| Who would believe that a simple wicker basket, | | | | Maybe you want to plan a romantic surprise, |
| the whoosh of hot air burners and 200 years of | | | | celebrate a special anniversary or launch a |
| history could leave such a spell on you? Be it | | | | product. Whatever the occasion, the actual flight |
| floating over the city sky or the lovely patchwork | | | | lasts approximately an hour; the memories last a |
| of the wine regions. These majestic aircraft hark | | | | lifetime... |
| back to an unhurried era; yet offer the safest | | | | Hot air ballooning has captured the imagination of |
| and most memorable sightseeing in today's world. | | | | people everywhere. |
| Over the past 20 years, we have assembled a | | | | Listed below are comments from some of the |
| dedicated team to ensure the best ballooning | | | | passengers who have flown with us over the |
| tours experience available today, and have carried | | | | years |
| over 60,000 passengers. | | | | - one of the most serene, enjoyable activities I've |
| Hot air balloons are based on the very basic | | | | ever experienced |
| scientific principle that warmer air rises in cooler | | | | - truly magical, marvelous time, brilliant, a truly |
| air. | | | | splendid experience |
| A burner fuelled by propane gas is positioned | | | | - the countryside is beautiful. Being in a balloon is |
| under an open balloon envelope to heat the air | | | | just awesome! |
| and make the balloon rise. When the parachute | | | | - there's something incredibly adventurous about |
| valve at the top of the envelope is opened some | | | | having the course of your |
| to the hot air escapes, and the balloon sinks. The | | | | - travels charted by the wind as you skim above |
| hot air won't escape from the hole at the bottom | | | | trees and rooftops as if in a dream |
| of the envelope because buoyancy keeps it | | | | - I thought I had entered a paradise. On a bright |
| moving up. | | | | clear, September morning, woods, farms, houses |
| The colorful balloon envelope is usually made of | | | | lakes and roads seemed transformed by magic |
| nylon or polyester, the same type of cloth that | | | | into a fairyland |
| parachutes are made of. | | | | - ballooning is Just Plain Fun |
| The balloon rides with the wind, and to move in a | | | | - floating in a hot air balloon feels as if you're |
| particular direction, the pilot ascends and descends | | | | suspended in the wind. |
| to find the appropriate wind direction. Pilots call the | | | | - the perfect "special occasion" celebration |
| weather service to get a rough idea of which | | | | - I loved it! It's one of the best birthday presents |
| way the balloon will travel, and how they should | | | | I ever had |
| maneuver once they're in the air. Members of the | | | | - the flight was even more magical than I'd |
| hot air balloon crew follow the balloon by car to | | | | anticipated. The ride was so smooth and the view |
| see where it lands to collect the passengers and | | | | amazing |
| equipment, usually about 15 miles from the launch | | | | - one of the most thrilling experiences of my life |
| site. | | | | - floating over the beautiful countryside was so |
| A flight in a hot air balloon is a unique experience. | | | | serene... |