Huntington pilot wins State Fair balloon race

Twenty-six balloons took off this morning for the annual Giant Hot Air Balloon Race at the Indiana State Fair.

The event began at the fairgrounds about 7:10 a.m. A "hare'' balloon led the others to a landing spot at Park Tudor School near 71st Street and College Avenue.

Balloonists then dropped beanbags on a large “X” attempting to be the closest to the target. According to a State Fair news release, "because of the lack of winds, many beanbags landed within inches of each other.''

Chris Smart of Huntington, in an Oliver Winery balloon, won the event, dropping his beanbag 2 feet, 9.5 inches away from the target.

Other top finishers: Travis Vencel, Bloomington, whose beanbag landed 3 feet, 8 inches away; Pat Newell, Noblesville, 4 feet, 5 inches; Alvin Hansen, Winimac, 5 feet, 7 inches.

Source

Rome man, son land safely in hot air balloon incident

KIRKLAND —

A Rome man and his son landed safely on a Kirkland road tonight after their hot air balloon veered off course.

"We were going to put it down on the other side of town, and then the wind kept shifting," Steven Flanders said shortly after landing the balloon on Chapel View Road at about 8:30 p.m. "That's what's exciting about ballooning, you never know."

Flanders said he and his son Adrian took off at about 6:20 p.m. in Vernon along with a second balloon. At one point, his balloon veered off course and he needed a place to land.

Steven Flanders first was going to try and land on the high school baseball field, but ended up heading south of that.

Police units were notified, and traffic was stopped near where the balloon planned to land. The Flanders ended up landing on Chapel View Road, which runs east off of Fountain Street.

The landing came much to the surprise of Nicole Storey, 16, and her mother, who were just leaving their house at the time. The multicolor balloon finally was pulled down to the ground just feet from their vehicle.

"You normally don't see a hot air balloon landing right in your driveway," Storey said.

The Flanders' ground crew, which follows the balloon in a vehicle, met up with them on the road. After the crew folded up the balloon and packed it and the basket into their vehicle, the road was clear to traffic. That was at about 8:45 p.m.

Kirkland police Officer Wayne Smoulcey said the hot air balloon landing was a first for him and other officers who helped tether the balloon.

But it was just another day for Flanders, who balloons two to three times a week as a hobby.

His balloon holds 90,000 cubic feet of air, can carry up to five people, and is capable of reaching heights well above the 3,000 feet he was at Friday, he said.

Source

Skydiving, ballooning and flying in the northeast

Man has daydreamed of flying since he first spied birds in the sky. Short of booking a flight on a commercial airplane, there are few opportunities for regular folks to defy gravity.

But if you know where to look here in the Northeast, there are some opportunities to get a bird's-eye view of the most magical landscapes on the planet.

Sure, you could access Google Earth and get some idea of what you'd see, but there's nothing like the elation of actual elevation.

THINGS TO KNOW

For most of us, flying, floating and gliding are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. For that reason, we've included only places where you can reserve a guided trip with all equipment provided.

Although your actual session may last only a few minutes, expect to attend a pre-flight training and safety session. Liability waivers also are standard practice. Since many flight experiences are dependent on weather and availability, you'll want to discuss cancellation and rescheduling policies with the operators before you commit to a trip.

TAKE A DIVE

Seemingly spinning and falling into oblivion, you feel the wind whipping your cheeks till, whoosh, the parachute opens and you're floating. "It's the only time in my life when I can't answer my cell phone, Facebook, Twitter - no one can contact me when I'm falling at 120 miles per hour," says avid sky diver and founder of Help A Reporter Out, Peter Shankman. "When the chute deploys and things slow down dramatically, the first thing you notice is the quiet. Your senses are heightened. The air smells cleaner."

Sky-dive The Ranch, Gardiner, N.Y., 845-255-4033, skydivetheranch.com; COST $195 for a tandem jump

The ground looks like computer circuitry beneath you as you lunge from the plane. You're in free fall from 13,500 to 6,000 feet. No worries - you've trained on the ground for 40 minutes and are attached to an expert sky diver who will pull the cord at just the right time.

Fun Sky Diving, Danielson, Conn., 860-774-5867, funskydiving.com, COST From $189

Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are now allowed to jump tandem with instructors, making this a perfect family outing for those who have those tough-to-please older teens with thrill-seeking genes.

SkyVenture Indoor Skydiving, Nashua, N.H., 603-897-0002, skyventurenh.com, COST $48 for 2 minutes to $800 for 60 minutes

For those who yearn to experience sky diving but are afraid of heights, technology has caught up with your desires. A state-of-the-art wind tunnel allows you to stay afloat and it replicates the act of free-falling so accurately, sky diving teams practice their synchronized routines here.

I'LL GET YOU, RED BARON

Back in the 1920s, teams of pilots would land near barns on rural farms and request to use fields as runways from which to stage air shows and offer plane rides. Known as barnstormers, these stuntmen would draw townsfolk to their performances, ever-perfecting the spins, dives and barrel rolls that would come to define their particular brand of entertainment. These days, you can still take a spin in a vintage biplane.

Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Rhinebeck, N.Y., 845-752-3200, oldrhinebeck.org, COST $65

The Aerodrome has been pulling not only townsfolk, but a greater number of international travelers to watch vintage biplanes in action. For a reasonable $65, you can fly from the Aerodrome's airstrip to the Hudson River and back. But even if you don't want to ascend in an open-cockpit 4-seater 1929 New Standard D-25, the Aerodrome is worth a drive to watch authentic WWI planes and barnstormers perform aerial maneuvers and mock dogfights.

Summit Scenic Flights, Lancaster, N.H., 603-915-3438, summitscenicflights.com, COST $220 for two people, 30 minutes.

Soar above the highest mountain peak in the United States - Mt. Washington - in a reproduced 1934 YMF5 WACO biplane. Wearing leather helmets and goggles fuels the fantasy that you may very well cross paths with a WWII Flying Ace.

Owl's Head Transportation Museum, Owl's Head, Maine, 207-594-4418, ohtm.org, COST $95 in '78 Piper Cub, $200 in '41 Stearman (members only).

Plumes of water smashing against the cliffs of craggy headlands pass beneath you like a moving postcard. This scenic flight is so popular, it is offered as a thank-you for museum volunteers - making it well worth the $40 membership fee to buy a ticket.

WARM AIR RISING

One of the most surprising aspects of flying in a hot-air balloon is how utterly quiet and serene it is. You expect loud rushes of wind, and instead feel a beguiling sense of calm as, unencumbered by earthly physics, you see the most stunning panoramas. Rides generally last about an hour, although inflation, landing and - in most cases - celebratory Champagne can stretch the experience to three hours.

Red Rose Balloons, Canton Center, Conn., 860-693-6903, redroseballoon.com, COST $300 a person

Romantically named after the first guest and often called upon for "proposal flights," Red Rose takes only two at a time, in a flaming red balloon, above the verdant, rolling hills of upstate Connecticut.

A&a Balloon Rides, Salem, N.H., 877-262-8441, balloonridesnh.com, COST $200 a person

Enamored of flying at a young age, but extremely sensitive to motion sickness, Andre Boucher discovered on his inaugural balloon flight 20 years ago that this form of flying did not make him ill. He was hooked enough to make flying hot-air balloons a full-time vocation and now governs the "Bearship" - a teddy-bear-adorned balloon that always elicits pointing and waving from those on terra firma.

Balloons of Vermont, Quechee, Vt., 802-291-4887, balloonsofvermont.com, COST $265 a person

Rising peacefully over Quechee Gorge, you'll thrill to white water - without getting wet - near the workshop of world-renowned glassmaker Simon Pearce.

