16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Set
This year marks the 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) to be held at Clark Special Economic Zone, Angeles City in Pampanga, Philippines from February 10 to February 13, 2011.
Having begun in 1994, the Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival is held every year mostly in February at the Omni Aviation Complex in Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. It is considered to be the country’s biggest aviation sports event to date.
The main attraction is the flight of different and gigantic hot air balloons from participants and balloon enthusiasts from all over the globe. More than a hundred balloon pilots launch their hot air baloons in the morning and maneuver them through the day within the four day hot air balloon event.
Other events include skydiving, flag jumps, flying and plane exhibitions, aerobatics. This year, 27 balloons will participate to celebrate the centennial of the first airplane flight in the country.
Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Schedule from http://www.philballoonfest.net/ (as of january 2011; subject to change without prior notice)
| FIRST FIESTA DAY (February 10 – Thursday) |
|
| Philippine Army Flag Jump | 5:00-5:45AM |
| Hot Air Balloon Flights | 5:45-7:00AM |
| RP/Malaysian/UK Paragliding Exhibition | 5:45-7:30AM |
| ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation.. | 7:30-8:30AM |
| Meynard Halili / Bill Wright Aerobatic Show | 8:30-9:00AM |
| AFP / Civilian Sky Diving Exhibition | 9:00-9:30AM |
| Radio-controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration | 9:30-10:00AM |
| AOPA-P Light Airplane Balloon Bursting Competition | 10:00-11:30AM |
| KAP/KTP Kite Flying Exhibition | 11:30-12:00NN |
| Airlink/WCC/Omni/PPA/CIA/Orient flyby | 12:00-12:30PM |
| Radio-controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration | 12:30-1:00PM |
| Sky Diving Exhibition | 1:00-1:30PM |
| Rolf Dunder ‘Fascination’ Airplane vs. Car Race | 1:30-2:00PM |
| AOPA-P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition | 2:00-3:00PM |
| FEATI/PHILSCA Rocketry Demonstration | 3:00-3:30PM |
| ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights | 3:30-4:00PM |
| Philippine Air Force Silent Drill and SPOW Sniffing Dog Exhb | 4:00-4:30PM |
| Meynard Halili / Bill Wright Aerobatic Show | 4:30-5:00PM |
| RP/Malaysian/UK Paragliding Exhibition | 5:00-5:30PM |
| Hot Air Balloon Fly-In | 5:30-6:00PM |
| SECOND FIESTA DAY (February 11 – Friday) | |
| Philippine Army Flag Jump | 5:00-5:45AM |
| Hot Air Balloon Flights | 5:45-7:00AM |
| RP/Malaysian/UK Paragliding Exhibition | 5:45-7:30AM |
| ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation… | 7:30-8:30AM |
| Bill Wright/Meynard Halili/Les Vorosmarthy Aerobatic Show | 8:30-9:00AM |
| Skydiving Exhibition | 9:00-9:30AM |
| Radio-controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration | 9:30-10:00AM |
| Wings Over Asia / AOPA-P Aircraft Balloon Bursting Comp | 10:00-11:00AM |
| KAP/KTP Kite Flying Exhibition | 11:00-11:30AM |
| WCC/Aviatour/Omni/PPA/Orient flyby | 11:30-12:00NN |
| German Aerobatic Glider Flight | 12:00-1:00PM |
| Civilian Sky Diving Exhibition | 1:00-1:30PM |
| Jet Turbine Radio-controlled Modeller Demos | 1:30-2:00PM |
| AOPA-P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition | 2:00-3:00PM |
| Wings Over Asia Aviators Social Gathering | 2:30-5:00PM |
| Car Drifting Display | 3:00-3:30PM |
| FEATI/PHILSCA Rocketry Demonstration | 3:30-4:00PM |
| ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights | 4:00-4:30PM |
| Bill Wright/Meynard Halili/Les Vorosmarthy Aerobatic Show | 4:30-5:00PM |
| RP/Malaysian/UK Paragliding Exhibition | 5:00-5:30PM |
| Hot Air Balloon Fly-In | 5:30-6:00PM |
| THIRD FIESTA DAY (February 12 – Saturday) | |
| Philippine Army Flag Jump | 5:00-5:45AM |
| Hot Air Balloon Flights | 5:45-7:00AM |
| RP/Malaysian/UK Paragliding Exhibition | 5:45-7:30AM |
| ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation… | 7:30-8:00AM |
| Skydiving Exhibition | 8:00-8:30AM |
| Jet Turbine Radio-controlled Modeller Demos | 8:30-9:00AM |
| Bill Wright/Meynard Halili/Les Vorosmarthy Aerobatic Show | 9:00-9:45AM |
| Helicopter Flight Display | 9:45-10:30AM |
| Philippine Coast Guard Rescue Demonstration | 10:30-11:00AM |
| Wings Over Asia / AOPA- P Aircraft Balloon Bursting Comp | 11:00-12:00NN |
| WCC/Aviatour/Omni/PPA/CIA/Orient flyby | 12:00-12:30PM |
| Radio-controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration | 12:30-1:00PM |
| German Aerobatic Glider Flight | 1:00-1:30PM |
| KAP/KTP Kite Flying Exhibition | 1:30-2:00PM |
| Wings Over Asia / AOPA- P Aircraft Balloon Bursting Comp | 2:00-2:45PM |
