Mike Shrum

P.O. Box 1568

Socorro, New Mexico

87801

575-835-2103

575-838-0988 fax

Contact Mike

For the 2010 Ballooning Season Mike Shrum will be the Pilot of the Space Shuttle Balloon 'Patriot'

Patriot will be available for Western events. Please feel free to inquire.

Go to the "Gallery" page to see photos of Patriot in Lorraine, France!

Patriot Photos by: Eric Lucero

La Ristra Hot Air Balloon is FOR SALE!

Please contact Mike Shrum for details.

A little background on the balloon;

La Ristra was built in 1997 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at Aerostar International. It is made up of 4300 yards of Aeromax diamond weave rip stop fabric. It took 13 miles of thread to sew it together in a time span of six months. With 56 chiles, La Ristra stands  128 feet tall and 70 feet wide when inflated. The envelope weighs in at 800 lbs. La Ristra’s  maiden flight was at the 1997 Albuquerque International balloon Fiesta and as of 2009 it has 140 total flight hours.

The Balloon represents “chile” as it is correctly spelled, which is a pepper grown in the Rio Grande river valley in New Mexico. In September 80% of the crop is harvested, leaving the rest to turn red on the plant. It then is harvested and the red Chile is hung on a string to dry, thus you have a “ristra” or string of red peppers. Used for decoration around the holidays, or it is crushed to make red pepper seasoning. Chopped and processed, 'La Ristra' would make 17 million, 4 ounce jars of salsa.