Weather threat fades as pilots take practice flight in US national balloon championship

Monday morning’s practice flight of the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship almost didn’t happen.

Weather threatened to ground pilots for the flight, which kicked off a week of balloon activities with the national race and the Great Texas Balloon Race.

During a briefing just before 6 a.m., officials decided to reconvene at 6:30 after reassessing weather conditions. At that meeting, pilots got the green light to find their launch locations to hit two targets.

The first target was in a field south of Joy Global off West Loop 281.

Pilots had their choice on the second flight of two spots near where Cotton Street meets Gum Springs Road.

via – Longview News-Journal