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Bandit "The Balloon Dog", Reno, NV (2024)

03/18/2024

My Dad and I have helped with the camps over the years, sometimes I was closer to the action and other times I got to stay in a doggie B&B while he did his week with the teens. Been to many of them and the teens are always the best kids in the world, working from sun up to sun down on balloon related activities and training. One day I will see them at an event or launch field and say hello.

11/08/2023

Looks like another road trip this weekend, headed 'south' to Yuma, AZ with my Dad. He did say it is supposed to be warmer down there and in a city famous for being one of the sunniest places on Earth. Looking forward to it, maybe finding a local dog park to sniff a few southern butts, too.

Website: https://www.caballeros.org

05/17/2023

That is my Dad's balloon and I am excited to be going back to Winnemucca. Always a good time, busy weekend and my Dad always finds time to take me up Water Canyon for a short run to check my 'posts' up that way.

04/27/2023

I know most of these pilots, been chasing them around for years. WIll be nice to see my friends again and Kylee usually has her pup with them, and he may be in the basket too.

Being an older dog, I go for the first 'hop' then retreat to the truck and keep an eye on my Dad from the back seat.

Come on out and play with a balloon, all great pilots and fun too.

Winnemucca Balloon Festival would like to welcome our 2023 Pilots and beautiful hot air balloons, May 19th thru the 21st! We have 13 pilots who are donating their time and money to come to our town for you! We will be asking for “CREW” to come and play with the balloons, have fun and help set up the balloons!

Thank you Brock Boehm for designing such a beautiful poster for our event!

02/08/2023

Yee ha, or is it woof woof. . . .although i don't tend to 'talk' much. But looking forward to being in Lovelock and seeing all my 'country' friends.

It has been a month since our last event and I am looking forward to the adventures, my Dad and I find along the way.

Lovers Aloft Balloon Festival would like to welcome back Jeff Halizer and Bandit the Balloon Dog!
Jeff says:
I have been in and around hot air ballooning since 1983 when I received my first
crew experience and flight in Gallup, New Mexico. Even from the first time I loved every
aspect of it. I spent my early years as a crew member for a commercial balloon for the
local Ford dealership and spent nearly every weekend flying with that pilot and others in
the area, with the occasional ‘balloon safari’ on our summer break since my primary
instructor was also a teacher.
I am a retired Special Education Teacher (32 years) from Reno, Nevada and
balloonist for fun, I enjoy giving the gift of flight to others and especially to kids. I fly
numerous events in and around the western states average 15 events a year and at times I
have traveled across the USA, have flown in 29 states (or so), 2 Canadian Provinces,
traveled to Taitung, Taiwan, and Quianshan, China with one of the special shaped
balloons I own and operate. I hope to do more international travels soon.
I especially like the smaller events where everyone knows each other and the
smaller towns where ballooning is still a novelty drawing a group of people that have
never seen nor been around a hot air balloon. A highlight of my travels has been to be the
only balloonist at Burningman in 2006-2010; flying the Red Rocks of Gallup, New
Mexico is like going home for me, friends and familiar places, where I started my
adventure in ballooning.
I enjoy getting spectators to help with the inflation and putting a smile on the
faces of the crowd gathered to watch the balloon take shape from the moment the basket
is off loaded to the time I lift off I try to interact with the spectators and share the
excitement. Occasionally, gifting a balloon ride to a random stranger from the field that is
if I don’t have crew or sponsors to fly.
I average nearly 100 hours a year, have over 1400 hours flying balloons and I still
enjoy the early mornings and fun times. Because FUN is FUN. As an ‘ex-student’ pilot
says, ballooning is the “Best reason ever to set your alarm clock.”

02/08/2023

Knew Dad was up to something, been nearly a month since we were on the road to another balloon event. Loves Aloft is one of my favorites, inthe area. Can't wait to see my Lovelock friends in the neighborhood.

