and night.

 

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Just 40 miles south of me!

 

 

 

 

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Be vewy vewy kwiet....I'm hunting gas balloons!

 

 

This is a rough estimate but they both seem to be traveling at about 3000-5000 feet or so...

 

 

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Edited October 9, 2014 by tx2sturgis