The pilots and crews inflate their balloons during the 21st annual White Sands Balloon Invitational at White Sands National Monument, N.M., Sept. 16. Balloonists came from Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, California, Texas and New Mexico for the two-day event, at which more than 50 balloons launched from both the balloon park in Alamogordo, N.M., and the White Sands National Monument. The event committee obtained a permit for balloons to fly over the monument, as normally private aircraft are not allowed in the airspace. Members of Team Holloman volunteered at the event.
<br>Unit: Holloman Air Force Base Public Affairs Office
Airman 1st Class Michael Shoemaker
Taken on 16 September 2012
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