AMERICA'S UNKNOWN DESTINATIONS
... a hot air balloon ride company, is very excited to take you on a "Once in a Lifetime" hot air balloon ride! Our balloon ride adventures can be one of the most exhilirating and unique forms of entertainment that you will ever experience. We are in the business of selling memories! Our rides take place either just after sunrise or just before sunset when some of the most beautiful pictures can be taken. We hope the following information will answer some of your questions about hot air ballooning, what to expect on your "journey by air", and what to expect as a passenger with us!
All of the aviation pilots affiliated with America's Unknown Destinations hold a current commercial pilot's license, with a "lighter-than-air, free-balloon" specification. ALL PILOTS ARE FAA CERTIFIED. This means you will be flying with a fully-trained, licensed, professional pilot who is not only safety conscious, but also one of the friendliest in the hot air ballooning business.
§ SAFETY
Basically, hot air ballooning is one of the safest sports. In fact, your ride to the launch site is probably the most dangerous part of your balloon adventure. Safety is our Top Priority, for all the passengers who have come to enjoy a special aviation experience with us.
§ WEATHER
Ballooning is a sport which is very dependent on the weather. Conditions have to be nearly perfect. Good visibility is essential (this pertains mainly to morning flights) and wind speeds ideally should be under 10 knots (approximately 11 mph). In order to determine weather conditions, our pilots contact the airport flight service for the latest up-to-the-minute weather briefing. Flight service is contacted several times in the 2 hours prior to your scheduled journey by air. If your excursion is cancelled due to unsafe conditions or bad weather, we will do our best to reschedule your balloon ride at your next convenient date.
§ WHAT TO WEAR
Sometimes it in unavoidable for the gondola to land in high grass or overgrown fields. It is recommended that long pants be worn and flat, closed-toed shoes are recommended for safety. Temperatures during the balloon ride will not differ from normal temperatures at ground level. However, it is advisable to give a non-nylon, light-weight jacket to the chase crews on those evenings when it is expected to get cooler. A camera and plenty of film are recommended.
§ LAUNCH SITE
We normally meet at the Brimfield Plaza parking lot and return there after the completed hot air balloon ride experience. Inflation and lift off will take place at a site determined before scheduled-flight time. The actual location is one that will provide some exciting photographic opportunities and safe landing sites. America's Unknown Destinations uses many lift-off locations depending on wind direction and speed.
§ THE FLIGHT
The cold inflation of the envelope takes approximately 20 minutes. Passengers are to board once the gondola is standing upright and nearly ready to lift off. The flight itself will last approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour, depending on weather conditions and the area we are flying over. We generally fly over rural farms and an occasional small town or newly developed area. Altitudes for a normal journey by air are generally below 2,000 feet. The average flying height will be approximately 500 feet.
§ HOW THE PILOTS STEER THE HOT AIR BALLOONS
The hot air balloons drift the same direction and speed as the wind. The skill of the pilot is selecting the altitude that has the most desired wind direction. The pilot controls the altitude with a liquid propane gas (LPG) burner. Longer "burns" provide lift, while shorter "burns" maintain an altitude or allow the balloon to descend.
§ WHERE WE LAND
We are called America's Unknown Destinations, because our hot air balloons travel with the wind and this makes it diffucult to determine the landing site prior to take off. The pilot, however, studies the wind currents and determines the general direction of a hot air balloon flight. Thus, we land where ever the wind takes us. During the balloon ride, he maintains radio contact with the chase crew.
§ HOW WE GET BACK TO YOUR CAR
After lift off, the chase crew follows one of our three hot air balloons in the chase vehicle. Using maps of the area and 2-way radios, as well as visually observing the direction of the flight, the chase crew remains close until we land. The crew is there to deflate the envelope and dismantle the gondola. The passengers may volunteer their assistance during this phase of the flight experience. When the hot air balloon is packed and the baskets and burners safely loaded on the trailer, the passengers will be returned to their automobiles.
§ THE TOAST
It is a ballooning tradition to have a champagne toast after a flight. To celebrate this ballooning tradition, champagne (or upon request a non-alcoholic beverage) will be served and provided by your pilot.
§ THANK YOU
Thank you for viewing this web site. We hope the above information has addressed all of your questions about what to expect as a passenger with America's Unknown Destinations.
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