Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Big Is A Balloon?
The most popular size is about 55 feet wide and seven stories tall, uses almost 1800 square yards of nylon fabric, three miles of thread, and one half mile of reinforcing nylon webbing.
How Much Does A Balloon Weigh?
The average balloon (with a deflated envelope, a basket, tanks, and fuel) weighs approximately 500-600 pounds. Once inflated, a balloon and the air in it will weigh about 2 1/2 tons!
How Is It Inflated?
During the inflation process, ballooning becomes a group sport. The more people there are, the more fun you can have. To start off, the envelope is stretched out on the ground and attached to the basket, which is lying on its side. A small, gasoline powered fan blows air into the balloon. Then the burner is turned on and the air in the balloon is heated. The hot air rises, lifting the balloon upright.
What Kind Of Fuel Is Used?
Liquid propane, kept in pressurized tanks on the floor of the basket. It is carried under pressure and passes to the burners through flexible hoses. When the valves are opened, the propane travels through the pre-heating coils and atomizes. As it exits into the pilot lights it is ignited and this is what creates the large flame you will see. It may shoot out as much as 10 or 20 feet making a loud "whoosh."
How Do You Steer The Thing?
Strictly speaking you don't. The balloon goes where the wind takes it. However, the winds at varying altitudes may blow in different directions and at different speeds, so the trick is to climb or descend to an altitude where the wind is blowing in the direction you want to go.
How High Do Balloons Fly?
Most balloon flights occur between 500 and 1000 feet above the ground, but balloons can fly at treetop level or go much higher. The world record for altitude in a hot air balloon is 65,000 feet.
Do You Need A License To Pilot A Balloon?
Yes. Balloon pilots must have an aircraft pilot's certificate especially for balloons. It is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and is earned after taking hours of ground school and in-flight instruction, passing an FAA written test, making a solo flight, and passing a flight test made with an FAA examiner on board.
How Safe Is Ballooning?
Any aerial adventure has a certain amount of risk involved but balloons have been proven to be one of the safest forms of transportation available. Our balloons are also maintained to the same high standards as other commercially flown aircraft and are required to have annual or 100 hour inspections by an FAA certified repair station. In addition, your pilot has periodic flight reviews and attends annual safety seminars to keep abreast of the latest in safety concerns. We also will not fly under marginal conditions when most balloon accidents occur. Your safety is our #1 concern. We want you to enjoy your experience.
How Cold Is It Up There?
For the most part, it is no colder during the flight than it is on the ground. We recommend that you dress the same way you would for any activity on the ground at that hour of the day. Layered clothing is best. We do, however, require that you wear long pants (no shorts) and sturdy, closed toe shoes (no sandals or high heels).
What If I'm Afraid Of Heights?
Most people who claim to be afraid of heights find that, once they get into the balloon and get off of the ground, their fears are unfounded. Flying in a balloon is so very different from anything else they've ever done and there is a sense of security within the basket. There is no sense of movement and the balloon itself is extremely smooth, stable and not subject to the up and down air currents that affect fixed wing planes.
What Time Of Year Do You Operate?
We offer flights 7 days per week, May through October (weather permitting).
How Long Is A Balloon Flight?
Your actual time in the air will be approximately 1 hour but will vary depending upon available landing sites and what the winds are doing. We recommend that you allow about 3 to 4 hours in your itinerary in order to complete the entire experience. This will include set up, the flight itself, pack up, return to the launch field, and our post flight activities. We always encourage passengers to get involved in the inflation process and get some "hands on" time. Most people enjoy this part as it adds to the thrill of ballooning and gives them a chance to see, firsthand, what goes into making a flight possible.
Why can't I bring a young child along?
Children under the age of 10 have a short attention span and, a few minutes into a one hour flight, are wondering what else there is to do. We've discovered (the hard way) that this distraction often prevents other passengers from enjoying their flight. They also are often frightened by the sound of the burners. Children don't process instructions the same as an adult so, when it comes time for landing, they are not as prepared as a more mature passenger. When landing, all passengers need to fend for themselves - mom and dad cannot be trying to hold their kids in AND themselves at the same time. As a result, younger children have an increased chance of injury especially if a larger adult lands on them during a breezy landing. For these reasons, we have established that a minimum age of 10 is required in order to participate in our flights.
How Do I Make Reservations?
You can us or give us a call at 406-755-4172. Reservations may be made at any time but we recommend that you make them for as early in your stay as possible to allow for the possibility of a flight that may have to be rescheduled due to unfavorable weather.
Passengers are asked to reconfirm their reservations with us when they arrive in the area at least 24 hours before meeting time. This allows us to get your local contact phone number so that we can stay in touch and keep you apprised of meeting locations and expected weather conditions.
Cancellations must be made a minimum of 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight time to avoid being charged. Please read our Reservations and Cancellation Policy.
Ballooning History
The first recorded balloon flight occurred in France in June 1783 when two brothers, Jacques Etienne and Joseph Michel Montgolfier, sent a large, smoked-filled bag 35 feet into the air. Three months later, a duck, rooster and sheep became the first passengers in a balloon, since no one knew whether a human could survive the flight.
Finally on November 21, 1783, before a vast throng of on-lookers that included the King and Queen of France, Marquis d'Arlandes and Pilatre de Rozier piloted man's first aerial voyage-more than a century before the Wright brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk!
Ballooning became quite popular for over half a century in Europe. Ten days after the first manned hot air flight, a French physicist named J.A.C. Charles made the first manned flight in a hydrogen-filled balloon. Eighteenth century farmers, frightened by these strange objects descending from the heavens attacked the balloon with pitchforks. Early aeronauts quickly learned to carry champagne aboard to present to the farmer upon landing. Thus was born the traditional champagne ceremony.
With the advent of powered aircraft, ballooning became a less practical mode of flight, practiced by only a few enthusiasts. The modern day sport of hot air ballooning evolved through research for the U.S. Navy in the 1960's and has enjoyed a remarkable comeback due to the development of a durable, inexpensive nylon for the envelope in combination with an improved and efficient propane burner system. Today there are more than 5,000 balloon pilots in the U.S. alone.