Above Realty Inc., Jericho, Vt., 877-386-7473, balloonvermont.com, COST $265

Drift over cows grazing in lush pastures and the luminous water of Lake Champlain, nearly brushing mountainside treetops before coming in for a gentle landing.

U.S. Hot Air Balloon, Bird-in-Hand, Pa., 800-763-5987, ushotairballoon.com, COST $174 a person

Quilt-like fields and Amish farmhouses unfold below you as you float on placid breezes. Savor Amish Country from a very different perspective.

GLIDING

Towed up via noisy prop plane and then released, you'll find riding in a glider is a bit like sky diving, though you're snug in the cockpit of a plane, albeit a tiny one without engines. Here are several places to tag along with an experienced glider pilot, who will gauge your stomach for excitement and ride the thermals to your taste.

Stowe Soaring, Morrisville, Vt., 800-898-7845, stowesoaring.com, COST $99 (for a 10-minute taste) to $199 (for a 40-minute thrill)

These rare gliders can accommodate two riders in addition to the pilot. According to owner Don Post, "Besides being able to enjoy the experience with a friend, the views are fantastic - the Green Mountains, Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks, and the White Mountains in New Hampshire. After the tow, gliding is quiet - just the sound of the wind - and is really an amazing experience."

Franconia Soaring, Franconia, N.H., 603-823-5034, franconiasoaring.org, COST $100 for 15 minutes, $150 for 35 minutes

Considered some of the best ridge and thermal soaring in the Northeast, this company will have you fly eye to eye with eagles and hawks as you pass over alluring mountain summits and the Appalachian Trail.

Harris Hill Soaring, Elmira, N.Y., 607-734-0641, harrishillsoaring.org, COST $70-$80

Children and 90-year-olds have chosen to fly from this popular airport that also houses the definitive Museum of Soaring. Skimming over Watkins Glen and Seneca Lake, you'll enjoy this graceful way to absorb the beauty of the Finger Lakes region.

OTHER WAYS TO FLY

Summit Air Sports, Hang Gliding, Bellefonte, Pa., 814-571-1745, summitairsports.net, COST $130 for one tandem flight

Hang gliding seems to have been devised by those who wished to cling to kites when they went aloft. Here, you'll be amply rewarded by expansive views of the Susquehanna River from a hang-gliding hangout at Hyner View State Park.

New York Trapeze School, Manhattan, 212-242-TSNY, newyork.trapezeschool.com, COST $47-$65 per class

It's all about facing fear, harnessing the power of your own body and letting go. Wizards of the swinging bars take you through your first jump - from a 23-foot perch - to the ultimately gratifying experience of release and catch. If you are like many who go just for a taste, you'll end up signing on for subsequent classes right then and there.

Source

Hot Air Balloon Festival Takes Utah's Ogden Valley to New Heights

Eden, UT - The serenity of an August sunrise is suddenly punctuated by the roar from two 12 million BTU propane burners. The wicker basket rises imperceptibly from the ground, and we're gently flying.

Balloon pilot Russ Griffes of American Fork, Utah, skillfully guides our craft between about a dozen others, slowly rising above Wolf Creek Utah's verdant Festival Field as the first rays of morning sun beam from behind the mountain ridges to our east. Except for an occasional burst of heat from the burners, the smooth tranquility is unmatched on a summer morning. Griffes instinctively seeks out different air currents at various altitudes to gently circle the Festival Field not once, but twice, as other vessels take to the skies before we slowly drift off to the north.

There are many ways to enjoy the off-season in ski country, but none more unique than the 15th Annual Ogden Valley Balloon and Artist Festival, taking place throughout this weekend at Wolf Creek Utah and their adjacent ski resort located in the tiny hamlet of Eden, northeast of Ogden and at the base of the steep road leading to Powder Mountain ski area. The full event calendar includes not only hot air balloons but also arts and crafts, international foods, musical entertainment, kids' games, a Mountain Man Rendezvous, climbing wall and Plein Air art competition.

The Entertainment Valley and Entertainment Mountain stages at Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort feature a full lineup from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a steady stream of diverse musical acts on each platform including Amir Jackson, McCall Erickson, High Water, the Ogden Valley Chamber Orchestra, the Sage Junction Band, the Ghetto Blasters Band and Danielle Vaughn. Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort is also the venue for the arts and crafts exhibits, international food booths, Saturday's Plein Air art competition and more. Scenic chairlift rides are offered for a nominal fee.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. the activity shifts to Festival Field, one mile north of the four-way stop in Eden for Saturday night's all-you-can-eat dinner and more music from Che'Zuro, Pladdohg and Shades of Grey. Saturday night's Balloon Glow, when the crafts' propane burners illuminate their canopies brightly against the night sky, shouldn't be missed.

The highlights of the Festival, however, are the launches of the event's namesake hot air balloons. A balloon launch takes place, weather permitting, at 7 a.m. each morning while an all-you-can-eat breakfast is served at Festival Field for $8.00. For those with the urge to take flight, pilots will bring you along for $175 per person.

For those who equate flying with turbulence, gliding through the morning stillness in a hot air balloon is a whole new experience. Close your eyes, and you wouldn't even realize that you're in the air. But it's impossible to shut out the stunning views of the Utah landscape stretching in every direction, from the low foothills at the base of the Powder Mountain access road to the craggy peaks looming above the ski slopes of nearby Snowbasin.

Griffes has only been flying hot air balloons for three years, but has yearned to take flight since his first tethered balloon ride as an infant. After moving to Utah from California and finding out that Utah is, in his words, a "Mecca" for hot air ballooning, Griffes told his wife, "Honey, we've got to have one!

"We have the canyons and the rivers, and the lakes and the streams, the valleys and the hills...and that creates winds at different levels, so there's a lot of flyability here," Griffes explains. "You can go 200 feet each direction and go in a different direction. It's really neat. We have people come from all over the world to fly here. We can do a lot of games and come back to the field, and that just doesn't happen in a lot of other places."

One nearby balloon flies both the U.S. and Canadian flags. Another, the gigantic Energizer Bunny, a.k.a. the "Hot Hare" is based in Missouri. Griffes, however, seems to know most of his fellow pilots and calls out greetings as we pass by one another in the morning stillness. I'm snapping photos like a madman, but there are far more people on the ground taking pictures of us.

Two hours, however, pass like seconds, and before long Griffes is in radio communication with his wife driving their chase vehicle, coordinating a place to land. Griffes spots a vacant field and is ready to put down before we crest a rise and he spots for the first time a barbed wire fence guarding his intended landing zone. We thus put down a bit earlier than planned, his $45,000 aircraft bumping the land with a thud before bouncing once and coming to rest in dry brush next to a new road paved for the next phase of vacation residences.

The Hot Hare is deflating in an adjacent field. "That's what happens when the Bunny's batteries run out," Griffes quips.

I get a taste for just how much work is involved in ballooning as I help Griffes, his family and friends "burp" the balloon and stuff it into what seems like an impossibly small duffel bag. Surprisingly, yet predictably it fits, and I climb into the back of their Suburban for the short ride back to Festival Field.

For those interested in attending this weekend's 15th Annual Ogden Valley Balloon and Artist Festival, visit the Festival's website for more information at www.ogdenvalleyballoonfestival.com. Except for the balloon rides, kids' games and rides, chairlift rides and the climbing wall, all activities and exhibits are free of charge to attend.

Source

Fauquier from 4,000 feet

The fog burned off, the breeze picked up, and a dozen hot-air balloons roared to life yesterday morning at the Flying Circus Airshow in Fauquier County.

They looked glamorous, their flame-belching burners lofting bright ripstop nylon domes against blue sky.

Up-and-down motion is no problem for these modern-day balloons, which can lift a passenger-laden craft hundreds of feet per minute.

