Stellarhotairballooning.com
Stellar Hot Air Ballooning allows you to experience the world from an entirely new perspective.
Enjoy the freedom of soaring weightlessly in a beautiful hot air balloon as the sun rises or sets over rural New Jersey.
It is not uncommon to have a birds eye view of the Philadelphia skyline, or under the right conditions, catch a glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic City nearly 50 miles away.
The story of
Stellar Hot Air Ballooning
It all began when I was a young man. In the 1970’s, I attended a small hot air balloon festival which celebrated the first ever balloon flight in the United States. That flight, which took place in January, 1793 was witnessed by President George Washington. Among some of the other onlookers, were the four Founding Fathers who would succeed him: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe. The balloon was launched from the Walnut Street Prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It drifted south across the Delaware River at approximately 5,000 feet and landed forty-six minutes later, in Deptford, New Jersey near Big Timber Creek and the massive Clement Oak Tree. (Now Deptford Wal-Mart)
The festival I attended, (almost 200 years later) was not nearly as historically important. However, it was still monumental to me. Several balloons launched from the Deptford Mall parking area and I chased and helped recover a balloon that landed at a residence in Winslow, New Jersey. That unofficial chase began my desire to watch and chase balloons. Later, it became a 15 year journey leading to my becoming a pilot. I spent 5 of those years as a student pilot, learning all I could from books, balloonists and practical experience. I have chased, been a crew member, a crew chief and flown as a passenger in several states. I have even been invited to crew and fly in Canada. To me it has always been magical to watch these giants inflate and gracefully float away. Over the years, I went from being a spectator, to being a pilot. And from recreational flying to commercial flying.
The thought of someday being able to fly in a balloon, is no longer just a wish. It is a dream come true. A passion that provides me with such great joy, that I can’t wait to share it with others.
Whatever your reason for flying, may it be a bithday, proposal, anniversary, bucket list item, or just for fun, I’d love to help you create some fantastic memories. Then, the way you tell your story, will be up to you.
Choosing the perfect name
Equipment
Choosing a balloon is a challenging task because purchasing a balloon is a big investment. The balloon manufacturer should have an excellent reputation for providing a quality product. The equipment must be safe, manageable and easy to assemble. Your balloon must be something you love to look at, but more importantly, one that performs well for the type of flying you intend to do.
It is customary for hot air balloons to be named by their owners. I now have a fleet of two balloons.
My first balloon is called Nebula 1523. By definition a nebula is a mass of ionized gases visible in the sky as a bright patch. This is how I see my balloon, a mass of hot gases enclosed in brightly colored fabric floating visibly across the sky.
My second balloon is a larger balloon which is capable of carrying as many as 5 passengers at a time. I’ve chosen to name this balloon Spectra. Spectra is the plural of the word spectrum. It is used to describe the rainbows of colors seen after passing light through a prism. This balloon has several bands of color running vertically all the way around it.
The specifications for my balloons are as follows:
Nebula 1523
Galaxy 7, Multi colored 16 gore polyester balloon with a Cameron Sport gondola, Mark 4 burner and Cameron fuel system. Rated to carry a pilot and up to three passengers.
Volume 77,000 cubic ft.
Height 62 ft.
Diameter 57 ft.
Envelope weight 184 lbs.
Gross lift 1680 lbs.
Spectra
Cameron AX-8, Multi colored 12 gore O-Type nylon balloon. Featuring a Cameron Aristocrat gondola and a set of Mark 4 super double burners and Cameron fuel system. Rated to carry a pilot and up to five passengers.
Volume 105,000 cubic ft.
Height 64 ft.
Diameter 61 ft.
Envelope weight 257 lbs.
Gross lift 2100 lbs.
Location
South Jersey
Burlington County: (Lumberton Area)
Launch sites and landing locations will vary based on wind direction and wind speed.
Map
Hours
Most flights will take place during the hour immediately following sunrise or during the hour before sunset. The typical flying experience requires approximately three hours from arrival at launch site until the return to your vehicle.
Please call 856-745-5282 to schedule your flight.