Dog is her co-pilot: This year's new special shapes include a tribute to a furry flier

Balloon pilot Heather Watkins will debut her new special shape “Churro” in the form of her co-pilot at this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

“Churro is actually our real live dog,” Watkins said in a telephone interview from St. George, Utah. “She is an Aussie mini labradoodle.”

Dog is her co-pilot: This year's new special shapes include a tribute to a furry flier

“Churro” is one of 16 new special shapes to float into this year’s event, with entrants from as far away as North Macedonia. Celebrants can expect a total of 106 special shapes. The newbies include a Zozobra, a gnome and the sea goddess Mazu from Taiwan.

Watkins can’t wait to soar into Albuquerque’s skies with her canine shape and the real Churro by her side.

The 3-year-old dog has been flying since she was 8 weeks old, Watkins said.

“She was in her little backpack with us,” Watkins continued. “She’ll go round the tarp. She doesn’t step on the balloon; she starts jumping to get in.”

Watkins has been flying for more than five years. Her daughter Lilly received a balloon instead of a car when she graduated from high school.

Watkins named her first balloon Pebbles because of her fondness for the cereal Fruity Pebbles.

She moved from a stay-at-home mom to pilot after learning from two commercial pilots. Today she gives commercial rides and attends various ballooning events. She is the owner of five balloons.

“I’m a little crazy,” she said. “I get so excited. Today I’m actually flying Churro and it’s like Christmas.”

Dallas resident Michael Fielding will be debuting “Ziggy” in Albuquerque.

“She’s a little girl raccoon,” he said, “with a purple bow and blue eyes and pink ears.”

Ziggy was inspired by a friend of Fielding’s who flew a boy raccoon named Zorro.

“She developed breast cancer,” he said. “She wanted to do a girl raccoon, then she sold them.”

Fielding flew Zorro several times.

“I started exploring small, lightweight shapes,” he explained. “I wanted to keep Ziggy alive. She is a big hit with the crowds.”

Fielding has been a pilot for five years.

“I started out as a crew member and moved up to crew chief and learned with a friend. He took me up in the air and that was my first lesson.”

He loves the sense of quiet in a balloon.

“The crowds always love the balloons and it’s so fun to interact with people,” he said. “There’s nothing like a sunrise in the morning in a balloon.”

So far, Ziggy has flown in Shawnee, Oklahoma; Bentonville, Arkansas and Corinth, Texas.

Fielding works in building automation control and commercial flying.

He has been coming to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta for three years as a pilot; “six or seven” as a crew member. He travels the country to attend ballooning events, expecting to land on 13 before the end of the year.