"Laristra" Balloon Delights Crowd
At Saturday Night's Balloon Glow

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

What would it take to make 17 million 4 ounce jars of salsa.....it would be the gigantic "Laristra" balloon that graced the skies of Hopkins County and delighted the crowd at Saturday night's Balloon Glow, at Shannon Oaks Church. To the delight of balloon pilots and the crowd, some of the over 20 hot air balloons were able to lift-off and float in the friendly skies. "The weather conditions are certainly not 'ideal' but hopefully we'll get to launch a few tonight," expressed David and Pam Black, Co-Chairmen of this year's event.

 

 

Then, balloons started inflating and taking to the skies, as the crowd screamed their delights!

 

 

One of the main attractions of Saturday night's Balloon Glow was the giant "Laristra" Balloon, that is in the shape of a ristra of chili peppers. The balloon is owned by Flying Chili Peppers Balloon Company, and is piloted by Mike Shrum, of Socorro, New Mexico. We had the opportunity to learn a little more about Mike and his balloon, as he and his crew were working to inflate the massive structure.

 

 

 

Mike allowed that the balloon is 128 feet tall and 55 feet wide, weighing in at 800 pounds, and dwarfing all of the other balloons at this year's rally. "Where most of the other balloons take 90,000 cubic feet of air to inflate, this one takes 140,000 cubic feet," denoted Mike. "It is made out of two types of fabric. The main body of the balloon, up the center is made of 4,300 yards of 'ripstop' nylon, and the fifty-two chili pepper appendages are made of an 'Aerolite,' silicon type fabric. The peppers that hang from the balloon do not add to the 'lift' of the balloon, it is all controlled by the inner section that is made of the nylon fabric."

 

 

 

Mike estimated that there is over 13 miles of thread in his balloon!

 

 

 

Mike Shrum has been piloting balloons for the past twelve years and  flies the Space Shuttle Balloon, the biggest one in the U.S., as he travels the country, so he says that he certainly isn't intimidated by the size of the "Laristra" balloon. "It's a novelty and folks always like to come out and see it inflate," expressed Mike. "It takes us a little bit longer to get it inflated and we have to have a larger crew to get the air into all those peppers. And, then, we must be more careful, simply because of the size of the balloon.

 

 

Meanwhile, the crowd at Saturday night's Balloon Glow was patiently waiting for the giant balloon to rise above the crowd, and provided a huge round of applause as the massive balloon took to the skies for a tethered lift. "It is awesome," described one on-looker. "Look at how much bigger it is than the other balloons. It is absolutely beautiful!"

 

 

Although Mike was disappointed that he couldn't take to the air for a fly over Hopkins County, he was excited that the people from Hopkins County got to see his balloon inflated. "Look on the internet and watch for us in numerous other places throughout the year," expressed Mike. "Follow us, as we're rather easily spotted from the other balloons in a crowd!"

 

 

 

 

You can follow Mike and the "Laristra" by going to their website at www.laristra.com. E-mail Mike at mshrum@wildblue.net and he can tell you even more about this beautiful balloon.

 

 

 

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