Visiting Colorado Springs

As part of the annual Colorado Springs Balloon Festival, which used to be called the Classic but now is called the Liftoff, the parachutists at the US Air Force Academy stage demonstration landings in the midst of the crowds at Memorial Park. It is always a thrill, these guys and gals are quite talented, and they always hit their mark. I took these pictures and the video at the bottom of the page on 5 September 2015.



Single jumps were followed by a four-man team that performed some maneuvers on the way down. It was a very professional operation, perhaps the best that you can see on a regular basis in the country. I have a separate page for the balloon liftoff here, and one for the evening Balloon Glow here.






















2015

Every Labor Day weekend, the city of Colorado Springs has a balloon festival. This goes back to the 1970s, and while the organizers and participants may change, the show must go on.



In 2015, it was called the Colorado Springs Balloon Liftoff, but it was basically the same as in previous years. Every morning for four days in a row, the balloons inflate and take off with passengers. It is a scene, man. Also, I have a page for the parachuting demonstrations by the Air Force Academy Wings of Blue here, and a page for the evening Balloon Glow here.



These pictures were taken on the morning of 5 September 2015. It was a clear morning with a bit of overcast as the morning went along. The balloons all got off in good order, and much merriment was had by all.

Some of the balloons performed touch-and-goes in the lake.

2015

Colorado Springs holds a balloon festival every Labor Day holiday weekend. This year, the name apparently was the Colorado Springs Balloon Liftoff (previously it had been the "Classic"). The name and organizers changed in 2015, but basically it was the same event done with a few minor differences.

While not all of the balloons inflated, the ones that didn't still shot off their flames throughout the night.

As part of the festival, there are evening sessions in which the balloons are inflated just after dark. This is called the Balloon Glow. I will have another page for the morning sessions where the balloons actually take off and fly away. Also, I have a page for the parachuting demonstrations by the Air Force Academy Wings of Blue here, and a page for the morning balloon ascension here.



These shots were taken on the evening of 6 September 2015, which was the last night it was performed. The weather was ideal, but unfortunately there were storms on the far side of the mountain range that caused the organizers to limit the number of balloons to a handful. However, that just made the ones that were inflated stand out better, so, all in all, it was hardly a detriment, and even in some ways an advantage.







2015