But balloons don't steer. Where they go depends on the wind.

So for every breeze-blown basket at the airshow's annual balloon festival, which continues today, someone has to chase along on the ground.

For pilot Ken Krieger and his Gone With the Wind balloon, the designated chasers were son Evan Krieger and friend David Berka.

All three are from upstate New York, utterly unfamiliar with the back roads of Fauquier. That just made it interesting.

"We don't know where we're going, and we don't care," Berka said with bravado as he and Evan Krieger steered a conversion van hauling a trailer onto U.S. 17.

They kept the balloon in sight as they rode, watching it soar to 2,500 feet, then to 4,000--one of the day's highest flights.

It blew west over cattle-dotted fields and silver-green treetops and big round bales of hay.

Below, Krieger turned left off U.S. 17 onto Morgansburg Road. For a second, neither he nor Berka could see their balloon.

Then they caught a flash of color low in the sky.

"That's him, right there!" Krieger said.

"How's that for nailing it?" Berka said. "We're right on him."

To get to the balloon they had to drive onto private property. People are usually tickled to see a balloon land on their property, Berka said, but he always stops to ask before taking the van and trailer too far.

Yesterday, the homeowner cheerfully waved them on to the cow pasture where the balloon awaited. He asked only that they shut the gate behind them.

The Gone With the Wind balloon had floated to a rest near a downed oak tree. Krieger and his passengers--Pete and Doris Minnix of Bedford County and Tim Karney of Gainesville--stood in the basket, the balloon still inflated in case they had to take off again.

Berka assured them they had permission to land.

"There's cow crap everywhere," Evan Krieger commented. "It's all dry," said his dad.

Crew and passengers maneuvered the balloon, called the "envelope," to the ground. They watched out for brambles, which could rip the fabric. Then they squeezed the air out and packed the balloon into the trailer.

Back on land the three passengers still seemed to be floating, grins stretching off their faces.

It wasn't frightening at all, they said.

"You're so busy looking out at how beautiful everything is, you're not thinking that you're suspended 4,000 feet in the air on 2 inches of plywood," Karney said. "You're just enjoying the experience."

Ken Krieger produced a bottle of sparkling wine and a round of plastic cups.

As he filled them for a toast, he explained about the balloonists' prayer, traditionally said at the beginning or end of a flight.

"I don't like to do it before a flight, because it doesn't exactly inspire confidence if your pilot is praying," he said.

Source

Organisers in balloon flight hope

Organisers have promised do "everything they can" to get the balloons in the air during the final day of the Burnley balloon festival.

Hundreds of people attended the event at Townley Park on Saturday, but strong winds meant none of the hot air balloons were able to fly.

Although winds were light on Sunday morning, strong, gusts have been forecast for later in the evening.

Organisers say the showground still has lots of other entertainment.

Despite the setback on Saturday, crowds were still entertained by other events, such as motorcycle stunt riders.

"We don't need much wind to cause us a problem - anything above eight knots and these things start thrashing about all over the place," said spokesman Barry Clayson.

"There's loads to do on the showground as well, there's plenty of other things to see - we've got motorcycles that can come out in the rain, stunt drivers and things

"But really people want to see the balloons so we do everything we possibly can to get these balloons in the air."

Speaking on Sunday morning, Mr Clayson said the weather looked "a bit miserable" but no too windy.

The event takes place at the town's park from 1000 BST.

Source

First crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon accomplished in 1978

August 17, 1978: Double Eagle II sets down in a barley field. The feat was the first successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon. Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman left Presque Isle, Maine and 137 hours and 6 minutes later they landed in Miserey, France. This was the fourteenth attempt to cross the Atlantic using a balloon. The first try came in 1873 with the trip ending after 45 miles. By try #13, the two pilots were only 110 miles short of their goal when the gas bag ripped. Two flights vanished over the ocean (#4 in 1970 and #6 in 1974) killing the four balloonists. In 1974 with attempt #7, the balloon burst, killing the lone occupant.

Double Eagle II was built and designed by Ed Yost. The balloon held 160,000 cubic feet of helium. The attached gondola was named "The Spirit of Albuquerque" and measured 15 x 7 x 4.5 feet. The three men flew 3,107.6 miles in 5 days, 17 hours, and 6 minutes. The gondola was equipped with a twin hulled catamaran and would float should they need to make an emergency water landing. Newman also brought a hang glider intending to glide to a landing. However, it was jettisoned as ballast the day before.

Anderson and Abruzzo, both businessmen in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had tried to cross the ocean in Double Eagle I in 1977 – try #11 – but they were forced to ditch west of Iceland after looping east of Greenland. The smaller balloon was battered by storms after a delayed lift off and the ride ended after 65.5 hours. By 1978, the businessmen were both in their early forties while Newman, a hang glider manufacturer, was in his twenties. All three were experienced aviators in hot air balloons, hang gliders, and airplanes.

They had learned form earlier mistakes and managed to sail in over France. They looked for a promising spot to land. They were told the Le Bourget Airport had been closed for them. It was the airport used by Charles Lindbergh after his successful transatlantic flight. The crew was afraid of harming the people who had gathered to watch the landing of the Double Eagle II. They sailed on to safely land in the barley field, the first transcontinental balloon to alight on dry land.

"Another term for balloon is bad breath holder." - Demetri Martin

"My dream date is a tall, dark, handsome, blue eyed man with a bubble butt who will whisk me away to Paris in a hot air balloon to wine me, dine me ..." - Karen McDougal

"The jet stream is a very strong force and pushing a balloon into it is like pushing up against a brick wall, but once we got into it, we found that, remarkably, the balloon went whatever speed the wind went." - Richard Branson

"Well, the odds must be against anybody being able to fly around the world in a balloon on the first attempt. All of us who are attempting to go around the world in balloons are effectively flying in experimental craft because these craft cannot be tested." - Richard Branson

Source

Hot-air balloon collides with power line

HUNDREDS of homes were left without power yesterday evening (Sunday, August 16) after a hot-air balloon crashed into a power line near Harborough.
The incident happened at about 7.45pm in East Langton and knocked-out electricity for 30 minutes.

A spokesman for Central Networks confirmed this morning (Monday, August 17) that the cause was a hot-air balloon colliding with a power line near to the railway bridge and train line on the B6047 close to the McDonald's roundabout on the A6.

It is believed the people in the balloon escaped unharmed.

Central Networks said about 351 properties were without power until 8.05pm.

*Do you know the pilot of the hot-air balloon? Contact the newsdesk on 01858 436008.

Source

Just hot air as wind grounds balloon over Victoria Park

HUNDREDS of people were disappointed that they couldn’t go for a ‘spin’ in a hot air balloon over East London’s Victoria Park at the weekend.

Windy conditions kept the 60ft high balloon firmly tethered to the ground, both Saturday and yesterday.

Operators planning to take the public up 90ft above the park for a bird’s eye view of proposals for the park were afraid the breezy conditions would have swept the balloon up, up and away.

LOTTERY BID

The hot-air balloon was to be the main attraction in a two-day public consultation in Tower Hamlets and Hackney by local authority officials who are bidding for Lottery cash to revamp the park before the 2012 Olympics.

Draft plans for its future went on show in the park. Tower Hamlets has already allocated £5 million towards the restoration and hoped to use the hot-air balloon to win public backing to pass the final stage in getting National Heritage to lob in another £5m ‘match funding’.

Consultations last year have already brought suggestions including an urban beach, better play areas and sports pitches, a skate-park, an additional café and more planting and landscaping.

Proposals for Vicky Park are online here. Final plans will be ready in October before they are submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in December.

Source

Hot-air balloon rides become occasions for celebration

COLUMBIA — Jocelyn Ash was thrilled last week to be soaring through the air in a giant, red gumball machine.

