Basic HTML Version
2012 Art and Balloon Festival
page 39 Monday, August 27, 2012
Friday morning, children at Carroll Catholic School had a special guest, Mike Hernandez,
and his hot air balloon, Annie. Annie is a gigantic ladybug resting atop a lovely yellow
sunflower. Hernandez and Annie are here all the way from New York state to serve as this year’s
special-shape balloon, sponsored by the city of Lincoln, at the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival.
Hernandez did a partial cold air inflation of Annie and allowed children to touch the balloon.
He also talked to them about how he flies the balloon and what his crew does to help him get
Annie inflated.
Pictures by Karen Hargis
In the photo above, Hernandez,
pictured to the right, instructs crew
members on what to do and what not
to do while helping.
On the front of Capt. Mike’s balloon is
a sign that says “Experimental.” When
asked about it, he said it was because
his specialty balloon was made in
Brazil because of its shape. The FAA
will not give them standard certificates
or licenses. They are restricted from
flying over congested areas (cities or
towns) without a special waiver, which
they have for this weekend.
Carroll Catholic students listened
to Capt. Mike tell about Annie
being born in 2008 in Brazil. Their
excitement was uncontrollable.
One of them said, “It’s real!”
Every student was able to touch
and feel the nylon balloon. Some
wondered if it would roll over them,
while others were amazed at how big
she was.
Capt. Mike told the children that
he had a tradition of always giving
Annie a kiss after each flight. Some
wanted to give her a kiss for good
luck this weekend.
Capt. Mike told the kids they
could get a student pilot certificate
at age 14 and that they could
actually get their student pilot
license at 16. Maybe we will see
this child become a pilot some day.
Kids will always remember this day.
Capt. Mike handed out cards with
Annie’s photo on one side, and on the
back it read: “Annie the Lady Bug
Balloon was built in Brazil and now
resides in South Glens Falls, NY. She flies
at events around the U.S., Canada, and
Mexico with her friends, Mike and Ellen
Hernandez. Annie loves to see the smiling
children who come out to see her when
she flies and attends events. She is 90’ tall
and weighs 425 pounds. She requires 8
people to assemble and pack her away.”
It was an amazing day and
experience for the kids at Carroll
Catholic, and perhaps the
expression on this young boy’s
face tells the whole story.