Questions and Answers
These are some of the questions that people frequently ask me
Q: How do you steer a balloon?
A: Look in the basket. There is no steering wheel. You can’t steer a balloon against the wind. It only goes with the wind. However, you can go up or down to find different layers of wind going in different directions. On some days there is a good deal of what we balloonists call “steerage”. On one memorable flight (during a balloon festival) I used the various layers of wind to fly for an hour and forty five minutes, flew a total of maybe 4 miles, and landed less than 100 feet from where I took off . This was very unusual, don’t expect it.
The differential heating of the slopes and valleys up here in the Berkshire hills creates funneling and slope effected winds that add another element to the steerage equation when you’re flying at the treetop level.
Check out the map track of a recent flight, as monitored by our GPS system, on the bottom of the Your Flight is Customized page. This was not an untypical flight.
Q: How high do you fly?
A: Hey, I’m not out to break the sport balloon altitude record (which, incidentally, is 32,000 feet in a balloon almost identical to mine). I’ve gone as high as 7,000 feet AGL (for a parachute jump), but flying that high is personally not all that enjoyable.
It has been said that flying a balloon is an art as well as a skill. For me the art is in contour flying, often just above (or even into- on purpose) the tops of the trees, varied with occasional pops up to a couple of thousand feet to look around. Passenger preference always plays a big part in how I fly.
Q. How far will we fly?
A: Since we drift with the wind – well, you do the math – wind speed times time equals distance. I’ve had several flights over 20 miles, however, most flights are in the 4-8 mile range. Last summer at the balloon festival near Montreal I had one flight of 34 miles. Another flight (see the question on steering a balloon, above) was less than 100 feet.
Q: Where will we land?
A: First we consult the internet weather forecasts, talk to the FAA briefers, and send up a helium pilot balloon (called a pibal) and watch the direction it drifts. We pick (or move) the launch site based upon what we learned and what we know about possible landing sites downwind. Then, after all that planning the fickle winds occasionally take us to someplace unexpected. In the air, I will pick a landing spot that is clear of crops livestock, power lines, trees, and other obstructions and come in for a smooth landing.
Occasionally I get a call from someone that says "I want to fly and land in the back yard of my buddy's house. It'd be neat" - Yes, it would be neat, but forget it! I won't guarantee that I can land even a mile from his house, let alone in his back yard. That is the fun of ballooning. You can steer it a little (see above), but you never know where you'll land. I've landed in some strange places - a church side yard when they were having a pot luck supper, on the property of a hydroponics tomato greenhouse through which we were given a tour, at at least a dozen different schools (3 that were in session and we were soon surrounded by children) (I like landing at schools), at various times, on the parking lot of a Linens & Such, a Best Buy, a Wal-Mart, an Italian restaurant, and a buffalo ranch, on several different golf courses, on an indian reservation (when we flew in Albuquerque), and on the side, front, and back yards of some VERY nice people who were glad we dropped in and were also glad to share some champagne with us. (I don't think the cop who was asleep in his cruiser, hiding behind a Sunday closed plant was glad when we dropped in, as we landed just behind his cruiser and obviously woke him up, but you can't please everyone.)
Q: Do you need some sort of a license to fly one of
these things?
A: Yes. The FAA licenses all balloon pilots. There are three levels: Student Pilot, Private Pilot, and Commercial Pilot. The requirements are similar to other FAA licenses like fixed wing or helicopter, etc. (minimum flight hours under instruction, solo requirements, written (actually computerized) exams and in-balloon flight examination). I hold a Commercial Pilots license.
Q: Do you have an age limit? What about children?
A: Kids – Long View
Ballooning loves kids, but don’t assume that all kids love hot air balloons
especially up close. Sometimes they are scared by the noise of the burner. Other
times they are in awe and take quite a while to get used to it all. Kids that
aren’t old enough to look over the edge of the basket won’t enjoy the flight.
A: Others – If you feel adventurous enough to fly in a balloon, you’re not too old. I’ve flown a gentleman in his 80s. (In fact, he took the picture to the right.)
Normally the landings are quite gentle. Occasionally (maybe one flight in 10 or less) windy landings can be a little bumpy or the basket may tip. As a rule of thumb, if you can stand up on the seat of a chair and jump to the ground without difficulty you’ll be fine. I won’t fly any woman who is visibly pregnant or anyone who is intoxicated.
