|
BALLOON RIDES
About Hot Air Flights & Tethered Balloon Rides
 HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHTS
Would you like to fly in our beautiful balloons? Learn About Hot Air Balloon Flights for a Great Experience...
What is the cost for a Hot Air Balloon Flight? $225 each person.
How do I schedule my flight? Please contact a pilot below for flight time availability and payment arrangements throughout our 2011 event weekend.
|
The Balloonist's Prayer...
May the winds welcome you with softness
May the sun bless you with it’s warm rays
May you fly so high and so well
That God will join you in laughter
And set you gently back again
Into the loving arms of Mother Earth
|
What times do hot air balloons fly? Hot Air Balloon rides are offered near dawn and dusk when the thermal atmosphere is most calm. Safety is the highest consideration to a pilot's flight decision.
Where will I meet up with the pilot that I have booked a ride with at the 2011 Carolina BalloonFest? The pilot, or a member of his/her crew, will be outside the pilot tent at the time designated to you when you booked your flight - unless otherwise instructed by your individual pilot when booking. The pilot tent is located inside the festival area. Please make a note of the name of the pilot you are flying with to make meeting up at the pilot tent quick and easy.
How many people can ride in a balloon at once? Balloons can carry as few as one person (just the pilot) or as many as 12 passengers. Balloon capacity depends on the size of the envelope and on weather conditions; specifically, the outside air temperature. Typically, the balloons that participate in our festival can hold between 2 and 4 passengers.
How do I get back to the festival? Each balloon has a ground crew that follows the path of the balloon on the ground in the chase vehicle and is in contact with the balloon via radio. The ground crew will meet the balloon at the landing spot and help to pack up the balloon. Once the balloon is all packed up, you will get a ride back to the festival grounds in the chase vehicle.
What should I wear? Often times people think that it will be a lot colder up in the balloon. What they don't realize is that there will be a large burner above their heads that shoots a 8 foot flame up into the balloon to keep it aloft. The burner will help keep you warmer. A good rule of thumb is to wear clothes that you would be comfortable standing outside in. It will pretty much feel the same up in the balloon as on the ground. The best solution would be to dress in layers, so that you may adjust according to your comfort level. Proper footwear is important, particularly when the ground is cold or wet. High heels and open toed shoes are not suitable footwear for ballooning. We recommend tennis shoes or a hiking boots.
How long is a balloon ride? Balloon flights can range anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour depending on wind, weather conditions and direction of flight. However, the whole ballooning experience, generally takes between 2 and 3 hours. This includes the set up, flight, pack up, and return trip to the festival.
How high do hot air balloons fly? Most pilots navigate low-level flights, roughly between the tree tops and 3,000 feet.
Can I bring a photo/video camera? What about a cell phone? Why, of course! We would not want you to miss anything on this trip! We ask that you listen to the pilot’s instructions for stowing your equipment for landing. *Cell phones must be turned off during your flight.
Are there any passenger restrictions? Almost anyone can take a balloon ride. However, there are some restrictions for safety reasons.
Passengers should be tall enough to see over the edge of the basket (about 42 inches high), be able to stand for at least an hour, have no medical issues that may affect your ability to participate in light physical activity, and should not be pregnant. All passengers should be sure to inform their pilot of any and all potential medical or physical problems prior to flight.
There are no weight restrictions per se. However, the pilot has final say over how much weight his/her balloon can safely fly with.
Smoking is not permitted.
What happens if the flight is cancelled? If the balloon ascension is cancelled due to weather, you may reschedule your ride for another ascension during the festival - if space is available.
Do pilots need a license? Yes. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) issues a pilot certificate after you've passed written, oral, and flight exams for both private flying (alone or with non-paying passengers) and commercial flying (flying for hire).
How do pilots compete? Competition in ballooning means accuracy and not speed. Pilots maneuver toward pre-chosen targets from several miles away and drop bean bags or markers which are scored on distance from the target. Top pilots regularly drop markers within inches of dead center!
|
|
Gunslinger
Shane Robinson
Schedule a Ride!
417-860-0315
|
"B" Happy / Bullet Proof
Kenny Shumate
Schedule a Ride!
|
Eagles Wings
Robert Sarratt
Schedule a Ride!
803-230-1178
rsarratt@csc.com
|
|
|
|
Mystic Venture
Richard Parr
Schedule a Ride!
919-545-0475
rorlparr@embarqmail.com
|
|
Windswept
Mathew Lidinsky
Schedule a Ride!
410-627-9273
flights@marylandballoonflights.com
|
El Loco
Stuart Enlo
Schedule a Ride!
