Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — Rainbow Ryders chose UNM Children’s Hospital as the inspiration for the newest addition to their fleet ahead of the 2026 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Lindsay Mayer, the director of operations for Rainbow Ryders said the balloon, called “Hope Rising” is a Cameron A300 registered as “N505CH,” and can carry 12 to 14 people per flight. The interim chief medical officer for the University of New Mexico Hospital says hot air balloons; have a way of bringing people together, they remind us to pause, look up, and appreciate something bigger than ourselves. The new balloon is expected to be flying every morning, weather permitting of course, during the Fiesta in October.
