Weekend Update & Fw: Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly Events for week: February 23 - March 1, 2026

[President - DCEF]

Hi All,

Weekend Update:  The Balloon Fiesta Park is OPEN this week and Saturday.  Only D3 is CLOSED on Sunday.  Our normal flying area is OPEN.  Please stay to the north of D3 as planes are not allowed over them.  Use smaller, slower planes on Sunday.  As always watch for people crossing the Runway as they have no idea what a sign means.

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.

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.

   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:  Flying in wind.  You can do it!  I recommend flying less expensive planes.  But, they can be any type, big or small, fast or slow.  It does take practice.  Flying in wind is easier when it is close to or straight down the runway.  The biggest challenge is when it is blowing as a 90* crosswind.

   Use these conditions as training.  Learn smooth and correct control movements, yet be ready for gusts, as these require a quicker response and usually a quick recovery.  I don't recommend using flaps for landing in heavy winds as they make the plane more susceptible to gusts.  However, flaps are fine with lighter and steadier winds.  The key to using flaps in winds is to only use them when the windspeed is steady.  Gusts are not your friend.

   Crosswinds are probably the most difficult to fly a straight line.  Remember to use rudder to keep the a/c straight and opposite aileron to stay level.  Which way, you ask?  I like to think of pushing the rudder with the wind.  In other words, if the wind is blowing from your right side and away from the left, push the rudder to the left to match the direction of the wind, which pushes the tail back into it and keeps the aircraft on a straight track.  (The wind tries to push the tail downwind, resulting into the plane trying to turn into the wind.)  Correct the resulting left bank with right aileron.  Just enough to keep the plane level.  Practice.  Practice this in lighter breezes at first, then work up with more wind speed.  It really helps final approach.  Wind practice makes you a better pilot.

   Again, use a less expensive airplane for practice.  If you own a simulator, use the sim with the wind dialed up and into a crosswind.  If you play with this enough it will become second nature.  Like riding a bike, this is what we want.  Then, on a day when you have your favorite scale model out and the wind decides to give you a ride, you can use these techniques to keep your bird safe.

   Remember, it's not hard.  Like doing anything well, it just takes practice.

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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: Friday, February 20, 2026 at 04:28:18 PM MST

Subject: RE: Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly Events for week: February 23 - March 1, 2026

Hello,

 

If you are renewing your gate passes by credit card, please use 505-768-6062 until the Golf Center opens April 1, 2026

 

Thanks!

 

 

SUSAN RICE

recreation services division manager

o  505-768-6050

m 505-228-3144

e  asr...@cabq.gov

cabq.gov/parks