Jocelyn, 6, was taking her first hot-air balloon ride over Columbia.

Her father, Tony, is with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan. He set up the ride for his daughter and his wife, Aubrey, who had wanted to go up in a hot-air balloon her entire life.

“I had told her that Dad set up a really cool surprise, but she had no idea,” Aubrey Ash said about her daughter's experience.

There seems to be a trend toward making celebrations special by signing up for a hot-air balloon ride. Jan and Gary Sines, owners of BalloonStormers, said half their rides are contracted to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, marriage proposal or other occasion. Jan Sines said people have even flown in the middle of winter as a Christmas gift.

“We have had several people say they are crossing it off their ‘bucket list,’” she said.

Thirteen-year-old Koby Gilleland celebrated his birthday July 7 in a balloon.

After spotting them in the air when he was a child, Koby mentioned to his family that it would be fun to ride in one. So his grandmother took a ride with him, his sister Kaydee and a good friend.

Koby said they flew low so he could float down by the trees and pick leaves, then rose high in the air where the houses on the ground looked tiny.

“I just can’t put into words when you get up there how exciting it is,” Koby's grandmother Joan Gleb said.

Gleb bought her grandson a shirt from BalloonStormers to remember the event and customized it by writing: “13. Wild and Adventurous!”

Because people see balloon rides as delivering a special memory, Jan Sines said they encourage riders to photograph the experience. Passengers can also help to inflate the balloon, and every trip ends with a champagne toast.

Mabel Fischer celebrated her 90th birthday last August by seeing the world from a balloon with her sister.

“To me, it’s the most wonderful thing I ever did,” Fischer said.

She said she loved being able to see the town from a bird's perspective and fondly remembers going over a lake.

“We could see our reflections, and I leaned over and wished myself a happy birthday,” she said.

Source

Outside Guide: Air Sports

As Leonardo da Vinci observed, "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."

It should be added that if you've never flown, you will always wonder what you are missing.

Colorado's Front Range offers excellent conditions for a wide variety of air sports, as well as spectacular scenery to view from the air. Here are nine ways to enjoy aviation — some just take you along for the ride while others let you take the controls and become pilot in command.

1. Mile Hi Skydiving Center

For the ultimate thrill seeker, skydiving offers the opportunity to conquer one's fears, feel the rush of incredible speed, view spectacular scenery and walk away with well-earned bragging rights. A quick flight up to 17,500 feet and it's time to jump. After a breathtaking 130-mph, one-minute freefall, your instructor will open your parachute. Then it's an easy five-minute glide down to landing, while you enjoy a stunning view of the mountains and nearby Longs Peak.

Mile Hi Skydiving Center serves everyone from beginners to world-class competitors. For first-timers, a tandem skydive with a licensed instructor is $209, including preflight training, all the necessary equipment and the one-way plane ride. Watch that first step, it's a doozy! 229 Airport Road, Hangar 34G, Longmont; 303-702-9911, mile-hi-skydiving.com

2. Powered paragliders (PPGs)

The powered paraglider is probably one of the newest forms of recreational aviation. The PPG consists of a motor with a propeller worn on the pilot's back and a paragliding wing. The pilot launches by running and pulling the wing to inflate it, somewhat like launching a kite. The motor allows the pilot to climb.

There is no license required to fly a PPG, however thorough training by a qualified instructor is important for safety. Starting at around

$6,500 for a kit, the PPG is also one of the least-expensive powered aircraft available. To fly like a bird, swooping over trees and dragging your feet in ponds, the PPG is the perfect aircraft.

To learn more about flying PPGs across the Front Range, join the flock's yahoo group for information on training and upcoming flying events. Vance Brand Airport, Longmont; 303-437-7844, groups.yahoo.com/group/ppgflock

3. Mile High Skyride

Aviation enthusiasts eager for a bit of nostalgia will find a ride in a World War II warbird offers the experience of a lifetime. One might be surprised at the variety of aircraft locally owned and available for rides.

Mile High Skyride can put you in the cockpit behind the roaring engine of an AT-6 Texan trainer or a rare two-seat British Spitfire. Both aircraft feature dual controls so, under the pilot's close supervision, you can even get a little stick time. To really get a feel for what the aircraft were designed for and are capable of, ask the pilot to demonstrate some combat maneuvers! A 40-minute ride in the AT-6 runs $400 and will cost in the range of $2,000 in the Spitfire. 5534 Independence Road, Boulder; 303-527-1122, milehighskyride.com

4. Mile High Gliding

Soaring in a sailplane may just be the ultimate way to take advantage of the local terrain and resulting flying conditions. Nestled near the Boulder Flatirons, Mile High Gliding provides an excellent location to ride rising thermals in the summer and mountain waves in the winter. When the tow plane releases you high above Boulder, enjoy views of downtown and the University of Colorado, with the Rocky Mountains in the background as you quietly spiral back down to earth. Or, take a longer flight and experience smooth aerobatic maneuvers. A 15-minute City Flight starts at $79 for one passenger and $99 for two, with longer flights available. Flight training typically costs about $70 per lesson. 5534 Independence Road, Boulder; 303-527-1122, milehighgliding.com

5. Skyraider Aviation

If you've dreamed of becoming a pilot, new sport pilot and light sport aircraft categories established by the FAA in 2004 have made recreational aviation less complicated and more affordable than ever. Under the new rules, a person can become a certificated pilot in half the training time previously required. Accordingly, the sport pilot certificate has fewer flight privileges, however many people are finding that the light sport restrictions don't limit the fun.

Skyraider Aviation was the first local flight school to offer training in light sport aircraft and remains a top choice for sport pilots. The school has three different light sport aircraft in its fleet. Many pilots find the light sport aircraft to be sporty and responsive in comparison to other training aircraft. A 45-minute introductory flight lesson is $99. Flight training starts at $150 per hour, including the aircraft rental and flight instructor. 395 Airport Drive, Erie; 303-926-0114, skyraideraviation.com

6. Rotors of the Rockies Inc.

The helicopter brings a whole new dimension to flying. The ability to take off and land vertically, hover and fly low to the ground is not only cool, but also makes helicopters fun and engaging to fly. These flight characteristics as well as the great visibility make for excellent sightseeing. During summertime you can remove the doors and feel the wind rush by as you glide through the air.

Rotors of the Rockies offers flight training, charter service and sightseeing tours from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. Enjoy a half-hour flight over Denver landmarks or the foothills with a view of the sunset like no other for $150. To pursue a pilot certificate, training starts at $380 per hour, including the helicopter rental and flight instructor. 11915 Airport Way, Broomfield; 303-635-0496, rotorsoftherockies.com

7. SkyVenture Colorado

To experience the thrill of free falling without the necessity of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, SkyVenture Colorado offers indoor skydiving in a vertical wind tunnel. No experience is necessary — just step out into the flight chamber and feel the rush of 120-mph winds.

During an introductory flight, beginners learn the basic freefall position under the close guidance of an instructor. Additional skills may be learned during subsequent flights and experienced skydivers may use the wind tunnel to finely hone their technique.

An introductory experience, two one-minute flights, starts at $43 for kids under 12 and $48 for those 13 and older, including all the necessary apparel and instructor supervision. Reservations are recommended. 9230 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree; 303-768-9000, skyventurecolorado.com

8. Colorado Balloon Club

If a smooth, peaceful ride on the wind in the cool of the early morning sounds good, hot air ballooning is the way to go. A balloon ride offers the chance to drift along with the wind, barely feeling movement, and enjoy the Colorado scenery with friends. The balloon pilot controls ascent and descent and the day's winds decide where the ride will take you.

