Ballooning

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

I was just wondering how many folks here have been up in an untethered hot air balloon?

I have probably close to 200 hours in one.  At one point I was going to apply for a licence but it was just not practical at the time.
Flying in a hot air balloon is fantastic, the winter is great as there are no leaves on the trees and you can watch the foxes track the rabbits.  When you are flying over dairy farms the cattle will follow the balloon till they hit the fence.  People on back roads and highways will stop, get out of their cars and wave.
It is so warm that you can remove your coat and quiet, very quiet.
I am trying to contact a friend of mine I flew with for years, he owns and operates a Hot Air Balloon Company and I thought it would be a nice Christmas gift for the old girl and who ever showed up for Christmas to go for a flight on Boxing Day.

I would urge you all to try it and if you have been in one let us know what you thought about it.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Tequila Sunrise]

never tried it but I've always wanted too, also heard they make good jump platforms  8)

[Scottler]

....used to crew.  Fun times.

[chomp_rock]

Never have been, never will. I don't much like the thought of being at the whim of the winds 100s of feet above the ground.

[Pinchaser...]

what winds?

[chomp_rock]

What do you mean "What winds"?

[Pinchaser...]

nevermind...

[Deputy]

Huh? What?

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

You are not really always at the mercy of the winds.

An experienced balloonist will use the wind at various altitudes to control the direction of flight.

Many times we have left an airfield only to return to the same airfield.

What ballooning does require though is a chase crew if the wind does not co-operate.  The chase crew follows the balloon in a vehicle so the crew and balloon can be retreived.  The chase crew and balloon are always in radio contact with each other as well the balloon must have an air radio for contact with local air traffic control.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Just a question I had as well and forgot to add to the above post.

Is ballooning as popular in the British Isles and the rest of Europe as it is here?

I know it is very popular in the United States and they have many Balloon Fests.  I do know of two in Ontario but not sure about the rest of Canada.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug