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Frequently Asked Questions |
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ABOUT THE RIDE
What time does the balloon take off?
Sunrise flights meet about 30 minutes before the sun rises. This gives us time to travel to the launch site and inflate the balloon so we are ready to lift off just after sunrise. Just before sunrise the temperature is the coolest and the winds are the calmest, so it is the perfect time to start your balloon adventure. Unstable weather conditions keep us from flying in the middle of the day. It is rare that we can offer evening flights due to the Arizona heat and instability of the desert air in the afternoons and evenings.How long does the entire adventure last?
Plan on spending about 3 hours with us for the complete balloon experience. This includes traveling with us from AZ Air Ventures to the launch site; inflation of the balloon, which usually takes about 30 minutes; the balloon ride, which should be about an hour; deflating and packing the balloon away, which is about 15 minutes; then traveling back to AZ Air Ventures for the post-flight celebration.
How long is the balloon flight?
Flight time in the Gila Valley can depend on the speed and direction of the wind, but usually flights last at least 45 minutes and up to an hour and a half.
Where do you fly?
Our takeoff location and direction of flight will be determined the morning of the flight based on the wind direction and speed. Hot air balloons travel with the wind so it is not uncommon to travel from one end of the Gila Valley to the other. Most commonly, flights will flow east and west rather than north and south. Vertical control of the balloon is very precise so the pilot may skim the vegetation or tree tops or fly up to several thousand feet above the ground.Can a balloon fly in the dark?Balloons cannot fly before sunrise or after sunset without special equipment and training. Greg Lindsey, one of AZ Air Venture's pilots, has been trained as a Dawn Patrol pilot and flies Dawn Patrol in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and in the Great Reno Balloon Race. Dawn Patrol is when the balloon launches when it is still dark, before dawn begins. The flight then continues as dawn begins and eventually the sun comes up over the horizon. Dawn Patrol is an amazingly beautiful experience much different than balloon flights that launch at sunrise.
Can you steer a balloon?
We like to say we fly the balloon rather than steer it. There is no "steering" to move you horizontally left or right, but by the pilot adjusting the altitude up or down, the balloon will ride in different winds. This allows the pilot to fly the balloon using the wind to safe landing spot.
How high does the balloon fly?
The balloon may hover just above the ground doing what is called contour flying, or it may go as high as 6000+ feet above the ground, depending on the wind.
Where will the balloon land?
Part of the adventure of ballooning is not always being able to predict exactly where you will end up. The length and direction of your balloon flight will be determined by the wind speed and wind direction. The pilot will use different air currents at different altitudes to navigate the balloon to a suitable landing place. The pilot will avoid flying too close to livestock or landing in areas planted with crops.
What is a chase crew?
As you lift off in the balloon, our chase crew made up of volunteers will pack up the inflation equipment and follow the balloon as it flies. You will hear the crew communicate with the pilot on a radio. The crew will meet you at the landing spot, pack up the balloon, and transport you back to AZ Air Ventures for a traditional after-flight celebration!
Who can fly?
We want our riders to be tall enough to see out of the basket so they can enjoy the ride so we recommend being at least 48" tall. It is important passengers be capable of understanding and following directions, in overall good health, be able to stand for at least one hour, and be capable of bending knees and holding on during landings. We cannot take passengers who are pregnant or recovering from a recent surgery or injury. Any passenger 12 or under must be accompanied by an adult. If you are 75 years or older or don't meet one of the requirements listed here, please discuss this with us BEFORE purchasing a ride certificate.
Does the basket sway when flying?
It actually does not. The flight is completely smooth with no turbulence or sudden motion. Because you are moving with the wind, there is no turbulence, no sense of swaying, so you won't get motion sick.
What if I"m afraid of heights?
Believe it or not, when you are flying in a basket, it is nothing like standing on a roof or a high ladder. You don't get that vertigo feeling. You are moving with the wind, so there is no wind blowing. Instead, looking down simply unfolds the amazing scenery beneath you. The view is on the horizon looking out rather than down so most people who are normally afraid of heights are not bothered when ballooning.
Is it quiet in the balloon?
Floating through the air in a balloon provides a serene, peaceful atmosphere when the burner is off. When the pilot needs to heat the air in the balloon to stay aloft or to increase altitude, he will use the burner in short bursts which will be a bit noisy. Being on a balloon flight is amazingly peaceful and tranquil.
What should we wear?
Casual clothing and close-toed, flat-sole shoes are best. For your safety, we do not permit sandals or heels. When it's cold, layers and a light jacket are better than a heavy coat. The coldest time will be just before sunrise while you are still on the ground, but once in the air, you will warm up. In very cold weather, sometimes your feet can get cold so wear warm socks.
Can we bring cameras and video cameras?
Please do. The views will be outstanding! A neck strap or soft case to stow your camera during landing is recommended. We will also be taking photos and video of you enjoying your adventure which will be available for purchase if you choose.
Will there be anything to eat or drink?
We will provide a bottle of water while you are in the balloon, and when we land, we will have a traditional celebratory toast along with breakfast snacks once we return to Az Air Ventures.