The Colorado Balloon Club holds monthly events for members and those who would like to learn about ballooning at locations all along the Front Range. A favorite spot is Chatfield State Park, which features beautiful views, typically favorable flying conditions, and the opportunity to splash and dash in Chatfield Reservoir. A typical balloon ride lasts about an hour and starts at $175 per person. Chatfield State Park — Balloon Port, 11500 N. Roxborough Park Road, Littleton; 303-699-6302, coloradoballoonclub.net

9. Young Eagles Program

Young people ages 8 to 17 can experience the thrill of an airplane ride free of charge, courtesy of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles Program. Designed to spur kids' interest in aviation by providing a meaningful flight experience, the program offers rides to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to fly.

EAA member pilots worldwide donate their time, piloting skills and the use of their aircraft to treat the kids to free rides — gladly accepting the kids' excitement and smiles upon return as payment. Launched with the support of legendary Gen. Chuck Yeager and now endorsed by actor and pilot Harrison Ford, the Young Eagles Program has flown over 1.4 million kids since it began in 1992. A Young Eagles Coordinator in your area can schedule a Young Eagles flight for your child. 877-806-8902, youngeagles.org

Source

Balloons soar over MetroWest for a good cause

HUDSON —

Tranquility is what brings a balloonist to take to the sky in nothing but a basket, balloon and the power of hot air.

``It's a great escape when you're up there,'' said Bob Martel, a balloonist who helped coordinate the Hudson Elks' fifth annual Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Also, there's the look on kids' faces - and adults, for that matter.

``It's awe-inspiring to lots of people,'' said Martel.

This year's festival launched 14 over Hudson and other parts of MetroWest at dawn and again at dusk. They soared high enough over the trees to see the skyline of Boston about 30 miles away.

Money raised from admission goes to support the town's public library, as well as the Elks' own scholarships and charitable programs. Each year, it raises as much as $10,000, Martel said. Also, it's a way of introducing to the uninitiated a unique way to take to the skies.
``It's a great way for the pilots to show the magic of ballooning,'' said Martel.

In the afternoon, hundreds of people walked among dozens of sponsors' booths, where classic summertime fare like ice cream was sold alongside toys, apparel, handbags, books and other merchandise. Under a large pavilion, a band called The McMurphys played live music for the crowd.

Hudson native Lydia Caserta sat at a table under the pavilion with Tom Fitzgerald of Clinton - both signed up to be bone marrow donors at the festival. Caserta said she's attended the event before, and encouraged Fitzgerald to come for the first time yesterday.

``We'll check out the balloons,'' she said.

Marlborough residents Lorraine and Joseph Nadeau have been going to the festival for three years, and always look forward to it, they said. Lorraine Nadeau said she liked walking among all the different exhibits from sponsors, while her husband said yesterday had good weather for the festival.

``The atmosphere is great,'' he said.

Kim Caron traveled with her husband and children from New Hampshire to attend the Elk's festival.

``We're looking forward to the balloons,'' said Caron. ``We've never done anything like this before.''

Another balloonist, Rudi Sachenbacher, has participated in every year of the festival, and said piloting a balloon - and not knowing how long he'll be aloft and where he'll land - is part of ballooning's appeal.

``It's always a great way to raise funds - aside from the fact I love flying,'' said Sachenbacher. ``I happen to like that feeling: I like the feeling of not knowing what's in store.''

Today, a continental breakfast will be held at the Elks Lodge where participants can meet the pilots, and is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Source

Balloons and Tunes Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival

Balloons and Tunes Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival runs Friday, Aug. 21 to Sunday, Aug. 23 at Beulah Park, 3811 Southwest Blvd, Grove City, Ohio 43123.


The Central Ohio Balloon Club will fill the air -- and offer tethered balloon rides -- with more than 30 hot air balloons. There will also be children's activities, artisans, music, a skateboarding demonstration, dancers, a magician and discussions of the science and history of ballooning.


Aug. 21: 3-10 p.m. Music includes “Rock the City” (Kiss tribute band) and “Dirty Deeds” (an AC/DC tribute band).

Aug. 22: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Music includes Parrot Head party by the “Landsharks” (a Jimmy Buffett tribute band) and an evening performance by the “Blues Brothers” (a Blues Brothers tribute band).

Aug. 23: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Local bands and entertainers.

Cost: $5 per person; kids under 5 are free; parking: $5

No tailgating, coolers or smoking.

Source

All aboard for a hot-air balloon ride

If we're talking ourselves into a recovery, then so be it.

PERHAPS it's too soon to say the worst is over for the sharemarket but you'd never forgive me otherwise.

After all, the best part of a bull market is always the first few weeks.

Bull market? Already? Surely not.

But how else do you explain consumers, investors and even central banks becoming suddenly upbeat, egging each other on in a national mood swing apparently even more infectious than swine flu?

I'll have some of what they're having please. What's more, even normally reliable doomsayers have signed on.

The latest, brought to Australia last week by Treasury Asia Asset Management, is the Hong Kong-based uber bear Marc Faber ??? famous for his The Gloom, Boom & Doom Report, which is predominantly gloom with a good, or I should say bad, dash of doom while the boom is reserved for gold prices.

So does doom loom? Of course, or he wouldn't be Marc Faber, but it's in a form that you could come to like. He sees share prices rising an average 7 per cent to 8 per cent a year and by a lot more in emerging markets, even though "I'm ultra bearish about the world", predicting the mother of all crashes coming in the next five years.

Which would seem to put a cap on that 7 per cent to 8 per cent, only he sees future economic growth swinging between sudden surges and then busts thanks to the low interest rates and easy money policies of central banks around the world. But before year zero, share prices ??? or any other investment for that matter except government bonds which have to man the floodgates ??? must rise with all that liquidity being pumped into the global economy.

Rising commodity prices, a stronger dollar, surging share prices ??? you name it and it's part of a giant money bubble. They're all feeding each other so maybe it's more hot air balloon than bubble. Mind you, if we're talking ourselves into a recovery that's fine by me.

But maybe a money bubble isn't the only reason the sharemarket has jumped about 40 per cent since its March low.

It tracks the economy about a year in advance and, in putting the recovery in the early new year, its timing hasn't let it down.

As one engine conks out another fires up the economy. Just as the Government's cash splash is subsiding, its infrastructure spending takes over.

Ultra low interest rates are still doing their thing, especially for property prices, while the stronger dollar is pulling money into the country and keeping the banks profitable.

China is spending big again ??? possibly more in a speculative way rather than an economic frenzy but who's looking a gift dragon in the mouth? And even if that fizzles out, the US is forecast to recover later this year. Sure, the prices of exports have dropped but we're selling more.

As for jobs, on the whole bosses aren't hiring but they aren't firing either. Even the sharemarket is kicking in. Bubble or not, it's another confidence booster to pull the economy up. So you may as well go along for the ride, bumpy as it will be. Besides, a cash management trust earning 2 per cent ??? that 7 per cent a year ago looks positively generous ??? or about 4 per cent in an online account, won't make you rich after tax and inflation.

Source

Hugging the ground: Citrus Classic Balloon Festival

The hot-air balloons didn't get far off the ground Saturday at the Citrus Classic Balloon Festival in Santa Paula, but those in attendance didn't seem to mind much.

Twenty balloons were due to take flight, but fog grounded them. Three miles of visibility is required for hot-air ballooning.

Organizers still lifted 10 of the balloons, and two gave "tethered rides" to participants.

The event drew scores of observers and photographers, who were invited up close to watch as balloonists first blew air into the colorful envelopes with giant fans, then blew flames into them.

Warming air inside gradually lifted the balloons and righted the baskets beneath them.

Some 300-400 people turned out for the festival, which featured activities all day long, including games for children, live music, and a wine and beer garden.

