Americas Challenge has begun...
Track the gas balloons here:
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/GasTracking/2012/app_map.html
You can click on the balloon icons for info on that particular balloon, and use the minus button on the left to zoom out to state level. Some of these balloons travel thousands of miles.....so pilot skill, luck, and winds aloft determine the winner.
There are only 5 balloons in the race this year, due to the worldwide shortage of helium, they are flying on hydrogen.
Still, it should be fun to see them, if they fly over your area around sunrise or sunset, they are easy to spot. In years past, some of the balloons have made it into the Great Lakes region, although most only travel into Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Nebraska.
For general info on the event: http://www.balloonfiesta.com/gas-balloons/america-s-challenge
The teams are displayed here: http://www.balloonfiesta.com/gas-balloons/america-s-challenge-2012
Request to moderators: Can you make this thread sticky for a day or two? I doubt it will receive enough replies to keep it active...I could be wrong. Thanks.