Q: You fly late in the afternoon and first thing in the
morning. Why do I have to get
up so early? Why can’t you fly in the middle of the day?
A: Winds are generally most favorable
in the first hours after sunrise and the last hours before sunset. During the
middle of the day (even on cloudy days) the sun’s heating of the earth can
generate thermal activity and swirling winds unfavorable to balloon travel.
Ideal winds for ballooning are less than 6 mph.
Q: How long does an average balloon flight take?
A. First of all, let’s get one thing straight – There’s no such thing as an “average” balloon flight. I’ve never had an “average” flight. They’ve all been above average – usually lasting from one to one and a half hours. You should plan on spending around three to four (3-4) hours for the complete flight experience, including pre-flight preparation, flight, deflation, pack-up, and return to the launch site. Frequently (after that) the crew and I go out to breakfast (AM) or dinner (PM) and you're more than welcome to join us.
Q: What fuel do you use?
A: In America hot air balloons use propane. In the Long View balloon we always start each flight with both stainless steel twenty gallon tanks fully charged. In the winter these tanks are pre-heated.
Q: Is it cold up there? (One of my most frequently asked questions.)
A: Surprisingly no. As we fly we are a part of the wind. Thus you feel no wind and there is no wind chill. You even get some heat radiating down from the burner. Usually the air temperature aloft is close to that on the ground. I had one November flight where it was 34 degrees on the ground and 55 at 1500 feet!
Q: What should I wear?
A: Since, per the last answer, it’s not colder up there, you should dress as you would for an outing on the ground for the forecasted temperatures for the day. Layered clothing will help you adjust to warming temperatures. Wear comfortable shoes (that will resist morning dew) and long pants. No high heels or open toed sandals.
Q: What's it like to fly a balloon?
A: Click Here to see a page from a Swiss web site I recently found where over 2 dozen pilots attempt to describe why they fly balloons. They are close, but they still don't fully describe what it's like, not that I can come any closer to describing it myself. The thrill, the serenity, the wonder, the beauty, you enjoy ballooning is like no other experience in my life. I find it hard to adequately describe in mortal words the freedom of flying like a giant bird or the satisfaction I get when taking someone up on their first flight and seeing the stars in their eyes.
If you're having a bad week, if it seems like the whole world is conspiring
against you; you don't need psychiatric help; you need a balloon ride. As long
as I'm flying my balloon I know I won't need to see a shrink (unless it is for
the one mental disease I do have - an obsession with ballooning. As I say on the
home page - Hopefully there is no cure for that.) It's impossible to be in a bad
mood on any day that you go ballooning.
In fact it's damn difficult to wipe the
smile off your face.
Q: Can I bring a camera?
A: Of course. In fact bring two. Give one to the chase crew and they’ll take pictures of y
ou from
the ground. Bring extra film!
Q: Is it safe?
A: I’m not gonna sugarcoat this. Yes, in ballooning, just as in any form of aviation there are risks. But you are also taking risks in simply walking out to your mailbox. Ballooning is statistically the safest form of aviation and far far safer than most sports like bicycling or skiing.
Ballooning is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Long View Ballooning’s Galaxy77 balloon, even though new in 2002 is inspected by an FAA licensed inspector yearly (or every 100 hrs). I attend at least one safety seminar yearly (in 2006 I was a presenter at one). Safety is my foremost concern.
The most significant hazard in ballooning is poor pilot decisions to fly in marginal conditions. You should know that ballooning is my hobby, not my way of making a living. I only fly 2 passengers at a time. I don’t have the 6-8 people all clamoring for a flight with money in their hands to tempt me like some other commercial operators have. I only fly when the conditions are right, even if I have to disappoint you on your scheduled day.
Remember that, by far, the most dangerous part of our balloon outing will be the drive back to the launch site from where we landed. The public roads are fraught with more hazards than the friendly skies.