Source

Findlay skies to fill up with hot air balloons

The skies in Findlay will come alive with more than 30 hot air balloons from Aug. 14 through 16 for the city’s 10th annual Flag City Balloon Fest.

The festival involves experienced balloon pilots from all over the country, who will compete against each other in a four- or five-mile radius to drop bean bags from thousands of feet in the air onto a marked spot on the ground.

Guests enter for free and watch the balloon competition in the sky while browsing food and arts vendors, viewing classic and sports car shows, military displays and climbing rock walls. Voices for Children, a legal advocacy group for children’s rights, will also set up inflated obstacle courses, kite flying activities, face painting and pony rides.

“My son is a pilot and I would go to these other events, and in 1999, there was so much hype about 2000 coming that I said we ought to have something like this in Findlay to celebrate the new millennium,” said Dan Clinger, who founded the festival in 2000.

Since then, he has found multiple sponsors, such as First Federal Bank and RCM Architects, to cover a $55,000 annual budget.

Though there is no cost for admission and parking, guests should bring cash for entering raffles, buying food or art and keeping the kids entertained, Clinger said. Most of the children’s activities will cost a small amount, but all the proceeds will benefit Voices for Children. Other raffles will benefit Cancer Patient Services or the United Way of Hancock County, which accumulated around $1,000 last year, he said.

Guests can also pay $20 for a tethered hot air balloon ride or around $40 for helicopter rides, Clinger said.

The festival will begin at 5 p.m. Aug. 14, and the balloons will take off at around 6 p.m. The next day, pilots will start about 7 a.m., and then prepare for another flight about 6 p.m. Aug. 16 will feature a morning flight at the same time.

Each pilot will compete for points that will earn them national credit and raise their rankings so they might be able to participate in the national Balloon Federation of America competitions in Battle Creek, Michigan in late August, Clinger said.

To navigate wind speeds and accurately land their bean bags on the marked spots, pilots have to raise and lower their balloons vertically to comply with the varying wind depending on altitude. Pilots can reach altitudes as high as 12,000 feet without requiring oxygen masks, Clinger said.

Costing as much as $40,000 to get started as a hot air balloon pilot, to purchase the basket and equipment, Clinger said this is an expensive hobby. That does not include the trailer balloon owners need to transport their massive equipment and the fabric for the balloon, which usually wears out after 400 to 500 hours of flying.

The festival will be located at Emory Adams Park, on the corner of 6th and Blanchard streets.

Source

Hot air balloon prop in climate change rally

Americans for Prosperity’s 70-foot-tall hot air balloon will be in Evansville at 9 a.m. Thursday at Kleymeyer Park, 2303 First Avenue, for a discussion on American energy policy.

During the 1-1/2 hour event, organizers will discuss what they feel are the dangers climate change legislation poses to the nation’s economy.

Free tethered hot air balloon rides will be available, weather and wind permitting. Music and light refreshments will be provided.

Source

Ballooners take to the skies in annual hot air balloon flight

Hot air balloons took to the sky Saturday morning for the annual Lake Travis Flight.

Dozens of balloons take part in the Central Texas Ballooning Association's flight every year.

"I've been ballooning since I was 13, and my dad's a pilot, so I've been around it for a long time," balloon pilot Cheri White said. "I love the peacefulness of it, the flying above the landscape. It's a beautiful way to see the earth and see Austin this morning."

That's just half the fun. White said the ballooning group is like one big family.

"Where you land, landowners are always really happy to see you," she said. "It's a good time."

To find out more about the balloons and crews who made the flight Saturday morning, visit Main.org/CTBA. To join, or just learn more, you can meet the group the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Tres Amigos, on Highway 290 at Highway 183.

Source

Hot air balloons to fill the sky in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE — Most people in Louisiana associate propane tanks and burners with crawfish boils, but for the many people headed to the Capitol City, it can mean only one thing — hot air ballooning.

About 40 brightly colored teardrop-shaped aircraft will fill the skies Aug. 7-9 as pilots from Louisiana and 10 other states compete in the Pennington Louisiana State Hot Air Balloon Championship. Balloon pilots fly their 65,000-90,000 cubic foot airships in pursuit of targets posted around the city and toss beanbags to see who was best able to navigate the winds.

Baton Rouge has hosted ballooning events for decades and for a while was the site of the national championship.

Ballooning Foundation Director and pilot George Richard says the race is "the best use of hot air in America," poking fun at the political hot air emitted by the state Legislature and Congress.

Sports Illustrated proclaimed the event one of "America's Top 25 Summer Essentials," he said, and AAA labeled it a "Travel Treasure."

Louisiana pilots include Ryan Richard, of Ruston, son of the event director; Gary Odom, of Ruston; Mark Evans, of Lafayette; Ted Habetz, of New Iberia; Bob Pulaski and David Miller, of Pineville; Leslie Jeansonne, of Prairieville; Karen Kent, of Port Allen; Robert Ambeau, of Gonzales; and Richard, Deanna Albaugh, John Good and Lamar Poole, of Baton Rouge.

About 60,000 spectators attend each year because they have the chance to wander between the massive balloons as they are inflating and watch as they take off from a field at the Pennington Biomedical Research facility along Perkins Road, Richard said.

While the balloons are aloft and between events, bands entertain the crowds. A large children's play area offers numerous amusements.

"The race keeps being well-attended because Louisiana delivers the best local hot air balloon race in the nation," Richard said. "Thirty-eight pilots from 11 states are flying back this year because they have fun, too. And it's an all-family free event that kids of all ages enjoy."

Leo Honeycutt, spokesman for the event, laid out the schedule.

Competition for State Balloon Champion is over a three-morning period, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Pilots meet at sunrise, get coordinates for drop sites and plot their routes as best they can, depending on wind currents.

In the "Pole Grab," pilots triangulate wind currents from a mile away aiming for a 30-foot-tall "Red Stick" on the top of which is a cash prize. They have one shot as they fly by the pole and sometimes pilots have to try to wait their turn to get to the pole — if they can find a dead spot or circular currents.

Musical entertainment starts at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a Children's Village hosted by the Baton Rouge Recreation Department opens at 4 p.m.

Weather permitting, at 6 p.m., the U.S. Army "Black Daggers" skydiving team does stunts as it twirls down from the sky and 20 balloons launch in a mass ascension.

At 8 p.m. each night, balloons come back to Pennington for a nighttime "balloon glow," firing off burners to create seven-story-tall light bulbs. The crowd is encouraged to walk between the balloons or just sit back and "enjoy the glow."

Skydivers jump again wearing rockets for a light show amid the stars. A fireworks show set to music caps off each night.

The event and parking are free with food and drink booths on site.

Honeycutt recommends, "Bring a blanket and camera."

All events are subject to weather conditions.

Source

Stolen hot air balloon is found

A HUGE hot air balloon which was taken from a farm near York has been found.
The Virgin balloon was taken along with a Land Rover and a trailer from the farm south of the city.

Now the balloon has been found just off the A64 in the West Yorkshire area. The car and trailer are still missing.

Virgin Balloon Flights spokesman Alexander Ferguson said: "We are very pleased to have this Virgin balloon and basket back as these are expensive and difficult to replace quickly.

"After rigorous safety checks with certified balloon inspectors, we have found they are completely undamaged."

Source

Hot air balloon almost lands on buses

The hot air balloon landed down in the parking lot of First Student. This is where my bus that I drive would normally had been parked along with a lot more. But the buses were out transporting people to and from the Spiedie fest. The company transports Binghamton school district to school during the school year.
The garage is located on the service road in Hillcrest.

Source

Balloon fest a feast of thrills in Readington

READINGTON — The festival gates had just opened Friday and the nearby fields were filling with carloads of families coming to opening day at the largest summertime hot-air balloon festival in North America.