770-928-4426
stuart@BalloonAtlanta.com
|
|
|
Flying Rainbow
Buddy Carter
Schedule a Ride!
336-854-4885
wcarter1@triad.rr.com
|
That's Amoré
Gilbert Martin
Schedule a Ride!
804-798-0080
gilbertmartin@comcast.net
|
Oochie 5
Marc Klinger
Schedule a Ride!
704-528-0105
airtimeballoon@hotmail.com
|
Boyhood Dream
Jonathon Carter
Schedule a Ride!
610-960-7732
info@cartercountryflights.co
|
|
|
O.M.T.
Paul Morlock
Schedule a Ride!
704-664-5807
balloonhollow@gmail.com
|
Dream Chaser
Tony Colburn
Schedule a Ride!
336-922-7207
colburns4@roadrunner.com
|
Movin' Magic
Mark MacSkimming
Schedule a Ride!
717-805-8400
eaglea7@aol.com
|
Yellow Express
Chuck Norton
Schedule a Ride!
706-831-9094
norton28@bellsouth.net
|
|
Two Sweet
Jeff Sweet
Schedule a Ride!
980-722-5723
sweetdreamsballoon@hotmail.com
|
|
Freedom Flyer
Marc Fritze
Schedule a Ride!
850-386-6425
gskmorton@aol.com
|
2nd Wind
Anthony Seeger
Schedule a Ride!
864-420-2025
crazyseeger@aol.com
|
Sundance III
John Paisley
Schedule a Ride!
336-227-0218
paisley.joyce@gmail.net
|
|
Carolina Kaleidoscope
John Ponticelli
Schedule a Ride!
336-699-3332
carolinaballoon@yahoo.com
|
Nike
Nicholas Donner
Schedule a Ride!
502-802-9153
PIBAL1984@gmail.com
|
Carolina Blue
Marsha Treacy
Schedule a Ride!
704-880-0238
marsha@aerosportballoons.com
|
American Freedom
Ty Parson
Schedule a Ride!
484-794-0008
parsonty7@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
My Cup of Tea
Tom Steinbock
Schedule a Ride!
502-836-7317
balloontom@bellsouth.net
|
Happy Daze
Ian Leonard
Schedule a Ride!
910-489-3730
ileonard1@ec.rr.com
|
Cloud 9
Tom Ragland
Schedule A Ride!
570-713-4892
tragland66@gmail.com
|
Morning Light
Ray Smith
Schedule a Ride!
704-877-0269
airplay2k@yahoo.com
|
|
|
Big Oh!
Charles Page
Schedule a Ride!
704-872-7761
info@bigohballoons.com
|
|
Rainbow Maze
Charlie Mays
Schedule a Ride!
859-803-7067
cmaysii@yahoo.com
|
|
|
|
Schedule a Ride!
239-336-4268
rdclark@rtsx.com
|
|
|
|
Spellbound Spirit
Randy Lee
Schedule A Ride!
919-625-5533
pilotrblee@gmail.com
|
|
|
Cool Change
Bill Scarberry
Schedule a Ride!
704-564-2326
BlunerBill@carolina.rr.com
|
|
TETHERED BALLOON RIDES
Tethered Balloon Rides may be offered and available to purchase throughout various times on the festival days of October 21-23, if weather conditions are favorable. Even tethered balloons need a reasonable amount of thermal stability to elevate safely.
Pilot Accepts Cash Only. Rides are:
$5 for children 12 years / younger
$10 for teens / adults
A tethered ride is when the pilot allows passengers to climb into the basket and then heats the air inside the envelope/balloon which lifts/ascends to near 100 ft into the air for several minutes. The balloon crew pulls the balloon back to the ground again to allow passengers in the basket to climb out. The hot air balloon is anchored with ropes and is not released to fly 'into the wind' or take flight into the sky. Smoking is not permitted near the ride area.
Rain or Shine... Carolina BalloonFest is open!
Hot Air Balloons will fly or be on display when suitable. safe weather conditions exist. The decision to fly or display balloons is made immediately prior to flight time.
HOME • ABOUT US • BENEFICIARIES • SPONSORS • BALLOON RIDES • SCHEDULE • CONTACT US • PILOTS • AT THE VENUE • IMAGE GALLERY • DIRECTIONS • GREATER STATESVILLE
   
National Balloon Rally Charities ~ PO Box 267 ~ Statesville, NC 28687
National Balloon Rally Charities, Inc. is an incorporated 501(c)(3) charitable organization and all contributions to the corporation are tax deductible. Proceeds raised through our annual hot air balloon festival are distributed to local charities.
|