Lovers Aloft Balloon Festival would like to welcome back Jeff Halizer and Bandit the Balloon Dog!
Jeff says:
I have been in and around hot air ballooning since 1983 when I received my first
crew experience and flight in Gallup, New Mexico. Even from the first time I loved every
aspect of it. I spent my early years as a crew member for a commercial balloon for the
local Ford dealership and spent nearly every weekend flying with that pilot and others in
the area, with the occasional ‘balloon safari’ on our summer break since my primary
instructor was also a teacher.
I am a retired Special Education Teacher (32 years) from Reno, Nevada and
balloonist for fun, I enjoy giving the gift of flight to others and especially to kids. I fly
numerous events in and around the western states average 15 events a year and at times I
have traveled across the USA, have flown in 29 states (or so), 2 Canadian Provinces,
traveled to Taitung, Taiwan, and Quianshan, China with one of the special shaped
balloons I own and operate. I hope to do more international travels soon.
I especially like the smaller events where everyone knows each other and the
smaller towns where ballooning is still a novelty drawing a group of people that have
never seen nor been around a hot air balloon. A highlight of my travels has been to be the
only balloonist at Burningman in 2006-2010; flying the Red Rocks of Gallup, New
Mexico is like going home for me, friends and familiar places, where I started my
adventure in ballooning.
I enjoy getting spectators to help with the inflation and putting a smile on the
faces of the crowd gathered to watch the balloon take shape from the moment the basket
is off loaded to the time I lift off I try to interact with the spectators and share the
excitement. Occasionally, gifting a balloon ride to a random stranger from the field that is
if I don’t have crew or sponsors to fly.
I average nearly 100 hours a year, have over 1400 hours flying balloons and I still
enjoy the early mornings and fun times. Because FUN is FUN. As an ‘ex-student’ pilot
says, ballooning is the “Best reason ever to set your alarm clock.”

09/19/2022

I knew there was a good reason I like balloons and ballooning, animals to pester. . . but my Dad never seems to take any along besides me.

Happy anniversary of the birth of ballooning!

On 19 September 1783, the Montgolfières brothers’ balloon Aerostat Réveillon was flown with the first (non-human) living creatures in a basket attached to the balloon: a sheep called Montauciel ("Climb-to-the-sky"), a duck and a rooster. The sheep was believed to have a reasonable approximation of human physiology. The duck was expected to be unharmed by being lifted aloft. It was included as a control for effects created by the aircraft rather than the altitude. The rooster was included as a further control as it was a bird that did not fly at high altitudes. This demonstration was performed before a crowd at the royal palace in Versailles, before King Louis XVI of France and Queen Marie Antoinette. The flight lasted approximately eight minutes, covered two miles (3 km), and obtained an altitude of about 1,500 feet (460 m). The craft landed safely after flying. (from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ballooning)

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08/28/2022

Yippieee. . . going back to Alturas, and typically a few four legged friends on the launch field (but they don't play nice, they have antlers).

Love the Rim Rock Motel, nice grassy area to hang out and wait while Dad takes care of the balloon and stuff in the trailer.

Can't wait to be back.

🌟Get Ready Modoc!!🌟The Balloonfest is coming! We are adding an Outdoor movie featuring the original TOP GUN! Bring the family and some folding chairs or a blanket and enjoy a fun family night with a Nightglow & Movie in the Park! We'll have a full snack bar available for purchase! 🍿🥤🌭Hope to see you all there!

08/15/2022

My Dad and I did a 'short' summer trip this year. 5 events, 6 weeks away from home and he said something around 6000 miles, I thought he said smiles. . .

Anyhow here are a couple pictures my Dad took towards the end of the trip. Carhenge, and what an unusual place, cars buried in the ground like old dog bones, Glacier National Park and he would not let me go sniff the 'four legged furry friend' (Big Horn Sheep).

A nice hike to the Medicine Wheel high up in the Big Horn Mountains, an awesome place. But I had to stay with the Ranger Lady, since they don't allow dogs around the 'Wheel', not sure what the big deal is looked like piles of rocks to me (I am sure there were critters to look for). But it is a big deal for those who go and do various ceremonies there. So to respect them, I hug out with the wonderful young ranger lady.

Not sure what the next adventure is, but I am looking forward to it. Have seen so many wonderful things with my Dad and he is saying that by fall I will have had 500 balloon flights, I never counted them but I guess it is important I go along to keep an eye on him.