Arizona-based balloonist enjoys Waikato conditions
Arizona balloonist Erin Romaneschi finds Waikato flying conditions challenging but enjoyable
A Phoenix, Arizona, balloonist visiting Hamilton for the Balloons Over Waikato festival readily admits he enjoys the challenge of flying in our changeable weather conditions.
Second-generation balloonist and crew chief of the Betty Jean Butterfly balloon Erin Romaneschi says the sport is “much more consistent with the hot dry weather” in Arizona.
“We can fly 300 days a year in Arizona.”
Erin has been involved with balloons with his father Bob, the pilot of their butterfly shaped balloon, named after his grandmother.
He said ballooning was more than just a hobby and had become a family tradition.
“I’ve been involved with balloons all my life.”
This is his second visit to Balloons Over Waikato and says the Waikato offers a different experience to balloonists.
This is not to say he doesn’t enjoy the challenge “The weather changes by the minute down here.”
The lack of wind was all that was holding him back from prepping their balloon this morning though once it picked up the unpacking started.
Ably assisted by a ground crew of volunteers they soon had the body stretched out ready to inflate “Our crew work really hard.”
Though they had no passengers for this flight Erin was keen to get it up in the air often taking crew members up as a reward for their hard work on the ground.
It was great to see a family tradition kept alive and well, being practiced thousands of miles away from home.