The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning at Solberg-Hunterdon Airport is up and running, with more than 150,000 people expected for the hot-air balloons, family entertainment, rides, attractions, shopping and festival food.

Throughout the weekend children can check out the amusement rides, Ollie's Adventures and Belmont's Festival of Magic, and children of all ages can watch the Flying Wallendas perform their world-famous trapeze act.

The event's walkway also will be lined with companies such as Lay's Potato Chips, Hershey Chocolate, Cadbury Candies, Swedish Fish, Edy's Ice Cream and more handing out free samples of their goodies.

"We come every year. It's a family tradition," said Pam Kellett of Neptune, who enjoyed a fruit ice pop while walking the grounds with her husband Tim, and children Addie 13, Grace, 11, and Colin, 9.

"We love the fireworks," Colin said. "And we especially like the free junk food!"

Musical performances through the weekend are expected to include original Beach Boy Al Jardine and his Endless Summer Band, who performed Beach Boys favorites Friday night; Kool and the Gang on Saturday; and Grammy-winning vocalist Michael McDonald, who has had solo hits and was a member of the Doobie Brothers.

Source

Hot Air Balloons to Rise Over Michigan's Seven Lakes State Park July 25 & 26

2009-07-24 21:47:02 - The 2009 Seven Lakes State Park Balloon Race will take place July 25 & 26, 2009. Balloon launches will occur both days weather permitting at 7pm in the grass area behind the Main Beach at Big Seven Lake.

Other activities are planned including a "walk in the balloons" after 2pm and tethered balloon rides after 5pm and a balloon glow about 9:30pm... all of course weather permitting. The park is located between Fenton and Holly between US-23 and Interstate 75. Take Grange Hall Road to Fish Lake Road to reach the park entrance. For more details contact the
park at 248-634-7271. The event is sponsored by Balloon Quest.

Ballooning is an incredible experience for both those on the ground and those in the gondola itself. Those who operate hot air balloons in Michigan love to share it with anyone daring enough to take flight. As an avid hot air balloon pilot since 1982 and fan of Michigan’s natural wonders, Scott Lorenz has been fortunate to see the beauty of Michigan from a slightly above the treetops.

“Just about every year we fly directly over a great blue heron rookery located on an island in Kensington Park’s Kent Lake near Milford. It’s pretty incredible to see dozens of these giant birds with their six-foot wing spans hovering around their nests. We’ve peered down directly into their bushel basket sized nests with one or two eggs,” says Lorenz, President of Westwind Balloon Company. www.westwindcos.com/balloon/

“I flew an Ornithologist from the University of Michigan a few years ago and he helped me identify dozens of birds by sight and sound. Now I recognize the sweet call of Sand Hill Cranes half a mile away and tell my passengers to keep an eye out for them. I am fortunate to meet some incredible people in my business and learn something from every flight.” “In fact, I flew the Chief Meteorologist from Ann Arbor’s Weather Underground. Considering hot air ballooning is 100% weather related I thoroughly enjoyed our discussions about the nuances of Michigan weather at sunrise and sunset. Lorenz has flown some notables too including Lila Lazarus from FOX-2 along with a passenger whose last wish was to fly in a balloon, which was all caught on tape by the FOX-2 helicopter in hot pursuit. Legendary Detroit guitarist Josh White even brought his guitar along for a concert in the air. “There’s never a dull moment in this business.”

What’s the best time to go? Hot air balloons fly in Michigan May thru October. Lorenz says “springtime is nice, but summer’s pretty cool too and you can’t beat the fall colors in October!”

Most balloon rides last about one hour and Lorenz flies over the woods and streams of Kensington Park. He and several other pilot friends meet at Park 'n Ride area off Milford Road and I-96 (exit # 155) about 2 1/2 hours before sunset. From there he’ll launch helium balloons, determine the wind direction, then take a short drive to one of nine launch sites in the area that give the best views and best landing sites downwind.

“Sometimes the landing can be like taking an elevator ride and others can be a little more exciting that’s why great care is taken in making the ‘go’ or ‘no-go’ decision on each flight based upon the weather,” says Lorenz.”

What to wear? Lorenz suggests passengers wear tennis shoes and jeans. He says the air temp “upstairs” is within a couple degrees of ground temp so it’s not a factor. Cameras and video cameras are highly recommended to preserve the once in a lifetime moments while flying over the countryside.

Flights cost $695 for a private ride which is two passengers and the pilot. All flights are pre-paid. Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover and PayPal are accepted. Gift certificates are available.
To really appreciate all that Michigan has to offer, call a balloonist and schedule a flight today, because if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you … the view is better from above.

Source

New Jersey’s Hot Air Balloon Festival is here

At Warren County Farmers' Fair July 26-Aug. 1

A two-for-one New Jersey event starts this weekend with the 9th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival and the 72nd Annual Warren County Farmers' Fair kicking off on Sunday in Harmony Township.

Admission to the fair is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 5-12. Children 4 and under are admitted free. Parking is free as well. Monday through Friday admission special allows children 12 years and under in free of charge until 4:00 pm.

Included in the admission price to the Fair is the Hot Air Balloon Festival. This year the 9th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival will feature mass hot air balloon launches every evening at 6:30 pm. The Balloon Festival runs in conjunction with the Fair and admission into the Fair allows spectators to view the balloons up close from the balloon port on Strykers Road.
This year the festival will be featuring a competition — "Megaphone Monday and Tuesday" — that will involve the children. Children will cheer on pilots in a race to inflate their balloon the fastest. The winning team wins prize money donated to the charity of their choice. Wednesday night, July 29, will be the 3rd annual Bicycle Balloon Race, with a rain date of Thursday, July 30. Bikers and Balloonists pair up for an exciting race where the biker rides in the balloon and the bike is strapped onto the basket. Proceeds from the race all go to local charity, the ADM Foundation.

Year after year, the Fair attracts youth of all ages to its 4-H and FFA exhibits and competitions, demolition derbies, craft and handwork displays, mud bogs, animal competitions, live entertainment, horse shows and more. Fair highlights also include tractor displays and pulls, the Kid's Corral, the popular Hot Air Balloon Festival and the Traditional Arts Expo. Opening Day starts with an Open Horse Show, Lawn Mower racing in the main arena that are free of charge to fairgoers, and mass hot air balloon launches each evening.

For families with small children the fair can keep them entertained for hours for free. Drop by the animal barns to see cows, pigs, horses, rabbits and more. Catch a clown show at the Kids' Corral, where everything is free of charge for fairgoers and their children.

While at the Kids' Corral participate in one of the contest from the Stick Pony races for little ones to Fear Factor Veggie Style for the more brave. Or participate in the Pie Eating, Bubble Gum Blowing or Hay Bale Rolling contest. Make some crafts, healthy snacks, make a quilt square for the Big Quilt Picture Project or do some coloring. There are plenty of activities from which to choose.

Ryan Pelton, Elvis Impersonator is back by popular demand. Grandstand seating is available for $10 per person. Pelton is one of the most popular Elvis impersonators performing today.

Some other highlights of the Fair include car shows, horse shows and Traditional Arts Expo. The Warren Hills FFA Alumni Association is again organizing their annual car show with corvettes, street rods, customs, diesels and more on display. Dirt Track Heroes is organized and presented by the Harmony Speedway Historical Society. Those who remember attending dirt track races in Harmony, Flemington and Nazareth, will delight in meeting stock car drivers from the 60's, who will be displaying their rebuilt winning cars, trophies and memorabilia. Current day drivers will be in attendance as well. Equestrian events include the Open Horse Show on opening day, 4-H Horse Drill Team, a Dressage Demonstration and Nine Pines Open Western and English Pleasure Show.

