A cow-head balloon carries a pilot's tribute to his late father over Albuquerque

Bill Kinser followed his father into ballooning. Now his son flies with him, and the whole family helped light up Milkyway at Balloon Fiesta.

Verified · Source: KOATOct 9, 2026 · 1 min read

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A cow-head hot air balloon with a daisy in its mouth flying among other balloons in a blue sky — A cow-head balloon identified on Wikimedia Commons as Milkyway, at the 2023 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. G. Edward Johnson / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

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Milkyway, a blue-eyed cow-head balloon from Oklahoma, was one of hundreds of special shapes at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta's Special Shapes Glowdeo on Thursday night, KOAT reported on October 9, 2026. For pilot Bill Kinser, the balloon is a tribute to his father, also a pilot, who died in a car crash when Kinser was 11.

Kinser remembers riding in his dad's balloon as a boy and watching cars shrink to the size of toys below. After college, an uncle gave him a balloon, and he took up his father's sport. His wife designed Milkyway, and this was its fifth Balloon Fiesta. Kinser's son Will now flies too, and in-laws, cousins, and grandkids all helped get the balloon ready for the glow.

"My grandpa, Pat, how I wish he was here, but I know he's looking at us and I hope he's proud," Will said. His own son is two and already loves balloons. KOAT reported that 13 new special shapes debuted this year, bringing the total to 117.