RC balloons greet passengers at the Sunport for Balloon Fiesta

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Tens of thousands of visitors are coming into Albuquerque to see hot air balloons ascend from Balloon Fiesta Park but hundreds of people heading through the Albuquerque International Sunport are getting a special chance to see a balloon inside the building.

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For the first time inside the Sunport’s great hall, thousands of visitors are getting a unique Balloon Fiesta greeting. “We have sky candy which is a remote-control hot air balloon which is about a quarter of a scale of an actual balloon,” said Jonathan Small at Sunport, customer experience manager.

It’s an up close and personal look for travelers most of whom don’t know about the growing popularity of smaller hot air balloons controlled through a remote. People stopped by to collect cards ask questions and take plenty of pictures. “There’s not a whole big crowd around and that made it more easier to take a picture,” said Mary Linarez, a California passenger.

“Everybody wants to go up and touch the balloon everyone wants to see the little basket,” said Rudy Garcia, Sunport ambassador.

Diana Mykleburst and her husband have been flying the remote-controlled balloon for the past two years. “A lot of people get very excited knowing there is a remote-control balloon,” said Diana Mykleburst.

They said they’re happy they got to be able to show their love for the lifestyle of ballooning to so many people at the Sunport. “By having the balloon partially inflated here all the people can see it and appreciate another form of aviation,” said Randy Myklebust, remote/hot air balloon pilot.

Linarez said she’s grateful for the experience.”It’s just amazing to be able to see it actually close up, to be able to be that close to an air balloon and see how it works how many people it takes,” said Linarez.

The RC balloon will be on display every day through Friday from noon to two p.m. The Sunport said next year they’re hoping to actually get the balloons hovering inside the great hall.

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