Super Zebra doesn’t fly through the air or leap tall buildings in a single bound. Instead, Rio Rancho resident Bill White directs balloons through the air and makes sure they launch safely.

White, who goes by the moniker of Super Zebra during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, has been a launch director for 19 years. A launch director coordinates the launch of balloons and makes sure they go up in a safe manner, White explained.

“We start at 5 a.m. with a community get-together and breakfast,” White said. “At 5:30 a.m. we have a launch director briefing to let us know the weather conditions, the sequence of launch, what they’d (pilots) like us to do and any other notes we need to know about.”

(Use arrows above to view more photos)

White says he constantly monitors the weather and emphasizes safety.

“Our mantra is to provide a safe, coordinated launch,” he said. “We repeat it at every briefing.”

Friday was a special day at the Balloon Fiesta as the special shape balloons took part in the mass ascension.

White directed the flights of Darth Vader, Wells Fargo Stagecoach, Stinky the Skunk, a ladybug and a scarecrow balloon.

White, who has been involved with hot-air balloons since 1986, enjoys this time of year.

“I go out because it’s fun,” he said. “I like the people that I crew with and I like the pilots. I love the sight of a balloon in the sky. Even after all these years, when I look in the sky at the Balloon Fiesta I’m sure my jaw has dropped looking at all the spectacles, colors and different shapes. It never becomes old hat to me.”

The Balloon Fiesta isn’t the only time White enjoys the hobby. He’s the crew chief on the Intel Balloon for the rest of the year. He said he crews a balloon two weekends a month.

It’s not only the balloons that White directs but also his outfit that draws the spotlight and flashes from patrons’ cameras.

White sports a NASA hat that says “Let’s do Launch,” a cape and a pair of pants with some unique phrases.

On the seat of his pants, he has the words “bye bye.” The phrase “Get it hot/Get it up/Get it out of here” is emblazoned on the front left thigh of his pants.