YNT ON FL T AL W BILL Y O B T PHO Cutter International Balloonport East of Edith Rd. between Los Angeles Blvd. (now Paseo del Norte) and Osuna Rd. Not long after the 1980 Balloon Fiesta, from a balloon, tethered a few dozen feet aloft, Sid Cutter dedicated WHAT: 10th – 14th Albuquerque International the Balloon Fiesta’s newest launch fi eld by breaking a Balloon Fiesta bottle of champagne on the raised bucket of a backhoe. WHERE: Cutter International Balloonport, Cutter Field – more formally, the Cutter International north of Osuna Rd. Balloonport – was located north of Osuna Rd. between WHEN: October 1981 - October 1985 Edith Blvd. and the North Diversion Channel. It boasted NUMBER OF BALLOONS: 450-500 separate entrances and parking for the public and NEW EVENTS: Gas Balloon competition participants, the Balloon Fiesta’s fi rst high-capacity (long distance fl ights to set targets), aerial propane refueling area, and enough space that Sid acrobatics and parachute team jumping, talked of hosting 1,000 balloons. While that didn’t come fi rst Balloon Fiesta Park and Ride service, to fruition during the Balloon Fiesta’s years at Cutter the celebration in 1983 of the bicentennial Field, other enhancements did, including the event’s of manned fl ight (200 years since the fi rst gas balloon competitions and the regular inclusion Montgolfi er brothers’ invention of the hot air of aerial acrobatics (notably the Jim Franklin Wild Waco balloon in 1783). Air Show), and precision parachute demonstrations WHY IT HAD TO MOVE: Incoming featuring the Army Golden Knights and Navy Leapfrogs. development; availability of the former Los The Balloon Fiesta stayed at Cutter Field through 1985. Angeles landfi ll for use as a launch site Its next relocation would move the event permanently off WHAT’S THERE NOW: The Vista del Norte private lands and onto City of Albuquerque- housing subdivision and the Vista del Norte owned property. Park designated balloon landing area. The park/landing site is actually in an area then used for spectator parking, slightly south of the area used for the launch fi eld. ® Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 130