The crew behind Toucan Pilot readies for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Among the balloons was Toucan Pilot. Its envelope featured a vibrant yellow and red pattern rising like flames into the dark blues and blacks that rimmed the top. Most fans know Toucan Pilot from its many decades in the air, though others may recognize it from a slightly different context.

“It was around 2005 or 2007… every year Rand McNally comes out with a new atlas or map,” said John Hoyser, a crew member on Toucan Pilot, “and every year it has a different photo on the cover. And our balloon, Toucan Pilot, covered almost the whole front page in very vivid color that year.”

John and his partner, Marie, have been crewing with Toucan Pilot for more than 30 years. John assists in a variety of capacities, though he is known as the chaser (the person who drives after the balloon and meets it upon landing) and as the “fan man” (the operator of a large fan used to help inflate the balloon).

“We were going to be volunteers for an out-of-town pilot, and that pilot didn’t show up on the field here that day in 1992,” explained Hoyser. “Marie walked around and ended up meeting Inga here, and they recruited us to crew for them. And we became friends, and we’ve been crewing with them all these years.”

Inga Wolcott serves as the captain of the Toucan Pilot, where she directs individuals to their designated locations and manages all the necessary waivers and forms. Her partner, Kent, serves as the pilot for Toucan Pilot. The pair has been launching balloons for over a decade and has been involved with Toucan Pilot and the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic for even longer.

The strong relationships within the Toucan Pilot team extend beyond Inga and Kent. Many crew members have been working together for decades, creating a tight-knit team and fostering lasting friendships.

"We consider most of the balloonists here to be our best friends, so we often travel together to ballooning events," Wolcott shared.

One of the largest out-of-town ballooning events the team attends is the renowned Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This annual festival lasts for more than a week and showcases hundreds of balloons from around the world.

"It is by far the largest hot air balloon festival in the United States," Hoyser explained. "They now limit the number of balloons participating. At one point, I believe they had around a thousand balloons."

The Balloon Fiesta originated in 1972 when Sid Cutter, the owner of Cutter Flying Service and the first hot air balloon owner in New Mexico, joined forces with Dick McKee, the manager of 770 KOB Radio station. McKee initially proposed using Cutter's balloon to celebrate the station's 50th anniversary. As discussions progressed, the number of planned balloons grew from one to an estimated 21, which would have surpassed the existing world record of 19 balloons gathered in a single location at that time.

Although inclement weather prevented a record-breaking event, the team managed to collect an impressive 13 balloons that mesmerized around 20,000 enthusiastic spectators. The inaugural Fiesta also featured a thrilling "Roadrunner-Coyote Balloon Race," where a designated "Roadrunner" balloon was pursued by a series of "Coyote" balloons. This tradition remains a cherished part of the festival to this day.

Albuquerque has firmly established itself as a hub for hot air ballooning. The city benefits from cool morning temperatures, which create predictable wind patterns known as the “Albuquerque box.” These ideal conditions make it a favored location for flyers.

The city has been the proud host of the World Hot-Air Balloon Championships multiple times and is also home to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. This large facility is solely dedicated to the science, sport and art of ballooning.

In 2000, the Balloon Fiesta showcased an unprecedented 1,019 balloons, leading to the establishment of a "quality or quantity" limit. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors travel to the event in hopes of catching a glimpse of the diverse shapes, sizes, colors, and characters that grace the New Mexico skies.

The Fiesta truly lives up to its "international" name. Pilots and their crews from all over the world pack up their balloons and travel to Albuquerque every October for the opportunity to participate in the event.

"We once had the pleasure of meeting some German pilots and even tailgated with them. It was fascinating to see such global representation," Wolcott recounted.

The post-landing tailgate is a cherished tradition within the ballooning community. After the chasers pack up the deflated balloon envelopes and load their trailers, hundreds of balloonists gather for celebratory champagne cookouts.

"Historically, hot air ballooning originated in the Champagne region of France," Hoyser explained. "It is customary to provide champagne to the helpers, and there are ceremonies to commemorate individuals' first balloon rides."

Both Hoyser and Wolcott emphasized the tight-knit nature of the sport, highlighting their extensive networks of friends and fellow ballooners within the national ballooning community. Many of these connections travel together and reunite at international festivals, such as the one in Albuquerque.

“Kent has been flying in Albuquerque for twenty years,” said Wolcott, recalling their initial meeting in the city where Dewey was engaged in gas ballooning.

Dewey Reinhard, a prominent figure in the Colorado Springs ballooning community, founded the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic in 1976. Unfortunately, Reinhard passed away earlier this year.

The Toucan Pilot team gathered around a table, all dressed in red, collared uniforms adorned with a Toucan Pilot patch sewn on the front. Each of the five women wore balloon-shaped earrings, and one of them even sported a pair of hot air balloon socks.

“You need a lot of people to help you. We usually require six to eight people. It’s not an individual sport,” explained Wolcott. “But we’re all best friends here, and we do other activities together. We often tailgate and meet up after landing. It’s just… it’s just fun.”

Wolcott proudly displayed a colorful balloon pendant hanging around her neck. “My husband bought this for me in Albuquerque. It’s something I hold dear. It’s very special,” she said.

The Hoysers, the Wolcotts, and much of the Toucan Pilot team have plans to return to Albuquerque this year, joining hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts who will once again marvel at the magnificent hot air balloon mosaic illuminating the sky.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is began Saturday, October 7, and will run through Sunday, October 15. For tickets, reservations, and more information about the festival, visit www.balloonfiesta.com.