Click Here for an article on Balloon Safety
A: The simple answer is two. There are many
commercial balloon operators who have balloons that regularly carry four, six,
eight, or more passengers. Such balloons, of course, are much larger and less
maneuverable. My “AX-7” sized “sport” balloon has its payload limitations, but
it is better for the contour flying I like to do up here in the tight valleys of
the Berkshire hills. If you have a large group, see the
Your Flight is
Customized page 
where I tell you how I can arrange for a multi-balloon
flight for larger groups.
Although my system is rated for far more capacity, I limit myself to 425 lbs worth of passengers to keep the envelope temperature down and for safety reasons. This normally means just two passengers although on occasion I have taken up an adult and two children and even two adults and a child when their total weight did not exceed my limit. (The price is the same as for 2). Please also see the Your Flight is Customized page to learn about "hop flights" where we can get twice the number of people the flight experience in the same flight (for no added charge).
Q: Why is it you only fly with two passengers?
A. Yes, most of the time (with my self-imposed weight limit of 425 lbs - see above) I only fly 2 passengers. Many commercial balloons (especially out west) fly large groups in their oversized and segmented baskets. Now there's nothing wrong with sharing a basket with eleven of your new best friends, just as there's nothing wrong with riding a Greyhound bus... it can be fun. But I don't want to drive a bus when I can handle a sports car. Yes, I could make lots of money (as opposed to barely breaking even) taking up larger groups, but if you've gotten this far in the website, you should know by now that I'm not in this sport for the money; I'm in it for the love of ballooning. Besides in the tight valleys and wooded terrain here in Western Mass, you need the ballooning equivalent of a sports car. And believe me it's much more romantic when it's just the two of you. . .
Well me. I'm there too, but you can ignore me if you'd like.
Q: Do you fly all year long?
A: Yes. In fact, here are the top ten reasons to fly in cold weather:
10. The balloon requires less heat, so the fuel and therefore the flight lasts longer.
9. With less burning required the flight is quieter.
8. No crops in the fields means more landing spots. (I've even landed on frozen ponds.)
7. No leaves on the trees means you can see more on the ground and the chase crew can see you easier.
6. Wildlife sightings are much more prevalent in the winter (in the summer they are obscured by the leaves).
5. There is no wind chill since you are traveling with the wind.
4.. Dawn is much later, so you can sleep in later for a dawn launch.
3. You'll naturally think you should dress warmly in the winter but usually wind up taking of a couple of
layers as you'll get too hot.
2. It feels so good to get back into the warm car.
And the #1 reason:
1. At just below 0oF Spumante freezes up into really tasty ChampagneCicles
People think I'm nuts when they see me going out to fly in the winter, but I think it's a great time to fly. The temperature in the basket, due to the burning is 10-15 degrees warmer than the surrounding air. As I write this I just came back from the '04 Freeze Your Buns Fly-out (1/11/04), where we came low over a herd of 10+ deer we would have never seen with the leaves on the trees. It was 13 below zero when I left the house, but what a fantastic flight!
{Update: 1/26/05 - In the '05 version of the Freeze Your Buns rally we flew from Southington to Hampden CT on a triple hop crew flight on both that flight and the one the next weekend out of New Lebanon NY to Onota Lake, Pittsfield, MA, we saw lots of deer and other wildlife. Great winter flying!}
{Update: 2/11/06 - On this day we flew over 2 moose near Goshen, MA. She was obviously pregnant. This was our 2nd moose sighting both in the winter. We would have never seen them in the summer. Wildlife sightings are another great reason to fly in the winter.}
Q: What if I’m afraid of heights? Convince me I’ll be all right.
A: OK, here’s my confession. I’m afraid of heights myself. I don’t like ladders or fire escapes. Ballooning, however, is different. It’s been my experience that once aloft, even the most nervous passengers soon relax and enjoy the flight. There is no vertigo feeling. Because you are moving with the wind, there is no wind blowing. The walls of the basket surround you. The basket does not rock or sway.
Frequently,
when I am up in the air I don't get the sensation that I'm flying at all, but
rather standing on a platform and looking down at this incredibly intricate
scale model diorama with toy cars and model houses. This photo was taken just
after taking off at a golf course in Madrid New York in April of 2002.
Q: No, No, I mean that I am really afraid of flying. Those balloons look intriguing, but I'm sacred.
