Cubreporter (Cubreporter)
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Username: Cubreporter
Post Number: 13
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 12:46 pm: | |
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Great Park balloon launch pushed back to next spring
The gondola arrives, so the emblematic orange balloon can't be far behind. But the first riders won't go up this year.
By SONYA SMITH
The Orange County Register
It was hoped that the Great Park's iconic orange balloon would be airborne by the end of the year, but the park's chief executive officer, Wally Kreutzen, now expects it to be launched by next spring.
Development company Lennar Corp. announced in July that it would pay for the 72-foot-wide helium balloon as well as some of the balloon's operating and maintenance costs for the first three years.
At that time, Irvine City Council members and Great Park staff talked about launching the balloon by the end of the year at a temporary spot at the old El Toro Marine base.
But the cost of moving the balloon means park officials are now looking to anchor it only at its permanent home.
Kreutzen said the Great Park Corp. needs Navy clearance because the desired location sits on land to be cleaned up. Federal Aviation Administration clearance is also needed for the balloon to hover 500 feet above the old base.
There has been progress, however. The gondola portion arrived at the old El Toro Marine Corps air base Friday. The main attraction – the big orange balloon – is scheduled to arrive within a few weeks.
The tethered balloon will take about 25 people at a time up 500 feet and be operated by a licensed pilot.
CONTACT US: 949-553-2911 or sosmith@ocregsiter.com
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