Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Rides

Its been a busy January.  We fly our Wendy’s Hot Air Balloon and TV3 Balloon over some big events.  We flew over the Fiesta Bowl Parade, The Barrett Jackson, The Glendale Glitter and Glow, The P.F. Chang Rock and Roll Marathon and The NFC Championship Game.  Over 1 million quality impressions this month alone.  Oh Ya and we will be flying over the FBR Open. So keep your eyes to the skies for the 3TV hot air balloon and the Wendy’s hot air balloon too!

My balloon with a view

One of the most common questions we get asked is how old do you have to be to fly. My youngest passenger was my daughter at 4 months old. Now that was very young. It was a short flight and she was fine. She didn’t even cry. She had heard the burner noise since she was in her moms womb.  She has flown sevral times since then.  She likes to sit on the floor and look out the step hole of the basket.  She thinks it is her private window.  On the other end of the scale, my oldest passenger was 101 years old.  We flew him about two years ago now. Up until he came to fly my oldest was 99. She flew on her 99th birthday. So as you can see ballooning is for children of all ages!

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!