A: May I suggest we do a "Fear of Flying" flight. We start out in the middle of a large field and you control how high we go. At first we go no higher than a few feet, then you gradually allow me to increase the height only when you are comfortable. This may take some time, but I'll spend all the time I need to overcome your fears. It may be a trial, but believe me it will be worth it. I have seen spectacular turn-arounds. This new confidence just might spill over into your every-day life. However, I will not be held responsible if on Monday you go in to work, tell your boss what an ass he is, quit, and drive to South Dakota to buy your own balloon.
Q: How do you get back to our cars?
A: If our crack, highly trained, and disciplined (hah!) chase crew is doing their job, they will stay in contact with us via radio, anticipate our flight path, and be there before we land. Don’t laugh, it has happened! (In fact, I'm proud to report that on the last two landings I did before writing this sentence. the crew was there a good 10 minutes before we landed.) And, well, if they’re not there first, they’ll be there soon. After the landing we pack up the balloon, have a champagne toast to a successful flight, and then drive back to the launch site.
Q: Crewing sounds interesting. How can I join the crew?
A: Glad you asked. Click here to go to the Join The Crew page.
A: Hey, you’re paying for the flight; you can sit on the side and do nothing if you want to. However, you’re going to get much more out of the experience when you realize that ballooning is an interactive activity. Yes, please lend a hand and we’ll have a smoother flight.
Q: Can I bring friends along to follow the balloon?
A: Yes, certainly. The more the merrier. Tell them to bring cameras. Occasionally, when the conditions are right, we can land and exchange passengers along the way. I don’t charge any more for this type of flight, but don’t guarantee that we’ll be able to pull it off either. That way you can get 4 people aloft for the price of 2.
If your friends do follow the balloon, ask them not to drive out onto the landing field without the landowner’s permission. Landowner relations are very important to the sport of ballooning.
Q: What happens if the weather is bad and we’re scheduled to fly?
A: First of all don’t attempt to convince me to fly in what I judge to be unsafe conditions. I won’t do it. If the weather is unsuitable for going aloft, we will reschedule. With the weather the way it is in New England, having to reschedule a flight two or three times would not be all that unusual.
Q: How much do you charge for one of your customized balloon flights?
A: $500 (which is normally $250 per person. - but see the question above on how many fit into a balloon.)
Q: $250 a person?!? Can’t we negotiate a cheaper price?
A: No, we can’t. If you’re looking for a cheaper flight, I can maybe suggest some places for you to go. (Although I don’t think that even the guys with the cattle-car type of gondolas out West, cramming in 8 - 12 passengers or more per flight charge less than $200.) Remember this is an intimate ride for 2 so you won't be sharing your flight with a bunch of strangers. (Be especially aware of middleman ride discounters. You'll find they really aren't the bargain they seem. Click Here for more details.) Please see the Your Flight is Customized page.
Q: Can I give a flight as a gift?
A: Great idea! Balloon flight gift certificates make a great birthday, Christmas, anniversary, etc. present. Any gift certificate I issue will have no expiration date. You may not remember much about all the other gift certificates you may get in your life, but you NEVER forget getting a gift certificate for a hot air balloon ride. Long View Ballooning gift certificates are:
1. Good
Forever - There is no Expiration Date. They are good until they are used and
can be rescheduled at anytime. Gift Certificate holders get scheduling priority.
2. Transferable - They are transferable, anyone can use them
Q: Can I arrange a surprise flight?
A:
Surprises! Don’t you just love surprises? Imagine the look in her (or his) eyes
when you pull up to the launch site. Just contact me (see next question below)
and we can work out the details.
Mostly what Long View Ballooning is all about is having fun. Here crew member Corky Robinson is surrounded by werewolves! That's me on the left and Chester the Wolfe on the right after a flight in which we filmed a segment of his TV show "Two Fat Ghouls Horror Classics"
Q: How do I book a flight? Call me toll free at 1-800-286-5401 (Cummington MA # 413-634-5401) or e-mail me at billvolk@westmass.com
e-mail us at billvolk@westmass.com
You can use cash or a check to pay for the ride, but for those who simply must use a credit card, use one of the buttons below.
When I was a young boy I wanted to grow up to be a balloonist, only now I realize you can't do both.
1-800-286-5401