Favorites
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3rd Favorite Flight: Palo Duro Canyon
In 1995, Phillip MacNutt, Nick Stanko and I launched three balloons in Palo Duro Canyon. We had driven 500 miles from Austin through thunderstorms. Weather turned out great, but damn cold.
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2nd Favorite Flight: The Best Seat in the House
Lifting off, at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on opening morning, unfurling a huge American Flag while a band playied the Star Spangled Banner. I waved back at my crew, they had tears running down their cheeks. I was able to box back and stop the balloon high over the field and watch 750 other balloons inflate below. The sight of hundreds of balloons, inflating, launching in waves and filling the sky was incredible.
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1st Favorite Flight: The Astronaut
That's me, astronaut Dan Bursch and balloon pilot Brian Critelli. It's too long of a story to tell here. But, it involved flying an astronaut over Rocket Park at NASA, a balloon race, burning a huge hole in my balloon and Brian coming to the rescue.
Photo by Roni Bursch
...and meeting Joe Kittinger
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Photo by Jeff Carrol
