A World Premier Balloon Event at Monument Valley in 2012

Navajo Parks & Recreation announces its Hot Air Balloon Event at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park on February 24-26, 2012. There will be three launches, one on Friday morning, Saturday morning and the other on Sunday morning. The two night glows are scheduled on Friday & Saturday evening at dusk.



There will be various launch sites down the Monument Valley road. Twenty pilots have been invited to this unique World Premier Balloon Event, each pilot have met all expectations needed to fly over the Navajo Tribal Park land. Fifteen of these pilots flew at Monument Valley  in April 2011, they are all very aware of the cultural sensitivity that surrounds Monument Valley and the fragile environment, which composes such beautiful landscape. Currently, five international pilots are being pursued for this event.



Hot Air Ballooning has emerged into a spectacular sport and has not dramatically changed since the first flight in 1783 by the Montgolfier brothers in Paris, France. In the scientific arena of studying the weather and atmosphere, hot air balloons have helped scientists study different atmospheres and collecting data.



The balloons only fly in near perfect weather conditions with minimal wind. They all use propane to fuel their craft and fly in the morning when the wind is most stable. Most people assume that these balloons are very quiet but it is quite the opposite, the burners are very noisy when applying the hot air.



The hot air balloon pilots have to be very experienced and requires them to achieve: over 35 hours of flight instruction, have a commercial pilot’s license, complete ground school for basic aviation training, pass a written test for hot-air balloons and obtain a flight check issued from the Federal Aviation Administration.





Twenty pilots total. The fifteen pilots selected thus far to fly at the World Premier Balloon Event in Monument Valley are: Don Edwards (Albuquerque, NM), Judith Holt (Phoenix, Az), William Lee (Gallup, NM), Glen See (Albuquerque, NM), Donald Stockley (Murray, UT), Jeffery Johnson (Flagstaff, AZ), Dorothy Harrison (Phoenix, AZ), Sally Bartsch (New River, AZ), Sally Heinrich (Phoenix, AZ), Gary Woods (Ridgeway, CO), Kent Barnes (Murray, UT), Doug Lenberg (Farmington, NM), Phil Cambell (Bayfield, CO), Phred McAllaster (Santa Fe, NM) and Bryan Hill (Page, AZ). These pilots will once again bring the excitement of ballooning to Navajo country and the Navajo people.



This is an event hosted by Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which will include a variety of entertainment. Youth Day will be Friday, February 24, 2012, the surrounding schools will be invited to participate in a unique hands on experience in preparing a hot air balloon to launch. Pilots will also talk about the scientific background of hot air ballooning.



To add excitement for students in grade levels K-12, ARTSCO, Inc and Navajo Parks & Recreation will have an Art Contest and an Essay Contest. Each grade level will have a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winner.  One Grand Prize Essay Contest Winner, whom will receive an iPad and one hot air balloon ride with one guest. The Grand Prize Art Contest Winner will receive $500 and the Poster Contest Winner will also receive $500. The contest begins 10/17/11 and ends 12/19/11.



Booths and vending areas will be available for local artists will by on site displaying their work of art, as well as proud sponsors of this event. Balloon events are a very social and casual sport, bring your family and friends for free entertainment. For more information call 928-871-6647 or go to www.navajonationparks.org.