2011 Clark, Philippines Hot Air Balloon Festival/Air Show Promisses to be Bigger and Better than Ever
2011 Hot Air Balloon Schedule (Tentative)
February 10
THURSDAY
2011 FIRST FIESTA DAY
Hot Air Balloon Flights 5:30-7:00AM
Paragliding Exhibition 6:30-7:30AM
Ultralight Aircraft Formation Flying 7:40-8:15AM
Ultralight Bomb Dropping Audience Participation 8:15-9:00AM
Aerobatic Flight Display 9:00-9:40AM
Kite Flying Exhibition 9:40-10:00AM
AOPA Light Airplane Balloon Bursting Competition 10:00-10:45AM
Sky Diving Exhibition 10:45-11:30AM
R/C Demonstration Flying 11:30-12:00PM
Open 12:00-1:00PM
Sky Diving Exhibition 1:00-2:00PM AOPA Light
Aircraft Balloon Bursting 2:00-2:45PM
Aerobatic Flight Display 3:45-4:30PM
Rocketry Demonstration 4:30-5:00PM
Ultralight Formation Flying 5:00-5:20PM
Hot Air Balloon Fly-In 5:20-6:00PM
February 11 FRIDAY SECOND FIESTA DAY
Hot Air Balloon Flights 5:30-7:00AM
Paragliding Exhibition 6:30-7:30AM
Ultralight Aircraft Flyby & Flour Bombing 7:40-8:30AM
Aerobatic Air Show 8:30-9:15AM
R/C Helicopter Show 9:30-9:50AM
AOPA Aircraft Flyby 9:50-10:30AM
AOPA Aircraft Balloon-Bursting Competition 10:30-11:15AM
Skydiving Exhibition 11:15-12:00PM
Choreographed Kite Flying Exhibition 12:30-1:30PM
Fire Fighting Exhibition 1:30-2:15PM
Skydiving Exhibition 2:15-3:00PM
Wings Over Asia Aviators Gathering Seminar 3:00-6:00PM
Rocketry Demonstration 3:00-3:45PM
Aerobatic Flight Display 4:00-4:30PM
Paragliding Exhibition 4:30-5:15PM
Hot Air Balloon Flights 5:30-6:00PM
February 12 SATURDAY THIRD FIESTA DAY
Hot Air Balloon Flight 5:30-7:00AM
Paragliding Exhibition 6:30-7:30AM
Ultralight Aircraft Flyby 7:40-8:30AM
Krukspec Airsoft Speedball Competition 8:30-5:00PM
Aerobatic Flight Display 8:30-9:15AM
Search and Rescue Flying Exhibition 9:15-10:00AM
AOPA-P, Wings Over Asia, Thai Flying Club Flyby 10:00-10:45AM
Skydiving Exhibition 10:45-11:15AM
AOPA Light Airplane Balloon Bursting Competition 11:15-12:00PM
Kite Flying Exhibition 12:00-12:45PM open 12:45-1:15PM
Piper Turboprop bly by of Ed/Citation Mustang fly-by 1:15-1:45PM
Skydiving Exhibition 1:45-2:15PM
AOPA Light Aircraft Balloon-Bursting Competition 2:15-3:00PM
Choreographed Kite Flying Exhibition 3:00-3:45PM
Aerobatic Flight Display 3:45-4:30PM
Rocketry Demonstration 4:30-5:00PM
Ultralight Flyby 5:00-5:30PM
RC Airplane Flying Demonstration 5:30-5:45PM
Hot Air Balloon Flight 5:45-6:15PM
Hot Air Balloon Night Glow 6:45-7:30PM
Aviators Ball 7:00PM-onwards
February 13 SUNDAY FOURTH FIESTA DAY
Hot Air Balloon Flights 5:30-7:00AM
Paragliding Exhibition 6:30-7:30AM
Ultralight Aircraft Flyby & Flour Bombing 7:30-8:30AM
Krukspec Airsoft Speedball Competition 8:00-5:00PM
AOPA-P, Wings Over Asia, Thai Flying club Fly-by 8:30-9:30AM
R/C Helicopter Show 9:30-10:00AM
Helicopter Flying Exhibition 10:00-10:30AM
Skydiving Exhibition 10:30-11:00AM
AOPA Light Airplane Balloon Bursting Competition 11:00-12:00PM
Choreographed Kite Flying Exhibition 12:30-1:15PM
Ultralight Flying Display 1:15-2:00PM
RC Airplane Flying Demonstration 2:00-2:30PM
AOPA Light Airplane Ballon Bursting Finals 2:30-3:30PM
Aerobatic Exhibition 3:30-4:15PM
Rocketry Demonstration 4:15-4:45PM
Microlight & Ultralight Flyby 4:45-5:30PM
Hot Air Balloon Night Glow 5:30-6:45PM
Crew and Awards Night Party 7:30PM
(Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 November 2010 19:30)
2011 Hot Air Balloon Article
Clarkfield, Pampanga (November 28, 2010) – The organizers of the Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) are expecting a significant increase in the number of spectators and balloons participating in the 2011 or 16th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. The crowds are expected to be bigger than ever with the hotel rooms booked months ahead of the scheduled event.
