Saturday balloon launches at balloonfest nixed due to weather

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Published: 6/10/2011 8:57 am

Updated: 6/11/2011 11:46 pm

Jamesville (WSYR) – Balloons were grounded at Saturday’s Balloonfest at Jamesville Beach Park due to approaching rain and thunderstorms.

Dwight Cramer operates Airborne Adventures Ballooning, Inc. and provided a balloon ignition demonstration after the launch was cancelled.

“We had been watching the weather all afternoon,” Cramer said. “Based on what we were seeing and the trajectory of the storms, we were pretty certain we were making the right calls to call it off early as opposed to postpone it.”

Specific conditions are needed in order to fly, said Cramer.

“Hot air balloons need a couple of things,” he said. “They need light winds and no precipitation.”

Even though the rain had cleared at the time of the scheduled launch, the winds made it impossible to fly. The winds were coming almost directly out of the south, which means the balloons would be flying directly into Hancock International airspace.

“We’re a very slow-moving object normally,” Cramer said. “We don’t want to tie up the big airliners trying to land at Hancock to let us slowly fly through. That would make our flight kind of difficult to be invading the airspace out there.”

Even though the balloons did not launch, the festivities continued with live music, vendors and carnival rides.

Lisa Stone said her two young children did not know the difference. “They're happy just to have the carnival rides here really,” she said.

Promoters agree there is still a lot to do.

“It’s not just about balloons,” said Grazi Zazzara, Balloonfest Promoter. “It’s a great family event, and there will be some great entertainment tonight.”

Cramer said he was happy to be able to at least do some activities with the balloons, including giving patrons the chance to ride in a one-person tethered balloon. His main priority, though, is safety.

“We have a saying in ballooning: we’d rather be on the ground wishing we were in the air than in the air wishing we were on ground,” said Cramer.

Balloonfest continues Sunday. The launch may be rescheduled for Sunday evening, providing good weather.

Central New Yorkers who didn’t get a chance to see hot-air balloons take to the sky from Jamesville Beach on Friday will have another chance tomorrow to catch them as they take off. (Racquel Asa, WSYR-TV)

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Central New Yorkers who didn’t get a chance to see hot-air balloons take to the sky from Jamesville Beach on Friday will have another chance tomorrow to catch them as they take off. (Racquel Asa, WSYR-TV)

Jamesville (WSYR-TV) - Central New Yorkers who didn’t get a chance to see hot-air balloons take to the sky from Jamesville Beach on Friday will have another chance tomorrow to catch them as they take off.

Friday conditions were perfect for balloon pilots. But much challenging for the men and women who try to catch them.
Once the balloons take off, it takes a lot to bring them back. Balloon chasing isn’t the easiest job when you’re trying to catch something that has no set path.

“The tricky part is he almost has to read my mind or just get a guess what general direction we're going and try and figure out the best way we're going,” said air balloon pilot Steven Flanders.

Natural forces make the balloon chaser’s job even more difficult.

“It's a little bit of work. Mother nature can be a bit abrasive at times,” said Patrick Cullen.

When the balloon does land, the catcher needs to make sure it doesn’t lift off again.

Some chase the balloons just for fun.

“We balloon chase every year that the balloons launch and I've actually been doing this since it started 32 years ago,” said Colleen Uhlig, who chased balloons with her grandchildren on Friday.

Balloonfest will begin again Saturday morning. The day’s flights will begin at 6 a.m., weather permitting.

Balloons began decorating the skies over Jamesville early Friday morning. (WSYR-TV)

Balloonfest begins in Jamesville
June 10

Jamesville (WSYR-TV) – Balloons began decorating the skies over Jamesville early Friday morning.

This edition of the popular “Balloonfest” event marks its 32nd year. The event will begin today at 4 p.m. Saturday, the festival will run from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday it will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Admission for the event at Jamesville Beach is $10 per person and kids 12 and under may enter for free.

For more information on the event, visit the Balloonfest website.

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