Retired general enjoys camaraderie of ballooning

  • Published
  • By Rebekah Molloy
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The eyes of retired Maj. Gen. David Eichhorn and his crew focused on one tiny black helium balloon.

Called a "pi ball" -- short for "pilot balloon" -- the black balloon was released into the wind to test flying conditions early Memorial Day morning. The small helium balloon would be the only one to take flight, and the Rio Grande Classic Balloon Rally competition that Eichhorn would have participated in had to be canceled.

The much larger balloon that Eichhorn, commander of Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland Air Force Base from 2010 to 2012, would have piloted is named "Mischief Managed" after the Harry Potter magic words. The wind, however, caused too much mischief for flying, leading to the event's cancellation.

According to Eichhorn, the couple of hours the crew spent strategizing, releasing pilot balloons and waiting in vain for the right conditions were worth it, even though they never were able to launch. As a former Air Force pilot, he enjoys piloting the hot air balloon, yet it is the entire process and community aspect of hot air ballooning that he deeply appreciates.

"It's very much a community event, not like a jet, where you turn the key and you're on your own," Eichhorn said.

His crew includes several military veterans as well as his wife, Anita.

Anita Eichhorn finds that being with people and "celebrating life together" makes ballooning a worthwhile adventure.

The prospect of competing on Memorial Day made Monday morning's ballooning experience all the more poignant even though they never took to the air, she said.

"It's about people going out and celebrating the American life and thinking about the people who made this life possible," she explained.

The event was called off shortly before 8 a.m., but not before Maj. Gen. Eichhorn and his friends spent a couple of hours relishing the fellowship of the competition, experiencing the 'hurry and wait' excitement of ballooning, enjoying the newly risen sun and feeling that Albuquerque breeze whip around a little stronger than they would've liked.