With the event’s ongoing ad exposure on the internet and other media, the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is at the forefront of all events in the Philippines. This year’s event is not just a simple air show of multicolored hot air balloons with amazing designs and incredible shapes but the balloons will represent the uniqueness of each of the participating countries in some way.
Clark Freeport Zone became the home of this international aviation sport event mainly due to the facilities vast, open paved areas and clear, calm skies; these are significant requirements for a successful hot air balloon show involving flight of monster airships.
Another reason for Clark Freeport winning the bid for this incredible event is that it is a home to a number of high-end hotels and other leisure establishments that can provide accommodation and superior comfort to the thousands of spectators and participants the Hot Air Festival draws. Additionally, for those spectators wishing to make the trip from other surrounding Asian countries, Clark is equipped with its own world-class international airport.
For the past 15 years, PIHABF has been an extremely successful event that attracts thousands of spectators both local and international. Aside from the display of a plethora of multi-colored hot air balloons, the festival also features a number of expedition events such as skydiving, flag jumps, micro-light aircraft and rocketry demonstrations, small plane fly-bys and fly-ins, remote-control airplane and helicopter flying exhibitions, freestyle aerobatics, precision maneuvers, light airplane balloon bursting, ultra-light flying formation and bomb dropping, kite-making and choreographed kite-flying, hi-start launch gliding, pylon racing, banner towing, aero-modeling symposium and races between ultra lights and motorcycles.
The Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta was first organized in 1994 in an effort to help spur the local economy of Central Luzon with the stated objective of making hot air ballooning a common aviation sport in the Philippines and promoting the country as a premier sport-aviation and tourist destination in Asia. The Fiesta was pioneered by the Department of Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor along with Korean businessman and hot-air balloon pilot, Mr. Sung Kee Paik and British Airways General Manager, Mr. John Emery, and German aviation enthusiast Max Motschmann.
Clark Subic Marketing is a closely-aligned partner with the Clark Freeport Zone and most of the great venues, hotels and resorts therein. Inasmuch, Clark Subic Marketing provides advance booking services these hotels and resorts and assures great accommodation and a wonderful stay for events such as the Clark Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.
As mentioned above, this event is quickly booking-out available hotel and resort facilities in the Clark Freeport Zone. Even now, in early December, is the time to book a room in order not to be left-out of this extremely popular Philippine event. For those who would like to witness the 2011 PIHABF, Clark Subic Marketing is now coordinating and delivering great deals at most of the world-class hotels and resorts in Clark.
Clark Subic Marketing can be contacted at: 045-499-1179 or 045-499-0695, or visit their website at: http://www.clarksubicmarketing.com.
2011 PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA DETAILS
Note: The above schedule is from the official Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Association. Clark Subic Marketing makes no claims or guarantees as to its accuracy. This schedule is subject to change without notice.
DIRECTIONS TO CLARK FREEPORT
Getting to the Clark Freeport Zone, otherwise known as the Clark Special Economic Zone by car is easy. Simply needs to take the North Luzon Expressway from Manila and exit at Dau, Mabalacat. After your exit, a left turn towards Angeles City, and a little Angeles City/Dau traffic, will bring you to within an easy right turn of the Clark Zone itself. The trip should take about an hour and a half from Manila without heavy traffic.
Frequently Answered Questions
Q. Where is the exact event site?
A. Air Force City, Clark Freeport, Angeles City in Pampanga.
Q. How much is the entrance fee?
A. PhP150 per person. These tickets are available at the gate.
Q. Can I ride the balloons?
A. Yes, we charge a minimum fee of US$150 per person to ride the balloon. This is on a first-come-first-served basis. Go directly to the Information Booth upon arrival to book yourself a ride.
Q. What hotels are near the venue?
A. The event site is fairly near all the hotels in and around Clark. Please visit our Clark Hotels Web Page for a hotel booking. Book now so you don’t miss-out. There are limited rooms available for this event.
Q. Are we sure to see the balloons everyday?
A. Balloon inflation is very much dependent on wind conditions. Calm winds guarantee great flights. The organizers reserve the right to cancel any activity due to bad wind conditions. For safety reasons, balloonists generally prefer for the the winds to be less than 10 mph and the clouds to be at least 2,000 feet above the ground.
Q. Are refreshments available on the grounds?
A. Yes. Food booths are present near the show line, on the southeast side of the balloon fiesta site. A bazaar is also set up near the entrance gate, and also on the northwest part of the grounds, near the aircraft ramp
Q. Where can I park?
A. Ample parking is available near the entrance gate. Road signs will direct you to the parking lots, where marshals will guide you to a suitable space. A parking fee is charged.
Q. What is a ramp tour?
A. The balloon fiesta offers a ramp tour that allows you to walk around the active flight line and interact with aircraft pilots and ground crew.
