Bob Stevenson flies Albuquerque Head Start kids in 1991 hot air balloon

Pilot Bob Stevenson took young Albuquerque children up in a balloon in 1991. The flight gave preschool youngsters from low-income families a chance to experience liftoff.

Stevenson and his crew rose at dawn to give the rides. The balloon was featured in that year’s Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Reporter Kim Trujillo went to the event and spoke to the pilot.

Seeing a balloon up close offered a treat for children who had never visited the fiesta. Stevenson explained why many families miss the event.

“A lot of people just don’t even go there because of the, you know, transportation and things like that, so this to them is just a dream,” Stevenson said.

The youngsters attended Head Start. They had spent the whole week learning about balloons in class. That day gave them the real experience, complete with all the noise.

“We love working for these kids,” Stevenson said. “We’ll do any schools or anything that we’re able to do for the little ones. They absolutely love it and we really enjoy it.”

Smiles and amazed looks showed the reaction from the children. One child said the ride was fun.

Head Start is a federally funded program designed to serve preschool children. The annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta gathers pilots and crews each fall. Volunteers help bring community experiences directly to local schools.

The children received a rare chance during the 1991 event. Dedicated volunteers made the balloons reachable for them.