The 10th Annual Traditional Arts Expo invites guests to explore the talents of the area's artisans. The time-honored talents of the Evening Star Quilt Guild, the Hunterdon County Quilt Guild, the Warren County Needle Arts Guild, and the Lost Art Lacers of North Jersey will be showcased during daily exhibits and demonstrations. Be sure to vote for your favorite in the "Viewer's Choice" quilt contest at the Traditional Arts Building.

Source

Hot Air Balloon Nearly Hits Owasso Home

OWASSO, OK -- An Owasso man's home had a close encounter with a hot air balloon.

John Fenrich and his grandson, Alex, were driving home from breakfast Saturday morning when they saw a hot air balloon floating over their neighborhood.

As they got closer to home, Fenrich says it was obvious that the balloon was coming down, over his house.

"The pilot was going hot and heavy with the flames to get it over my house," Fenrich said. "The basket just missed the house."

Pictured to the right, Fenrich sent a photo of the close call.

Source

Callaway Gardens - Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival

A Top Labor Day Weekend Destination - The annual Callaway Gardens Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival, which takes place each year during Labor Day Weekend, features old-fashioned fun and the beauty of the sky filled with colorful hot air balloons. Highlights include balloon rides, family-friendly activities, music, exhibits, demonstrations and more. Friday evening features a gorgeous balloon glow at Robin Lake Beach.

Sky High Hot Air Balloon packages, starting at, $149 include accommodations, tickets for admission to Callaway Gardens and to the Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival, some meals, tickets for selected activities and more. The 2009 Festival takes place September 4 - 6, 2009. Activities, times and locations are subject to change and all hot air balloon activities depend on suitable weather conditions as determined by Callaway Gardens.

Source

Hot Air Ballooning: A Family Affair

Piloting hot air balloons is a family ordeal, according to some balloonists who gathered in Galesburg this weekend for the Great Balloon Race at Lake Storey.

A 21-year veteran of piloting hot air balloons, Al Reusch, says he enjoys bringing his family with him to events he flies at for their help and to kill time if necessary. He says he became interested in ballooning after an event in his hometown of Macomb over two decades ago.

Reusch tells WGIL he was glad to get, what he called, forced into ballooning early in his life.

"I met a pilot from Louisville, Kentucky and I just casually said to him 'man, this is fun (and) as soon as my kids grow up and are gone I'm gonna do hot air ballooning. ' He said do it now while the kids are small...they'll love doing it. So my kids were four or five years old when we started ballooning, and now he's a pilot at 27 (years old). And a very good pilot by the way."

Reusch's son, Dan, was also at the event piloting his own balloon and thanked his dad for the great training which makes him a better pilot.

Reusch says a balloon is like a car, the more bells and whistles you want on it the more is costs. But he says you can get a nice used balloon set up for about $15,000.

Reusch says he was looking forward to this weekend's activities, including when balloonists try to land their hot air balloons safely on targets.

Source

Candy Spiegel: Watching the magic take flight

There is another struggle that occurs annually in my household — I want to spend every waking moment at the festival, but my husband would prefer to relax in the comfort of his own home.

This year, since it was our fifth wedding anniversary, we reached a truce. We planned to spend Friday celebrating our anniversary and Saturday at the event in Howell.

However, even the best laid plans rarely turn out the way they were intended.

So, I found myself at home on the first evening of Balloonfest, watching live coverage of the festivities on the Web at www.livingstondaily.com. Fortunately, weather conditions were not immediately ideal, and the mass balloon launch was delayed, so I didn't miss anything spectacular.

I watched a few balloons launch via the Internet, and then went outside to see what I could see. It took all of about 30 seconds of watching the balloons in the distance to be overcome with balloon fever. My pulse quickened, my heart began to race, adrenaline began flowing, and I knew I had to get closer. This wasn't a desire to see the balloons up close — it was a need to see them.

Perhaps because it was our anniversary, my husband humored me and agreed to take me balloon chasing.

He decided the freeway was the best route. I was worried because the minute we headed toward the freeway, I lost all sight of the balloons — but, thankfully, he was taking me, so I kept my opinion to myself.

Then we rounded a curve and I was treated to an amazing spectacle of hot-air balloons. There, in front of us, were a handful of balloons, with more rising over the trees every second.

Bouncing in my seat like a little kid, I begged him to stop so I could photograph the sight. He pulled into the rest area and I was out of the car before it came to a complete stop, running toward the hot-air balloons.

After a few photos, I became aware of my surroundings and noticed several other people had also pulled into the rest stop to enjoy the balloons.

It was a beautiful evening, but the whole atmosphere had a surreal sort of feel. The sun's rays were making the balloons brighter and more colorful than ever before.

Plus, the sound of the trucks idling in the rest area eliminated any other noise. There were a dozen or so of us sitting on the picnic tables, watching silently as the hot-air balloons sailed over Interstate 96.

Strange as it was to be hanging out with complete strangers, it was oddly comforting and we all knew we had witnessed something beautiful together.

We continued following the balloons into Marion Township and soon found ourselves in the middle of a hot-air balloon invasion.

Describing that experience is yet another challenge.

The closest thing I can think of is the magic felt as a child when being in the middle of an early snowstorm. Remember the feeling of being completely surrounded by large snowflakes falling from the sky?

Now, substitute hot-air balloons for the snowflakes, and you can begin to imagine the excitement of the balloon invasion.

No matter which direction we looked, there were hot-air balloons in various stages of flight, descent and landing all around us. We were, quite literally, surrounded by hot-air balloons.

I could not have chosen a better way to spend my anniversary. Thank you, Matt, for five wonderful years.

Source

Families say flying hot air balloons uplifting

MIDDLETOWN — High winds grounded the hot air balloons the first night of the three-day MidFirst Ohio Challenge.

But balloon enthusiasts from near and far still were able to make it a real family event during the seventh annual hot air balloon festival at Middletown’s Smith Park.

“As my family gets older, balloon events are gonna be our family reunions,” said Ray Donner, a Louisville, Ky., pilot.

Wind gusts were about 21 mph at the time balloons were scheduled to launch, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

While the balloons were kept down, it did nothing to dampen the competitive spirit of the Donner clan.

“Aviation’s in my blood. It’s in all our blood,” said Donner’s son, Nick, a commercial airline pilot. His mother is a UPS pilot and hot air balloon crew member, along with his younger sister.

Ray Donner became a balloon pilot in 1990 and Nick got his license at age 14. Ray got into competitions after his sons Nick and Chase became involved, said Nick Donner.

“It’s just something I wanted to do rather than just fly,” said Nick Donner, 25, about balloon competitions. In fact, the national balloon championship winner is traveling with his family for five straight weekends of competition.

Scott and Matt McClinton race against each other, even when they’re on the same team.

The father-and-son duo from Prospect, Ky., fly several corporate balloons professionally.

“We go to have a good time,” Scott McClinton, 45, said of the MidFirst challenge.

“The whole balloon community is a family,” said Matt McClinton, 20.

He enjoys competitions because it allows for a break for his father and him. For a vacation, he said, “some people go to the lake. We go to races.”

Source

Quick chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

What: Largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America

When: 1-10 p.m. Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

Where: Soleberg Airport, Readington, New Jersey

How much: $17; $7, ages 4-12 in advance; $25; $10, ages 4-12 at gate; free, 3 and under.

Info: 1-800-HOT-AIR-9, http://www.balloonfestival.com

Don't miss: Balloon rides, both tethered and free-flight. Free-flight rides, lasting about an hour, are $200 per person in the morning and $225 in the evening. Tethered rides are $15 per person. All rides weather permitting.

Concerts: The fest has also become known for its big-name artists. This year's lineup features boy-band One Call, Disney's Meaghan Martin and Kool & the Gang on Saturday and Michael McDonald on Sunday.

Source