Should we tip our balloon pilot and chase crew?
As is customary in any service industry, a gratuity is always appreciated if you love your experience and the services you receive. A typical tip starts at 15% per passenger. "If you like the ride, tip your guide!"
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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ABOUT THE BALLOONWhat makes a hot air balloon fly?It's very simple actually. Since hot air rises, we heat the air inside the balloon to a temperature that is hotter than the ambient temperature around the outside of the balloon. Because hot air rises, the balloon does too!How big is the balloon?Just Ducky is 75 feet tall (about seven stories) by 55 feet wide and holds 90,000 cubic feet of air. Floating Awaysis is 80 feet tall (about eight stories) by 60 feet wide and holds 105,000 cubic feet of air. Just image filling the envelop with 90,000 or 105,000 soccer balls. Mathematically, it has the same area inside as the cabin and luggage area of three 747's.What kind of cloth is the hot air balloon made of?Our colorful envelopes are made of as special Ripstop nylon. This is the same type of cloth that parachutes are made of. It is very tightly woven and is coated with a material that makes it airtight. The nylon is only used to keep the hot air in the balloon. The basket load is transferred by steel cables to a series of vertical load tapes which carry the load. Balloons range in size from about 54,000 cubic feet for a one or two-person balloon to over 450,000 cubic feet for a balloon capable of carrying a pilot plus twenty-four (or more) passengers. Just Ducky is 90,000 cubic feet and can carry the pilot and four passengers while Floating Awaysis is 105,000 cubic feet and can carry the pilot and five passengers.How do you get the balloon inflated?As part of your adventure, we encourage you to help with inflation and deflation. When else will you have an opportunity to participate in such a unique experience? First we assemble the basket setting upright poles onto the basket and then setting the burner and frame onto the poles. Cables from the basket connect to the burner frame securing it in place. Fuel hoses are then connected from the burner to the propane tanks inside the basket. We set the basket on its side, connect the envelop to the cables, and then use an inflater fan to blow cool air into the balloon. The air causes the balloon to open and grow larger as it fills while it is still laying on its side. Once the envelop is sufficiently filled with cool air (cold packed), the pilot uses the burners to warm the air inside the balloon which will then causes the balloon to rise to an upright position lifting the basket to a standing position. Once fully upright, passengers will be asked to climb into the basket.How do you get into the basket?Our hot air balloon baskets do not have doors, but they do have a small foot hole. Basically you use the foot hole to step up, grab ahold of the bar above you, then you swing your leg over the side of the basket and step down onto the bottom of the basket pulling the other leg in after. Honestly, it's not graceful, but it gets you in. Of course our crew will be right there to help you. If you need additional help getting into the basket, we can provide a small step ladder upon request.How many people fit in a balloon basket?AZ Air Ventures is a small balloon ride company specializing in individualized experiences so we offer rides for two to five passengers per balloon. How many we can fly depends on the total weight of the passengers rather than how many will "fit" inside the basket. The balloon can only lift a certain amount of weight depending on the temperature outside and the elevation from which we launch. Therefore, we must have an accurate accounting of all passenger weights so we can configure the load capacity of the balloon for a safe flight. Because we have two balloons and pilots, we can take two separate groups of passengers at the same time.Why is the basket made of wicker?The wicker basket has proven to be very strong, is light so it doesn't take away from total weight of the payload, and it is flexible. The wicker is woven around an aluminum frame, which helps to support the upright posts upon which the burner is mounted. The top rim of the basket and the uprights are padded and covered in leather.What kind of fuel is used for the burners and how do they work?To heat the air, the burners are fueled by propane gas, the same as you probably use in your backyard barbecue grill. We carry three, 15-gallon propane tanks in each basket. The burners do not run continuously; they are only used intermittently to heat the air to maintain the required lift. The pilot will usually utilize the vapor burners which takes the propane gas through a series of coils warming it up into a vapor before it shoots into the flame. This is a bit louder but results in a more efficient heat production. When flying over livestock or when doing a glow at night or flying during dawn patrol before the sun rises, the pilot will utilize the liquid burners bypassing the coils and shooting pure liquid propane into the flame rather than vaporized propane. This results is a brighter, prettier flame but it is less efficient. An average-size home uses 100,000 BTU to heat it. Our hot air balloon burners use between 14 to 18 MILLION BTU in every blast! That's a lot of hot air!How are balloon pilots licensed?The Federal aviation Administration controls ballooning with the same strict regulations that apply to airplanes. Balloons are licensed as federal aircraft and must pass airworthiness checks each year or every 100 hours of flight. These inspection are completed by FAA authorized maintenance personnel. All pilots must be certified by the FAA after passing written, oral and practical tests as well as completing the required hours of flight training time. In addition, all pilots have to pass regular flight reviews every two years. Pilots must first become private pilots, then they can take an additional serious of written, oral and practical test in addition to required hours of flight training to become commercial pilots. Greg and Susan Lindsey, the pilots of AZ Air Ventures, are both licensed as commercial pilots. Because of this extended training, commercial pilots are also licensed to train student pilots.
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