Weekend Update & Fw: Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly Events for week: June 29 - July 5, 2026
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President - DCEF
Jun 27, 2026, 7:58:38 PM (7 hours ago) Jun 27
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Hi All,
Flight Awareness: Stand 25' back from the Runway to allow for a Safety Margin and so all Pilots have a clear visual perspective. All turns from the Runway shall be away from the Pits. (Always fly to the west of the Runway over D6) The prevailing wind directs the Flight Pattern. (North Wind effects a Left Pattern and South Wind effects a Right Pattern at BFP) Call out Take-Offs, Landings, and any Maneuvers that could affect another Flyer. Use common sense if performing an unusual Flight Plan or Maneuver. Communicate with others if flying large or fast aircraft. Try to stay north of Key Grab (E/W road) so as not to interfere with the gliders.
Weekend Update: The Balloon Fiesta Park is OPEN this Monday-Thursday. Friday-Sunday is CLOSED, Freedom 4th being on Saturday. The following Monday workers may still be tearing down from the event, however we should be able to fly.
***Susan is trying to keep the flying open for us as much as she can for this year's event. Please respect the workers setting the event up this Wednesday-Friday and tearing down Sunday/Monday. Make sure the barricades are up and it would be good to keep a spotter during these days. Use communication with folks and please remember that if there is a conflict, they have priority over us. I will try to be there every day.
BFP Weekly Forecast: Weather Underground 10 Day
Daily Reminders: Don't forget to visibly hang your Gate Card from your rearview mirror while you are at the Park. Check the 2 Runway Barriers/Signs for center position with the signs facing out to block each end of the Runway. Do respect the Balloonists if they are up and give them full airspace. Watch for and avoid other park users. Refrain from flying in the airspace above them. Remember that the airspace over the Golf Training Center (Driving Range) is a NO FLY ZONE. Clean up your Area (cigarettes/trash) or Crash Site (all pieces/parts) when you're finished, as well as all broken prop blades. If you see a broken prop, even if it is not yours, please pick it up and throw it away. Thanks.
Unless everyone agrees otherwise, AIRCRAFT may NOT be flown in or from the Infield (D7 between the Blue Awning and the Runway) while others are using the Runway.
It is OK to fly from the Pits only IF:
A. You are alone, just you and your plane.
B. Everyone else agrees, understands, and is doing the same.
As soon as anyone goes to fly from the Runway, Infield Flying and any Infield Agreement STOPS. Even if you are already flying, land safely or move to the Runway. MICROS may use the Infield to the north or south of the North Blue Awning when the Runway is occupied and there is agreement with everyone flying. However, remember that BFP is primarily for bigger, faster planes because of its fantastic Runway and grass. Please keep these little wonders well behind the Runway and NOT over any Pilot. Refer to Protocol.
Cheers,
Greg Rullman
President
Duke City Electric Flyers
Hint of the Week: Now, I know I've told this one before. When flying electric prop planes, hold some kind of power on approach all the way to touchdown (jets will need a little more). ...and even a little after. Remember, when we use to fly glow/gas, we could pull the throttle all the way back on approach. Thing was, the engine stayed running. (...if you were lucky!) With the engine running, the airspeed was more constant, and the tail always had a little extra stability.
With an electric prop stopped, the drag increases dramatically, which increases the deceleration that you already have going. With a rapidly decreasing airspeed, the stall comes up quickly. (You don't want a stall to happen at all) There's also no extra prop wash over the tail. Makes it harder to steer and to judge that all important flare. You want the plane to be flying at a constant airspeed, while descending slowly, to make it so much easier to get her on the deck smoothly.
This all starts on the downwind. Slow down. Then, I usually go to half flaps. Slow some more. Then gear down. Turn Base. Now full flaps. Still slowing. Here, watch the descent rate on Base and hold ATtitude (slightly nose down) while adjusting throttle for a nice easy descent. I'm usually aiming for wheels touching at my feet. Make the Final turn while holding speed & ATtitude and keeping that slow, steady descent rate. Think of it as using the throttle as a descent trimmer.
Constant airspeed & constant descent rate while on approach, rather than coming in with no throttle and producing a quicker deceleration, is what you want while trying to get the wheels to touch down softly. It makes the whole event much easier. You only come off throttle slightly and gently, (over a couple seconds), while pulling back on the elevator slowly (over a couple of seconds) to flare a couple feet off the ground and always while the prop is still running.
So... you are maintaining constant airspeed while coming in... so, maintain the same constant ATtitude (just slightly nose down). It won't stall. Still use the throttle consciously to control your ALtitude, (or your descent). Ease the elevator back. Wants to climb? You're too fast, so back off power a little. Find your slow descent, but don't let the elevator stick move forward, hold your ATtitude. Two feet off. Start to flare and reduce throttle easily. The plane should respond by only putting its nose up while slowing down. When it does that, you're golden.
Heavy Metal Warbirds. It's a very gradual pull back on elevator while timing the rotation of the plane to touch only mains in a nose high attitude. Increasing ATtitude while slowing down, inches off. You're now very low over the deck, so you're fine. An inch. A little more back now. Easy touchdown. As soon as wheels touch, "fast taildraggers", let go of that Elevator! The tail comes back up, reducing the angle of attack, forbidding the craft to fly, the mains will stick, and it will ride on out.
Slower Taildraggers. If you prefer to 3-point a slower plane, aim to touch the tailwheel first before the mains. The mains touch so quickly afterwards, for all general purposes, it's a 3-point. Cool part... if just above stall speed, touching the TW 1st will force a lower angle of attack and instantly stops any more flying.
Trikes can also let the nose down to reduce any bounce back into the air. But, if you nail it, it's also a lot of fun to ride out on the mains and see how far you can go!
Now Warbirds, power down slightly, but not all the way off. Let her roll a bit while watching intently for, and instantly correcting, the rudder. That prop-wash helps to keep the rudder straight while she slows down. Tailwheel finally drops for tailwheel steering. (The horizontal not providing lift anymore, means the rudder isn't effective either. Means you're not flying anymore.) Hold "up" to give the tailwheel more authority and finally shut the throttle down. Be SO ready to correct the rudder instantly. Holding a bit of up or more, helps keep the tailwheel locked on to the ground for better steering. Immediately, catch the rudder just enough when she shows even a little sign of turning. Not too much, but just right. The biggest thing is to stay focused on the steering until she's very slow or stopped.
Whew!
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----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rice, Susan <asr...@cabq.gov>
To: Rice, Susan <asr...@cabq.gov>
Cc: Gonzales, Sarah <sarahg...@cabq.gov>; Martinez, Jimmy <jimmym...@cabq.gov>
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 02:31:44 PM MDT
Subject: RE: Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly Events for week: June 29 - July 5, 2026
Hello,
This next week will be the load out of Calvary Church concert and the load in of the Freedom 4th concert.
We are trying to keep parts of the park open for the daily users. Please respect the closed panels and be vigilant for moving equipment.
Gate 3 is working (when we don’t have it locked open for special events).
Gate 4 will remain closed.
Thanks,
SUSAN RICE
recreation services division manager
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