Father and son spend quality time in balloon

For the Paulin family, quality time between father and son typically takes place at 4,500 feet.

That's where father Jerry and son Matt can be found after they fire up their six-story hot air balloon and float off into the Yuma sky.

While lots of fathers and sons hunt and fish, the Paulins say they've found a hobby to share as a family that's nothing short of heavenly.

"It's just something we really enjoy doing together," said Jerry. "I watched my son learn and now he's teaching me. It's just been a really good time."

The father and son bought a balloon about two years ago and now hit the breezes every chance they get.

The Paulins say they owe their high-flying pastime to the family's long-standing involvement with the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival,  which is coming around again Saturday and Sunday. Kids in the Paulin family pretty much grew up with the festival, which is hosted by Caballeros de Yuma. Jerry, a long-time Caballero, always invited his family to help out by giving a hand to balloon crews. That volunteering eventually led to chances for rides.

And that's how they got hooked.

"I had my first ride when I was 8 or 9 years old," Matt remembered. "As a kid you just look up at the sky filled with all those balloons and you wonder what it's like to fly. Just seeing the balloons, there's nothing to describe it - amazing."

Those awe-inspired looks from young and old are what Jerry says means most to him about the balloon festival. The Yuma man said there's nothing better than people enjoying the magic that only a hot air balloon can provide.

"Seeing people's smiles, well, there's nothing like it," Jerry said. "It's great to see people enjoy the balloons and the pilots really enjoy sharing their balloons. People who are into ballooning really are a gregarious bunch."

These days, as pilots of their own balloon, the Paulins are part of the show during the 19th annual Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival. They will be joined by about 30 other balloonists from around the country.

And Jerry tells the people of Yuma County to not be shy. He stressed that the balloon festival is all about folks getting up and close to the balloons and their human operators.

"The balloon festival isn't a spectator sport. We encourage people to walk right up and talk to pilots. You might even be asked to help," he said. "You can stand right there in the middle of everything and have a real good time."

The Paulins won't be the only father-son team at the festival, but they are the only such team in Yuma. In fact, it turns out that the world of ballooning is a pretty small circle in these parts. Jerry said there are about 30,000 licensed pilots in the nation, with only about five balloons calling Yuma home.

Those pilots are a lucky few, too, given how they describe the fantastic ride when balloons and breezes meet.

"Pretty much, the earth just kind of moves away from you. You don't have much of a sensation of movement," Jerry explained. "You're just flying with the breeze. You just look down and smile at the rest of the world."

Matt, 27, became a pilot about a year and a half ago. Jerry is working on his license now and expects to have it in hand by next month. Balloon pilots are licensed through the FAA and testing for Yuma applicants must be done in Phoenix or San Diego.

The father and son bought a used hot air balloon that had to be shipped from the East Coast. The beauty boasts a dazzling spectrum of colors and quite impressively stands as tall as a six-story building.

The father and son typically let one person pilot while the other serves as the ground crew.

They fly about twice a month, enjoying flights that usually last around an hour or a little more.

"We share something not many other people can share," Matt said. "It's really nice to have something that kind of brings you and your dad together, gives you some really great time to spend together."

Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.