- Title: PHILIPPINES: BALLOON FESTIVAL OVER VOLCANO PINATUBO
- Date: 24th January 1997
- Summary: ANGELES CITY, PHILIPPINES (JANUARY 24, 1997) (REUTERS TELEVISION - ACCESS ALL) 1. CREWS PREPARING BALLOONS FOR TAKE-OFF 2. SPECTATORS BEHIND BANNER THAT READS, "THE FOURTH PHILIPPINES INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA" (ENGLISH) 3. BALLOON RISES 4. WIDE SHOT OF BALLOONS IN AIR 5. BALLOON SHAPED AS PLANE 6. MIHO INAGUMA, BALLOONIST, SAYING, "I FEEL THAT I'M DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT" (ENGLISH) 7. CHILDREN CHEERING, WAVING TO BALLOONISTS 8. BLUE BALLOON 9. ENGLISH BALLOONIST J. DEE SHAPLAND SUSPENDED IN AIR IN CHAIR BASKET 10. SPECTATORS BELOW 11. WIDE SHOT OF BALLOONS IN AIR 12. SHAPLAND SAYING, "I THINK EVERYBODY HAS FEARS, BUT IT'S A SAFE SPORT AND YES, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A BIG ADRENALINE RUSH ON TAKE-OFF" (ENGLISH) 13. BALLOON DESCENDING OVER FIELDS 14. LABOURERS IN FIELDS 15. BALLOON LANDS Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 8th February 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ANGELES CITY, PHILIPPINES
- City:
- Country: Phillippines
- Reuters ID: LVA37SQT4Q5JS6PCJ9J0X3K18DUP
- Story Text: Balloons of every shape and size dotted the skies above Angeles City in the Philippines on Friday (January 24) as an international balloon fiesta got underway.
A total of 28 balloonists from all over the world gathered at the former U.S. Clark Air Base to take part in the Fourth Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.
The balloons glided over the green fields and grey volcanic debris from the nearby Mount Pinatubo.
Event organisers say they hope the volcano, which erupted in 1990, will figure in their future flight plans.
But with or without Pinatubo, ballonists say nothing can beat the high one gets in flying.
"I feel that I'm doing something different," said Japanese balloonist Miho Inaguma.
English balloonist, J. Dee Shapland decided that after eight years of lugging around the heavy balloon, the basket and other gadgets, it was time to travel light.
Unlike most balloonists who ride in the gondola or the basket tied to the balloon, Shapland flew across the fields sitting on a chair.
Balloons can fly as high as 7,600 metres (25,000 feet) but "fun flying" or leisurely drifting is usually done at 300 to 600 metres (1,000 to 2,000 feet).
Shapland said it may take years or even a lifetime before he stops flying.
"I think everybody has fears," he said. "But it's a safe sport and you always have a big adrenaline rush on take-off."
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