Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Rides

Its that time of year again. Santa uses the Wendy’s hot air balloon to check on all the little boys and girls. He is making his list and checking it twice. So keep your eyes to the skies for the Wendy’s balloon with Santa at the controls.

A gift certificate for a hot air balloon flight is a great gift idea! A ride in a hot air balloon is something people don’t forget.  Give the gift of adventure and memories that will last a lifetime.

Warning Warning Warning

Always choose a local hot air balloon company. Many companys on the web do not even own balloons. They pay for expensive web sites and sell gift certificates, then they try and get local companys to fly them.  They are usually given low priority with local companys. Most good local companys will not honor these certificates. Its also extreamly hard to get refunds. As you shop for flights make sure the company is local.

Keep in mind that if you are shopping for a discount rate. You don’t want a discount eye surgen, brain surgen, or discount balloon pilot. You always get what you pay for.

A UNIQUE WAY TO GIVE A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT AS A GIFT….

For most people a hot air balloon flight is a once in a lifetime experience. Its an adventure they will never forget. Lots of flights are purchased as gifts. Some people have creative ways of giving the gift of a balloon flight to someone special.  My wife had given a hot air balloon flight to her sister as a Christmas gift way before we met.  The way she presented it was very unique. 

1st: She took a picture of a balloon (you can use a copy off our websight). 

2nd: She glued it onto a piece of cardboard & wrote on the back of it….what the gift was.

3rd : She cut the cardboard picture into several puzzle pieces.

4th: Then wraped them in different size boxes with little things in the box (Hershey Kisses, roll of coins, ect) to throw her off if she shook the box…to guess the gift.

5th: She numbered the gifts in order … so she would not be able to guess the puzzle right away.  Her sister opened a gift a day until Christmas….when she opened the center puzzle piece that pulled it all together.  The anticipation was so much fun & they really enjoyed the entire process from gifts to the actual flight.

Other people has gone as far as blind folding the gift recipiant untill it was time to get them in the balloon.

One time we had a person purchase an exclusive flight.  They had us come and inflate the balloon in the cul de sac in front of the house.  Then they woke the person who was going for the flight.  We lifted off from right out side!

The son of a good friend of mine had me inflate in a green belt behind his girlfriends house. As I was inflating the balloon he called her and told her to come outside.  Then as we lifted off he had our crew unfold a banner on the ground that asked if she would go to the prom with him.  She will never forget that invitation!

Be creative, have fun with it and always give a gift that people will not soon forget

Each year the Wendy’s balloon has a special guest pilot. Santa uses the Wendy’s balloon here in Phoenix to make his list and check it twice. Looking for the boys and girls who are naughty and nice.  Santa likes using the Wendy’s Balloon because it gives the raindeer time to rest up for the big day!  Santa has been using the balloon since 1994 and he has become a very experienced balloon pilot.  Co pilot Kevin Flanagan says it is so wonderful to hear how many people on the ground recognize Santa.  So if you happen to see the Wendy’s balloon in the sky you better watch out, you better not pout, you better not cry I am telling you why Santa Clause is flying across town. Happy Holidays

Santa is a balloon pilot

Sky 12 over Squaw Peak

Over the past 25 years I have been flying I have become good friends with the Phoenix area helicopter pilots. Our area pilots are some of the best in the world.  They are also natural balloon pilots. Rick Crabbs the Fox Pilot and Scott Cliffton the News Hawk 5 pilot both have a hot air balloon rating as well as being helicopter pilots. When they are working they often come by to say hello or put me on the news.  The balloon makes for a great beauty shot.  Words can not describe the rush of watching a helicopter hover over 1000 feet in the air. And while they are shooting us, I am shooting them. I have a great photo collection of Media helicopters at work. Recently 3TVs Bruce Haffner and I where flying with an awesome sunrise and clouds in the distance.  It was a surreal view of squaw peak sticking out of the clouds as the sun came up.  The price of a hot air balloon $45,000  a media helicopter 2 million. Watching the sunrise over the mountains in Phoenix with some friends Priceless!