| Sky Diving Exhibition | 2:45-3:15PM |
| CIAC Fire-fighting Demonstration | 3:15-3:45PM |
| Bill Wright/Meynard Halili/Les Vorosmarthy Aerobatic Show | 3:45-4:30PM |
| ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights | 4:30-5:00PM |
| FEATI/PHILSCA Rocketry Demonstration | 5:00-5:30PM |
| RP/Malaysian/UK Paragliding Exhibition | 5:30-6:00PM |
| Hot Air Balloon Night Glow | 6:00-6:30PM |
| FOURTH FIESTA DAY (February 13 – Sunday) | |
| Philippine Army Flag Jump | 5:20-5:30AM |
| Hot Air Balloon Flights | 5:30-7:00AM |
| RP/Malaysian/UK Paragliding Exhibition | 7:00-7:30AM |
| ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation… | 7:30-8:00AM |
| Civilian Skydiving Exhibition | 8:00-8:30AM |
| Meynard Halili/Bill Wright Aerobatic Show | 8:30-9:15AM |
| Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Demonstration | 9:15-10:00AM |
| Wings Over Asia / AOPA- P Aircraft Balloon Bursting Comp | 10:00-11:00AM |
| CIAC Fire-fighting Demonstration | 11:00-12:00NN |
| Radio-controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration | 12:00-12:30PM |
| Car Drifting Demonstration | 12:30-1:00PM |
| WCC/Aviatour/Omni/PPA/Orient flyby | 1:00-1:30PM |
| KAP/KTP Kite Flying Exhibition | 1:30-2:30PM |
| AFP / Civilian Sky Diving Exhibition | 3:00-3:30PM |
| ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights | 3:30-4:00PM |
| CareJet Westwind Fly-By | 4:00-4:15PM |
| Meynard Halili / Bill Wright Aerobatic Show | 4:15-5:00PM |
| RP/Malaysian/UK Paragliding Exhibition | 5:00-5:30PM |
| Hot Air Balloon Valentines Night Glow | 5:30-7:30PM |
Going to Clark Freeport Zone by Car (More maps here http://www.philballoonfest.net/about/maps.html)
Also known as the Clark Special Economic Zone, take the North Luzon Expressway from Manila and exit to Dau, Mabalacat. Turn left to Angeles City after the exit. Make a right turn to the Clark Freeport Zone. Proceed along Manuel Roxas Highway and turn right. You should reach the place in 2 hrs from Manila, Philippines.
Warning: With an event as big as the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, expect some traffic.
Site Plan
Flight Tours, Schedule, & Rate – Hot Air Balloon Ride
FAQ from http://www.clarksubicmarketing.com/
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.
Wow, I can’t wait for the weekend. It will be the first time for me and my family! Thanks for sharing!
yey, malapit na hot air balloon fiesta!
Ay sayang we missed the first day…my kids would love to see the hot air balloons and they even make a lot of drawings of the balloons…see you there on Sunday!!! Yahoooooo!!!^-^
awts, im missing this year’s Philippine Int’l Hot Air Balloon Festival. 🙁
Enjoy!
Hello,
Do you know how to get to clark freeport zone by commuting?
I’m from Cavite and I’m not sure if I can take the Victory Liner bus in Pasay going to Olongapo. Do you know any bus lines that can drop me off to Clark?
I hope you can help me out on this. I’ve been wanting to go to this event since I was in 2nd yr college. =p
Big thanks =]
@Aimee – sorry, I haven’t tries commuting to Clark. I went there on car.
Surely there is a way; Maybe you can research on it by starting here => http://travel-on-a-shoe-string.blogspot.com/2011/01/do-it-yourself-how-to-commute-from_1608.html
It says:
MANILA TO CLARK FREE ZONE
To Pampanga, from Cubao:
Bus lines: Victory Liner, Partas, Dagupan Bus, Philippine Rabbit, Saulog
Travel time: 1 1/2 hours
Fare: P160 to P180
Get down in Dau and take a jeep or tricycle to SM clark. Ask the driver to drop you off at the shuttle terminal to Clark.
Question, is it easy to go from subic to manila? Is transport accessible from there?
@Bien – sori, I also don’t know the commute back. 🙂
nakakainis, dumating kami sat morning feb 12 nadeflate na yung mga baloons, so para di sayang kasi we paid 150.00 each wait kami until afternoon, around 6pm nakainflate na yung iba pero di naman nila pinalipad without explaining why hanggang one by one nadeflate rin, sayang dami pa naman talaga tao, HARANG kayo, grabe! ilang milyon naman kinita nyo para don at sobrang hirap sa parking nyo, bawat galaw pera!
@claire diaz Everyone paid P150, that’s the entrance fee so not just you. I was there last Saturday and watched the balloon fly from 6 to around 8 AM, na-late pa nga ng flight e. You came in late so that’s not the event’s fault. Ayun na nga yung schedule sa taas e. They’re not supposed to fly at 6 PM, that’s called ‘night glow’ where they light up the balloons with music. Tingnan mo schedule next time ha? Bago ka mag-reklamo. And of course there’s gonna be a lot of people, it’s a festival what did you expect? Ano ka special?
Hello, was the flightline tour and ramp tour the same? If not how much was the ramp tour?