Dan Stukas has loads of tales from his 30-plus years as a scorching air balloon pilot. And boy, is he a storyteller.
However how did he get into balloon flying?
“I stated, ‘Lonnie, there is not any stinkin’ steering wheel. Why would I like this?” stated Stukas.
His love for ballooning began, actually, as a option to get the woman at his first lunch together with his now-wife.
“She stated, ‘Properly, you’ll be able to most likely fly something, cannot you?’ and I stated, ‘Oh, sure, ma’am, I can fly something.’ And he or she checked out me, and she or he stated, ‘Properly, I wanna go for a scorching air balloon journey,’” stated Stukas.
An extended-time pilot of planes, he was initially proof against the thought, however, as his ear-to-ear grin will make it clear, he is glad he got here round.
“My son is a balloon pilot. My granddaughter, 16 years outdated, that is all she talks about is getting her license,” stated Stukas.
On the Albuquerque Worldwide Balloon Fiesta, he is in good firm.
“I’ve been to each balloon fiesta since I used to be born,” stated Jonathan Wright, a balloon pilot. “Individuals from everywhere in the world coming collectively as a group.”
This yr, greater than 500 registered pilots representing 12 international locations attended.
And Scripps Information’ James Packard couldn’t resist getting on a balloon himself.
“Possibly, what, 2,000 ft above the earth? I am right here with Eileen Jones; she’s our pilot at present. And you’ve got been doing this for 32 years?” requested Packard.
“32 years this week,” Jones responded.
“You simply stated that is possibly one of many extra spectacular mornings you have seen?” Packard requested.
“Completely, in my complete 32 years, completely,” stated Jones.
SEE MORE: What to anticipate from this weekend’s ‘ring of fireplace’ eclipse
However this yr, there’s something totally different.
A photo voltaic eclipse will likely be passing proper over the well-known affair.
“That is a once-in-a-lifetime alternative, and you do not let one thing like that go you by,” stated Wright.
Because the sky darkened Saturday morning, the balloons stored the lights on. A convergence of magic, the man-made, and the pure.
“I believe that is what actually attracts so many individuals to this sport—it is the problem of man and nature,” stated Wright.
“If you wish to share your interest, share your love, that is the place to do it,” stated Stukas.
For Dan, the eclipse provides an exciting chapter to what is going to at all times be, for him, a love story.
“We determined we’re gonna get married. And what higher manner than with balloons?” stated Stukas. “Susan walks in—down the grass—with probably the most stunning wedding ceremony gown. I get in, we assist Susan in, and we fly away. That is how we obtained into ballooning.”
The photo voltaic eclipse handed by way of eight U.S. states earlier than transferring throughout the Gulf of Mexico and over Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, making the well-known “ring of fireplace” seen to hundreds of thousands of individuals on Saturday.
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