Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

We encourage everyone to learn more about the sport and history of gas ballooning. Fortunately, there are several resources to turn to here on the Balloon Fiesta website and on the World Wide Web.

Gas balloons fly as a result of a lifting gas in their envelopes. In the United States pilots fly with helium or hydrogen as the lifting gas. Both gases are lighter than air. Gas balloons get their initial lift from the helium or hydrogen pumped into their envelopes.