PHOTO: SCOTT HUGHES Above: Balloon team from India. Today, balloonist bucket lists worldwide include teams make the pilgrimage to Albuquerque to fl y in the a trip to Albuquerque and the Balloon Fiesta. Some America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, dreaming of long international pilots come regularly to experience fl ying fl ights and achieving record-setting distances. the Albuquerque Box, see the sights, and rediscover At an increasingly fractured time, international red and green chile. The Balloon Fiesta honors its friendship and cooperation are perhaps more important international participants with a social event and with than ever. Maybe, in its own small way, the Balloon the Flight of the Nations, where the international teams Fiesta’s international character can contribute to building fl y their nations' fl ags from their balloons as they bridges among nations and understanding among launch. Some of the world’s top gas balloon competition balloonists worldwide. OFFICIAL PROGRAM 109