Duke City Redi Mix launches new special shape hot air balloon

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) – One of the best aspects of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: the special shapes. This year, dozens of new shapes will take to the skies, including a concrete mixer from Duke City Redi Mix.

It's usually seen driving around on the street, but now it's joining the fleet of special shapes at this year's balloon fiesta.

“This is a complex shape; it's really big. It’s really hard,” said John Petrehn, director of operations at Ultra Magic.

Meet Sir Mix-A-Lot: a concrete mixer hot air balloon from Duke City Redi Mix.

Hundreds come to the Fiesta Fanatics cleanup event before the Balloon Fiesta

“We wanted to immerse ourselves a little in the balloon community and bring joy and pride to our community,” said Miles Shiver, CEO and owner of Duke City Redi Mix.

Shiver grew up attending Fiesta, but now he can see it from a different perspective.

“We're really excited to be a part of it and get to know the people in the balloon community and especially with Fiesta a little bit better, just to be a bigger part of it, and we're excited to get into it,” he said Shower.

The unique balloon is 100 feet and 130 feet wide and weighs over 1,000 pounds. Competes in size with the legendary cow Airabelle.

“We had an idea of ​​what we wanted. We wanted it to look like a traditional mixer, and they said, 'How about this idea to make it easier and more frequent to fly,'” Shiver said, taking notes from the pros in the design process.

“This balloon should be able to fly a pilot and two or three flight crew comfortably here in Albuquerque,” ​​Petrehn said.

Here are the new special shape balloons to look out for at the 52nd Balloon Fiesta

As the Balloon Fiesta approaches, they look forward to the balloon's debut.

“Man, if we can blow it up. It's just incredible. It will put a smile on a lot of people’s faces,” Petrehn said.

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