Rain hampers annual balloon festival

PLANO – Spectators expecting to see hot air balloons of all sizes, shapes and colors fill the sky over Plano were disappointed after rain and high winds grounded the Plano balloon festival.

The annual InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival began without a hitch with sponsor flights Friday morning, but this was the only time the balloons would lift off during the weekend.

One of the pilots participating in the event was Richard Ret, a balloon operator since 1989. Ret and his balloon, Golden High, participate in six to eight festivals a year, including the world’s largest festival in Albuquerque. Ret has flown in Plano for two years.

“The Plano festival ranks very highly in my book,” he said. “Not everyone goes to Albuquerque because it can be kind of intimidating with 700 or so balloons each year. There are 40-50 balloons here in Plano and the people treat us very nicely.”

Ret described piloting his balloon as “driving a seven-story building without a steering wheel.” He said once the balloon takes off, the pilot almost never has an idea where they will land. The hope is to find an open patch of ground that is free of obstructions and hope for the best.

“If Plan A doesn’t work, move on to plans B, C and D. Sometimes we have even had to go to Plan F,” Ret said, jokingly Friday morning after putting his balloon down in a soccer field at Russell Creek Park. “You go wherever the wind takes you. The only control we have is up or down, we can’t turn left or right.”

While Ret gets the credit for piloting the balloon, it takes a crew of four to six people to help in the setup and take down operations. They are also responsible for picking up Ret and his passengers from wherever he sets the balloon down.

At the end of Friday morning’s flight, Ret and his crew celebrated in what he called a typical ballooner’s fashion. After reciting the Balloonist’s Prayer, Ret and his crew toasted the success of the flight and the safe landing of all balloons in the festival with a glass of champagne.

For information on Ret and Golden High, visit www.sunnyhorizons.com.

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