When is the best time of day to fly a balloon?
Hot air ballooning is a year round sport. Weather conditions for ballooning are best just after sunrise and about 2 to 3 hours before sunset. At these times winds are light (less than 8 mph) making balloon flight safe and enjoyable. During the day, as the sun heats the earth, thermals are created which make ballooning hazardous as thermals reduce the pilots ability to control the vertical movement of the balloon. How much does a balloon cost? The average sport balloon costs from $12,000 to $25,000 depending on size and art work etc. Special shape balloons cost much more. It is not uncommon for a special shape balloon to cost more than $100,000. In addition, most balloonists have another $2,000 to $5,000 invested in ground support equipment not including their chase vehicle. How do you become a balloon pilot? To become a hot air balloon pilot, you must receive flight and ground instruction from a flight instructor licensed by the FAA. A pilot’s license will be issued after successful co
