1981 - Battle Creek, Michigan, hosted the 5th World Hot-Air Balloon Championship. Pilots from 23 different countries were represented, and the event drew nearly one million spectators to marvel over the beautiful array of 195 hot-air balloons.""Because of the overwhelming success of the 1981 World's Championship, Battle Creek decided to again submit a bid to host the 7th World Hot-Air Balloon Championship which took place in June of 1985. Only one other city in the United States has been chosen to host the World's Championship more than once.
1983 - Again, as a result of being the host city for the 1981 World's Championship, the decision was made to host the North American Challenge Cup in July of 1983. This championship was a competition between Canada and the United States. Unlike the World's, which is a week-long event, this event was for one weekend. The enthusiasm from the pilots, officials, spectators, volunteers, and the people of Battle Creek grew! This event was a success not only from the participants' viewpoint but also from the organizers' as it helped them prepare for the World's.
1985 - The 7th World Hot-Air Balloon Championship. Pilots from 21 countries were represented, and over one million spectators joined in the festivities. The World Hot-Air Balloon Championship is the most prestigious event in hot-air ballooning, and those pilots who make up the roster of competitors are considered the "best" from their respective countries.
After another successful World Championship, the Board of Directors of Battle Creek Hot-Air Balloon Championships, Inc., decided that ballooning should become an annual event in Battle Creek.
Therefore, in 1985 they submitted a bid to obtain the U.S. National Balloon Championship. This championship is held strictly for United States pilots, and pilots must have the proper credentials in order to participate. Plus, pilots must compete in the Nationals in order to receive an invitation to participate in the World's.
The Nationals had been held in Indianola, Iowa, for years; and our interest in being the new "host" city was sparked when we learned that their contract with the BFA (Balloon Federation of America) was up. Battle Creek Hot-Air Balloon Championships Inc. sent five delegates to Des Moines, Iowa, where they met with the BFA Events Committee and thoroughly explained the contents of our bid and intentions to host this event yearly.
After their return from the bid proposal meeting in Des Moines, Battle Creek received word that it would be the new host city for the U.S. Nationals. However, a few days after that, they learned that because of internal discrepancies among the BFA Board of Directors and the BFA Events Committee, a vote by the entire BFA membership would have to take place to determine the site of the U.S. Nationals. The Board of Directors of Battle Creek Hot-Air Balloon Championships, Inc., decided to withdraw the bid to obtain the U.S. Nationals because it appeared a decision from the BFA would not be made in time to adequately organize an event of this magnitude.
1987-1994 - As a result, the decision to create a standalone event was made, which would offer the best in competition; prize money; free housing accommodations for pilots and observers; and be an event that would attract hundreds of thousands of spectators to the City of Battle Creek for days of family fun and excitement. Thus, the Battle Creek International Balloon Championship and Air Show began in July of 1987.
1992 - Battle Creek submitted a bid to host the 1995 World Hot-Air Balloon Championships and successfully achieved the support from the Competition Division of the BFA (Balloon Federation of America). Battle Creek, Michigan would now become the only city to ever host the world event three (3) times. (The last World Championship held in the United States was in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1985.). Air Show wise, 1992 saw the Italian Jet team, the Freece Tri Colore, perform in Battle Creek as part of their 1992 North American Tour.
1995 - Thirty two (32) countries were represented at the 12th World Hot-Air Balloon Championship. The World Championship is the most prestigious hot-air balloon event in the "world." Competitors vied for the title of 'World Champion' and the fiesta pilots competed for $10,000.00 in prize money. This eight (8) day event "(July 1-8, 1995) drew over 900,000 spectators.
1996 - Hundreds of balloon pilots and a million plus spectators made the Battle Creek Hot-Air Balloon Championship and Air Show an 'annual' stop. The World Balloon Invitational of Battle Creek was held June 29 - July 6, 1996.
1999, 2000, 2002, 2005 & 2006-Battle Creek was one of the only air shows in the nation to host both the United States Air Force Thunderbirds & Canadian Forces Snowbirds on the same day during so many events. The Snowbirds were also supposed to perform at the event in 2001, but due to an accident a week prior to the airshow, they had to cancel.
2003-After years of being known as the "Team U.S. Nationals & Air Show", the event became known as the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival. This name change came about due to the fact that the event incorporates a lot more than just air shows and hot-air balloons.
2006-Battle Creek becomes a part of air show history as the T-6A Texan II East Coast Demonstration Team performs their FINAL airshow performance & Texan Flight on July 4th, 2006.
2007-The United States Navy Blue Angels make their Battle Creek demonstration debuts. They performed a flyover during the event in 1998.
2010- The US Air Force's NEWEST Fighter, the F-22 Raptor, makes it's Michigan Airshow debut. The event draws in over 179,000 people during 4 days.
