BALLOON MASTERS

IT WAS PRETTY MUCH WHAT THE COMPANY PORTRAYS IT TO BE. THEY LET YOU KNOW YOU ONLY GO 1000 FT. THEY ALSO TELL YOU IT WILL BE FROM 3 TO 4 HOURS. THEY DISCUSS THE AREA YOU WILL BE TRAVELING. IT WAS INTERESTING.

THE RIDE WAS A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR THE MEMBERS WIFE. THEY WORKED WITH THE MEMBER TO KEEP IT A SECRET, EVEN COMMUNICATING BY EMAIL AND CELL PHONE. THE RIDE LASTED OVER AN HOUR AND COVERED ABOUT 10 MILES (DISTANCE DEPENDS ON WIND SPEED). SAFETY WAS PARAMOUNT TO THE PILOT AND CREW (THE TRIP WAS RESCHEDULED TWICE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER). THE LAUNCH SITE WAS CHANGED BECAUSE ANOTHER WAS JUDGED TO BE MORE SAFE. THE PILOT AND GROUND CREW WERE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH ENOUGH RADIOS TO RUN AN AIR FORCE. MEMBERS GOT TO HELP FOLD UP THE BALLOON AFTERWARDS (THEY WANTED TO HELP, NOT A REQUIREMENT) THE MEMBERS ARE READY TO GO AGAIN!!