There is nothing like firing up the burners and climbing into the bright blue sky above.
Sometimes in life, you know you’ve just experienced something truly unforgettable. When making a flight in a hot air balloon, it happens every time you fly.
Why is flying in a hot air ballon so memorable?
It all begins with an idea. One that we were exposed to starting with children’s books. The possibility of floating gently across the sky like a cloud or soaring like an eagle, while peering down on the world below. Maybe it’s been a dream of yours since you were a child, or it could be that you are just trying to fufill a bucket list item. Whatever it is, once you’ve flown in a hot air balloon, the memories you make will change you forever.
Blue Sky’s and Green Earth
It is so peaceful to fly along without a care in the world. You feel alone but not lonely. There are no red lights, no traffic jams, just you and a gentle breeze. You forget about life on the ground for a bit. Here I am floating over a few farmers hard at work.
It is not uncommon for hot air ballons to fly together. But, every once in a while you are lucky enough to fly alongside a small plane, or even a hang glider. Sharing the skies with other aeronauts is always spectacular.
You never know who or what you will see when you assemble the balloon for launch. But there are those times when you are lucky enough to see others enjoying the skies in a different manner. During those flights I enjoy watching them, realizing we’ve both just made each other’s adventure that much better.
This is the pilot’s view into the balloon envelope. All of the necessary equipment is easily viewable and within arms reach.
It is interesting to look up and see the inner workings of a balloon. There are only a few ropes and pulleys in the envelope. As a matter of fact it is somewhat mechanically austere. There may not appear to be a lot of equipment, but there is a lot of safety built into everything you see. The FAA requires the entire balloon system must be inspected annually or after every 100 hours in service. Shown here is a set of double burners; for safety, each burner has a seperate fuel supply and a pilot flame providing redundancy.
A photo taken by a crewmember while flying at sunset with two other balloons.
Temperature changes can have a dramatic effect on the winds. The most predictable winds happen during the first hour after sunrise and the final hour before sunset. This tends to make ballooning a very picturesque activity. It often provides stunning photo opportunities and the ability to experience unparalleled views like this one.
No matter how many times you fly, it is rare to get a perfectly centered photo from below. The balloon is in motion as soon as it lifts off and therefore drifting away from all those on the ground with cameras.
As a pilot you only get to see the interior of the balloon while you are flying. Your other views are limited to a multi colored flat ribbon of fabric laying on the ground or a puffy mass billowing during the inflation or deflation processes. The only way to veiw the entire balloon is in photos. You imagine what your balloon might look like from below, but it is never exactly what you expected. I was thrilled when I got to admire my balloon from this fabulous vantage point directly below.
Once you’ve found the perfect place to land, you take a moment to reflect on how amazing it is to fly in a balloon.
When it is possible, a pilot will take advantage of the opportunity to land on a nice, wide, freshly cut field. While every flight doesn’t provide this, multiple landing sites are often anticipated in the pre flight planning. This is one of the reasons balloon launches have to be made from various locations.
Hot Air Balloon Field Launch
This short video clip demonstrates how quickly and smoothly a hot air balloon ascends once heat is added. This field launch took place mid flight after a short landing and a decision to fly on to an alternate landing site.
Skimming the pond.
After a short winter free flight I decided to skim across this partially frozen pond. It was fun floating just inches above the surface, never touching as I crossed from one side to the other.
Flight with Friends
This video is of an inflation and a flight I made with another balloonist. It is always enjoyable to fly alongside other ballons, it makes the flight that much more fun and magical.
Balloon Deflation
A demonstration of just how quickly a balloon can be deflated once it has landed.