Weekend Update & Fw: Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly Events for week: December 22 - 28, 2025

[President - DCEF]

Merry Christmas!! 

Weekend Update:  The Balloon Fiesta Park is OPEN this week, Christmas, and the weekend.  ...and the whole week is supposed to be in the mid 60's with low winds for the mornings.  I do believe it'll be a pretty fine Christmas this year  ;)

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 right lane 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 or Crash Site 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, Micros may NOT be flown in or from the pits while others are using the Runway.  Micros may use the D7 grass to the north or south of the North Blue Awning when the Runway is occupied.  Refer to Protocol.

Duke City Electric Flyers:  I have 2026 cards to mail out or hand out at BFP or at meetings.  The dues for the club are still only 10 bucks/yr.  Application is included as a download (Please change the year to 2026).  Yes, I'll take cash at the field if all your info is the same.  The money goes toward our charter and insurance for the City of Albuquerque so we can all fly there.  No, you DO NOT need to be a member of this fine club to fly at BFP, or ADO for that matter.  They are both public parks.  But here's the thing, the money sure helps pay for that AMA Charter and the Insurance.  So, if you are joining for the 1st time or are renewing for the 20th year, (Yes, it's been 20!!) I thank you very much!

Gate Card Renewal:  Don't forget, you may renew your Balloon Fiesta Park Gate Card for 2026. 

   If it's your 1st time doing so, you must present an AMA membership card and $25/yr to obtain a Gate Card at the Golf Center (Located at the south end of the park).  The address is 9401 Balloon Museum Drive NE, 87113.  Monday through Friday, 9:00a-4:00p.  You may renew your access to Balloon Fiesta Park in person or by phone with a credit card at (505) 768-6043 

Cheers,

Greg Rullman

President

Duke City Electric Flyers

Hint of the Week:  I may have written about this before.  If I have, forgive me for posting it again.  It is a good one to know.

   Double check LiPo/LiHV balance leads when charging/discharging.  It's a good idea to wiggle them a little when you connect them to be sure there's good contact.  Check the individual cell voltages that they are no more than .05V apart.  <.02V difference is better.

   If the balance contacts have become dirty or corroded, they may give false information to the charger.  In turn, the charger will try to balance the cells according to the false data provided.  This can throw the battery out of balance causing a wider gap between cells.  Now, for the most part, we're talking only a few hundredths of a volt here.  But I have caught a couple of my old boards saying more than a tenth off.  Wiggling the balance connector put the voltages much closer in line.

   If the cells are really getting far apart, watch for lower power in the air and/or shorter run times.  Larger differences in cell voltages show battery age or neglect.  What?!!

   Oh, and there's this...  maybe it's time for a newer balance board! 

To unsubscribe, please reply to this newsletter with UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject Box…  Thanks!  g

----- 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: Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 02:52:29 PM MST

Subject: RE: Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly Events for week: December 22 - 28, 2025

Happy Holidays!

 

 

SUSAN RICE

recreation services division manager

o  505-768-6050

m 505-228-3144

e  asr...@cabq.gov

cabq.gov/parks

[President - DCEF]

Hi All,

Weekend Update:  The Balloon Fiesta Park is OPEN this week.  Only BFP D3 is CLOSED to flying this Sunday for Adult Soccer.  You all know the drill.

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 positioned 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 or Crash Site 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, Micros may NOT be flown in or from the pits while others are using the Runway.  Micros may use the D7 grass to the north or south of the North Blue Awning when the Runway is occupied.  Refer to Protocol.

Duke City Electric Flyers:  I have 2026 cards to mail out or hand out at BFP or at meetings.  The dues for the club are still only 10 bucks/yr.  Application is included as a download (Please change the year to 2026).  Yes, the form is also available down at Hobby-Proz (magazine rack).  Yes, I'll take cash at the field if all your info is the same.

   The money goes toward our charter and insurance for the City of Albuquerque in both ADO and BFP.  No, you DO NOT need to be a member of this fine club to fly at BFP or ADO.  They are both public parks.  But here's the thing, the money sure helps pay for that AMA Charter/Insurance that keeps both of those parks available for all to fly in.  So, if you are joining for the 1st time or are renewing for the 20th year, (Yes, BFP has been 20!!) I thank you very much!

   Also please note:  Because of bank fees, I use my own personal account.  I still report DCEF funds as 501C non-profit.  I keep the DCEF money in a separate account.  But, because of the fees associated with a business account, I can no longer accept checks made out to DCEF.  So... CASH ONLY PLEASE.  Thanks!  The good news here is the club's balance gets interest instead of losing money monthly to a bank.  After all, it's your money!

Gate Card Renewal:  Don't forget to renew your Balloon Fiesta Park Gate Card for 2026.

   If it's your 1st time doing so, you must present a current AMA membership card and $25/yr to obtain a Gate Card at the Golf Center (Located at the south end of the park).  The address is 9401 Balloon Museum Drive NE, 87113.  Monday through Friday, 9:00a-4:00p.  You may renew your access to Balloon Fiesta Park in person or by phone with a credit card at (505) 768-6043.

   That's about it.  Enjoy your new year!

Cheers,

Greg Rullman

President

Duke City Electric Flyers

Hint of the Week:  Repair!  Build!  Enjoy your home and family!

To unsubscribe, please reply to this newsletter with UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject Box…  Thanks!  g

----- 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: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 11:46:20 AM MST

Subject: RE: Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly Events for week: December 22 - 28, 2025

Hi All,

 

Happy New Year!