The launch field at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Tuesday morning was ready for the competition balloons to come in from off the field to drop a marker as close as possible that was set by the Balloon Meister. Early morning the green flag was given after the Pilot Briefing for flight as the morning was beautiful for pilots launching at 7:00 am and then the competition starting at 8:00 am.
The competition balloon pilots used the winds of the surface and upper level adjusting their speed and direction to reach the field for the attempted toss. The competition is to be achieved as a precision flying task and not a speed race but there was a limit of time for the pilots to complete late in the morning with a closing of purple color smoke to end the competition.
Mitchell Walters/Nancy Ann Peterson, photographer, 10:00 pm Oct 7, 2025