Frequently Asked Ballooning Questions
Where do we meet?-
Temecula Wine country 8 miles east of highway 15, Del Mar racetrack area. Detailed directions to the appropriate meeting spot, including clickable map link sent via email with the booking confirmation.
How long will it take?- Allow 3 hours for your tour. This will include pre launch meeting and balloon preparation (think photo ops here), in air time, landing, post flight celebration picnic, presentation of commemorative flight diplomas and return to your car.
When will we fly?-
Del Mar rides are sunset rides only and meet about 2 1/2 hours before sunset.
Temecula flights are sunrise only and meet approximately at sunrise, (clock time varies seasonally). Check sunrisesunset.com for the approximate times on the date you plan to fly. When you book a tour, your exact meeting time will be given.
How many people fit into a basket?
- Baskets are ergonomically correctly sized by the balloon manufacturers to the average by the number of passengers the balloon is designed to carry. It follows that 8 Sumo wrestlers might consider the spaces more confining than 8 aerobics instructors. Group rides will have 8 or more riders depending on the days bookings. Private ride balloons are sized to the party and are usually considered quite comfortable by the guests.
Attire?- Passengers should
wear comfortable clothing such as denims and boots or sneakers.
Open toed sandals and high heels should not be worn. Shorts are not recommended, and dresses may make it difficult for ladies to climb into and out of the basket. In
colder months, layered clothing is advisable. Don't forget to bring your camera
and plenty of film!
How high will we go?-
Most passenger flights are conducted between 1000 feet and 2,500 feet off the ground except on launch and landing where it might skim across the trees and fields before coming to its final landing.
How big is the balloon?-
:A four passenger balloon is about as tall as an 8 story building, sixty feet in diameter and contains 105,000 cubic feet of hot air.
Are age and health a consideration?-Yes, our flight is not
recommended for children under 6 years of age and adults in poor health. Some
health exceptions are made with a written note from the passenger’s physician.
Other considerations include: pregnant women, people with bones having metal
pins that prevent good range of motion, osteoporosis, recent major surgeries, and individuals with certain health and
mobility problems. Passengers must stand during the entire flight and need some agility to get in and out of the balloon basket. The baskets are not designed by the manufacturer to accommodate wheelchairs or other similar aid devices. A bumpy landing is possible. Safety is our
number one priority.
How do you steer the balloon?
- A balloon cannot be steered left or right. Winds blow in different directions at
different altitudes, so a pilot can steer the balloon by changing altitude to
find a wind that will take it in the desired direction.
How safe is it?-
As in all sporting activities, ballooning carries an acceptable degree of risk for bodily injury. However, because it is a form of aviation where fair weather rules always prevail, ballooning enjoys an overall good safety record.
Consider this, all balloon pilots flying passengers for hire are certified and
regularly checked by an FAA mandated process. There are less than 7,000 balloon
pilots in the USA, most of the ones that fly in the same area know and trust
each other, can you say the same of the people that go whizzing by you on the
freeway every day?
Can I Get A Gift Ticket?-Yes, of course, it's a great way to help someone celebrate a birthday or anniversary and it gives them the opportunity to choose when they wish to fly. Gift tickets expire 1 year from purchase date.
You can purchase a custom Gift Ticket here.
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