Forest Park Balloon Race Program 2018

42 The Great Forest Park Balloon Race • Presented by PNC Bank 31 The Only Balloon Name Change: “The City of St. Louis” to “The City of New Orleans,” following Hurricane Katrina. For one year, to add support to Race fund-raising for New Orleans and to show respect. (The balloon lifted to the song “City of New Orleans.”) 32 The Largest Rodent in the Race: The “Rat Balloon,” owned and piloted by Randy and Fiona Woods, who have never told why they have a rat on their balloon. 33 The Largest Dog Park in the City: Forest Park on Race Day — approximately 2,500 dogs (all on non-retractable leashes, of course.). 34 The Most Touching Comment: “Good things like this don’t happen much in this neighborhood. Thank you.” From a grandmother, with shampoo in her hair, who was called from her house by a half dozen kids who couldn’t believe what they saw. She didn’t believe them until she went out to see race partner John Schaumburg’s balloon, landed on their street, an area with little entertainment available. 35 The Biggest 20th Birthday Party: The 20th anniversary of the Energizer Bunny — in 2009 — complete with a seven-story Birthday Cake Balloon! 36 The First Recorded Balloon Race Dance: In the late 1970s, the Hare balloon was the Busch balloon. Upon takeoff, it headed for South St. Louis and then out over the river into Illinois. As it approached the Mississippi, it flew just over the rooftop of a large retirement home. They were having a fall courtyard celebration that appeared to be lackluster — until the balloon flew just above their heads. After a few gasps, the oompah band struck up “roll out the barrel” and everyone jumped up and danced the polka. 37 The Most Baffled Commercial Jet Pilot: 737 pilot over Lambert International Airport to tower: “Are those balloons I see … and a bunny? A pink bunny?? … I’ve had too much coffee.” The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is one of a select few allowed to have balloons fly over an international airport. On five occasions the wind has taken the balloons over Lambert. (The tower and FAA separate the balloon fleet from the planes by a wide margin). As aircraft take off into the wind and land into the wind and hot- air balloons fly with the wind, there are prized photos of the flights from balloon pilots and passengers. We figure the airline passengers had some good ones, too. One pilot recalls his first flight over Lambert: “I was over the airport, and saw two huge headlights that seemed to be heading my way … it was a 737 American jet. I knew he could see me, and had me on radar. But it was spooky. (He really wasn’t coming at me.) The real treat — when he passed below to the left and then dipped his wing, in a pilot’s salute.” Continued on page 47 46 Facts Continued from page 18 Believe. Achieve. Do . Empowering and educating young women to lead and serve the world. Rosati-Kain High School | 4389 Lindell Boulevard | www.rosati-kain.org | 314.533.8513