Honda Power Products Supporting Hot Air Balloon Festivals
Honda continues to support people who challenge their dreams of flying in the sky.
The 2022 Saga International Balloon Fiesta welcomed spectators for the first time in three years.
From early in the morning each day, Kasegawa riverbed in Saga City overflowed with a total of 850,000 attendees throughout the event, who enjoyed the sight of a hundred balloons.
Although the competition was held in a relaxed atmosphere, it was also a challenging battle with nature.
Honda has been supporting hot air balloon competition for more than 30 years.
Contestants Facing the Wind
6 am, just before dawn at the Kasegawa riverbed in Saga City.
Pilots competing in the event gathered and analyzed weather information and attended briefings to determine whether flights were feasible and what the tasks (competition details) would be.
Spectators had already secured their viewing points in the early morning and were eagerly awaiting the start of the competition.
At around 6:30 am, team balloons were carried into the launch area in preparation for the competition.
After filling the balloon with fans called inflators, burners are used to heat the balloon for lift off.
In order to read the wind and reach the target point in time, pilots cannot fail at the first stage, otherwise known as the inflation stage.
Safe Trip! See You Later!
One after another, the balloons lift off into the sky for the competition.
Pilots fly their balloons toward the goal, riding the wind.
Wind direction changes depending on the altitude. The pilots determine which direction the wind is blowing and at what altitude, and adjust the altitude of their balloons to reach the goal.
Reading the wind correctly is the difference between winning and losing.
The huge balloons rise above the spectators into the distant sky.
As the balloons fly silently, except for the occasional sound of the burners, the crowd shouts “Safe trip!”
The pilots hear, waving their hands in response, bringing smiles to the faces of adults and children alike.
Balloon Fiesta in photos
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The Balloon Class is the only event for visitors to experience balloon launching up close. -
The Balloon Class is the only event for visitors to experience balloon launching up close.
Postscript
Where does the crowd’s enthusiasm come from?
At 5:00 am in the morning, spectators gathered on the riverbed in darkness, filling the bank overlooking the competition.
The first train to the Balloon Saga station, which is only open during the event, has not yet arrived, but some spectators, including families with small children, walk to the venue with flashlights in hand.
By 6:00 am, the riverbank is almost completely filled with spectators, and the excitement is astonishing.
Just after sunrise, a little after 7:00 am, the balloons set up in the launch area for the competition rise with the roar of burners.
The morning sun shines upon the balloons as they prepare to take off, creating an indescribably magical atmosphere.
This reporter, forgetting that he was there to work, was simply mesmerized by the spectacle.
As the large crowd watched, nearly 100 balloons stood silently, and then one after another, took off.
The launch area was chaotic as teams were planning their strategies, but the spectator area was so quiet that it was hard to believe that tens of thousands of people had gathered. It was a strange and indescribable instant, different from watching the tense moments before the race.
Around 850,000 spectators visited the five-day event. On this particular day, 180,000 spectators gathered on the riverbed, far more than the 70,000 daily average for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The number of spectators was so large that an announcement was made that cell phone signals were congested, and even this reporter had to travel several kilometers to get a signal for a scheduled videoconference.
Seeing the riverbed having such a large capacity was a surprise, but it was more than possible that even more would arrive. The balloon competition was full of such mysterious charm.
Spectators enthusiastically participating in the competition
As the competition began, balloons slowly rose from the launch area. Spectators waved, yelling “Safe trip!” Pilots and team members in the balloons responded by waving their hands. This communication between the team and the spectators, even during the competition, is one aspect that makes balloon racing so unique.
After flying to the destination, accomplishing the tasks, balloon land in nearby areas such as rice fields. Spectators who had followed the balloons, and others who happened to be there, helped to retrieve the balloons and took pictures. Is there any other competition where the teams and spectators are so close?
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Retrieving, then photographs -
Retrieving, then photographs
In between the competitions, events are held where spectators can enter the launch area and see the balloons up close. Tens of thousands of spectators gathered on the riverbed entered the launch area, smoothly and orderly, and adults and children alike enjoy, taking pictures in front of the balloons.
Seeing them, this reporter realized that the history of the balloon competition which has been here for 40 years, has taken root in the culture. Even the spectators are professional in their behaviour.
Balloon competitions are said to depend on the wind, and are often cancelled even in good weather if the conditions are not right. In fact, out of the six events scheduled during the three days of coverage, only two were held.
Even when events were cancelled, spectators were unfazed, as they knew nature would have its way.
In an effort to provide as much entertainment for the spectators as possible, several teams launched their balloons in front of the audience. Seeing a balloon that had difficulties getting off the ground, this reporter could not help but cheer the team on.
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Staff working hard to raise the balloon in strong wind -
Staff working hard to raise the balloon in strong wind
Unity unseen in other sports
Ballooning is a serious competition for the teams who work hard to achieve the best possible result. At the same time, the teams’ desire to have fun with the spectators, and the spectators’ willingness to be involved with the teams, resonate and bring the distance between them surprisingly close.
This sense of unity is most likely unique to balloon competition. In other sports, athletes and spectators do not have any contact, and this reporter assumed this was common practice in all sports.
However, such “common sense” was overturned. Balloon racing has very casual communication between the teams and spectators.
This reporter visited the competition knowing that Honda’s GX engines were used by the balloon teams. Indeed, most teams did use GX engines, but more importantly, this reporter was completely unaware of the charm of the balloon competition.
This visit did not provide a complete understanding of hot air balloon competition, but on the way home, seeing photos and watching videos of the event on social media, this reporter felt, “I have to come back next year.”