Redbud Park has been full with visitors for the 15th annual Big Country Balloon Fest.
Pat Young, president of the Optimist Club Unlimited of Abilene, said the festival has 14 balloons this year.
The Optimist Club Unlimited of Abilene is a non-profit group that organizes the Big Country Balloon Fest to benefit the youth of the Big Country.
Young said last year’s festival made $60,000 for the organization — allowing 22 scholarships, the most ever, to be awarded.
Other balloon facts
* The final event this year will be the hot air balloon flight No. 4 at 7 a.m. today.
* Three balloons are new to the festival.
* There are three major parts to a hot air balloon — the envelope, burner and basket.
* The envelope is the fabric bag that holds the hot air. The burner sits above the passengers’ heads and heats the air inside the envelope. The basket, usually made of wicker, is where passengers ride in the balloon.
* Propane is the most common fuel used in the burners. Balloons use between 15 and 20 gallons of fuel per hour.
* A balloon can be inflated and launched in 15 minutes or less. It takes about the same time to deflate and pack the balloon after the flight.
* Most popular sized balloons cost between $18,000 and $25,000.
* There are more than 3,500 balloons and 4,000 licensed pilots in the nation.
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