| Carolina
BalloonFest BALLOON RIDES
Hot Air Balloon Rides — Make Reservations Here
Balloon ride reservations are available IN ADVANCE
by contacting pilot(s) below by phone or email.
Balloons launch Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:00 am and Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 4:30 pm. All flights commence "weather
permitting" and are flown at the discretion of the Pilot-in-Command.
Cost is $225 per person/per ride for approximately a one-hour flight. The balloon chase crew will return
you to the festival site following your flight.
If
you schedule an 8:00 am flight, plan to arrive at Carolina BalloonFest no later
than 7:00 am and ask to be immediately directed to the pilot briefing tent.
If
you schedule a 4:30 pm flight, plan to arrive at Carolina BalloonFest no later
than 3:30 pm, and ask to be immediately directed to the pilot briefing tent. Due
to larger crowds in the afternoon, please allow extra time for travel, parking and entry into the festival.
Please contact pilot(s) directly to reserve your ride. They will answer your questions and reserve your time. Call early, ride times fill up fast. You may need to call several pilots if others are already full.
Please confirm with your pilot — FLIGHT DATE, LAUNCH TIME and PRE-FLIGHT ARRIVAL TIME.
Soft
Landings!
If you've never flown
in a hot air balloon before, we offer these helpful articles for you... Questions
to Ask When Booking a Balloon Ride Following
are suggested questions to ask before reserving your flight. As with any other
sport, safety should be considered first. - How
long have you been in business?
- What is the experience level of your pilot(s)?
- Are
your balloons and vehicles fully insured?
- How many passengers are in each
balloon?
- If you fly more than 6 passengers, are the baskets partitioned?
- What
type of safety items do you carry on board? (fire extinguishers, first aid kits,
etc.)
- How old are your balloons?
- What can you tell me about the
equipment you use?
- How often and by whom are your balloons inspected?
- How
long will we fly?
- What time should I arrive at the balloon?
- What
if weather prevents our flight?
- Where will I find your balloon(s) at the
Carolina BalloonFest?
Getting
Ready for a Hot Air Balloon Flight Carolina
BalloonFest flights are scheduled twice a day, weather permitting near
sunrise or about two hours before sunset the best times of day for ballooning
when the winds are usually calm. You will likely
fly several miles, depending on wind speed and wind direction. Altitude can vary
from crop level and treetop height to several thousand feet. On a clear day you
may see up to fifty miles view the Brushy Mountains, Charlotte, Hickory,
Winston-Salem, Pilot Mountain or even hear a creek gurgling beneath the
branches! Preparation Plan
to dress comfortably for ground weather and about three hours of outdoor activity.
Dressing in layers is always a good idea in case the day warms up or the early
evening cools down. Because air temperature cools only about three degrees per
1,000 feet, extra heavy clothing is usually not necessary.
Please
wear tennis/sports shoes or other sturdy shoes. Long pants are wise since landing
sites are sometimes in a field or tall grass. In the morning, grass is often damp
with dew so shoes might get wet. Dresses, clogs, sandals, open-toed shoes or high
heels are not recommended. Family and friends
are welcome to send you off. Some may even become part of the balloon crew. And,
be sure to bring your camera! Balloon flying is the ultimate Kodak moment! Preflight
and Inflation When you arrive at the launch site,
you'll get a preflight briefing about what to expect and how to help. There will
be plenty of opportunities to take pictures and ask questions. Before you know
it, your pilot will fill the balloon with hot air and you will be invited to climb
into the basket.
Launch Takeoff
and ascent are often so gentle that you might not even realize the balloon has
left the ground. Flight The
true adventure of balloon flying is that, even if you have flown before, each
and every flight is unique. Relax, enjoy the breathtaking views, savor the silence
and shoot some spectacular photos! Landing You
are always an unexpected guest when you land. Therefore, it is important to respect
any landowner's solitude, privacy and property. As
your flight comes to a close, your pilot will find a safe place to set down, perhaps
in a farmer's field or even someone's front yard. Once the balloon is packed up,
you'll ride back to the launch site in a chase vehicle and celebrate with the
traditional toast of balloonists "Soft
Landings!" |