Hot Air Balloons

[Jim Baker]

Do any other of you Creekers enjoy hot air balloons? We have become friends with a pilot and his wife and now help them crew their balloon at different shows throughout the year. We will be at Peoria, Illinois this weekend, Centralia, IL next month, and Louisville, KY in September.

For any of you who have never been around hot air balloons, it can be really fascinating and beautiful. It's really neat to see it up close go from being stuffed inside a 4 foot bag to standing upright. Most shows have an evening glow, which is absolutely beautiful. Flying in the balloon is incredible. It's so peaceful up there.

If you get the chance to go to a show this summer, don't pass it up. If you happen to be at any of the three shows we'll be attending, look us up. We'll be with the balloon called Air Provocateur II, piloted by Steve Hill.

[Tom Sweeney]

Hey Jim my Avatar is a very cool hot air balloon owned by a good friend of mine. It is a giant US Flag rectangular special shape. He just picked up his newest one - an 18 story tall space shuttle - He ordered it before the shuttle accident but had them add a memorial to the crew. on it. You can imagine he was very busy this last week - from New Hampshire to NY to 2 festivals locally here in PA to NJ - all this last week.

It's lots of fun to crew -but I've never actually taken a ride with him.

<img src="http://www.usflagballoon.com/Shuttle/FirstTestFlightBrazil/Mvc-026f.jpg"

<img src="http://www.usflagballoon.com/images/fd7592b4.jpg">

[Bruce Page]

Do any other of you Creekers enjoy hot air balloons? We have become friends with a pilot and his wife and now help them crew their balloon at different shows throughout the year. We will be at Peoria, Illinois this weekend, Centralia, IL next month, and Louisville, KY in September.

For any of you who have never been around hot air balloons, it can be really fascinating and beautiful. It's really neat to see it up close go from being stuffed inside a 4 foot bag to standing upright. Most shows have an evening glow, which is absolutely beautiful. Flying in the balloon is incredible. It's so peaceful up there.

If you get the chance to go to a show this summer, don't pass it up. If you happen to be at any of the three shows we'll be attending, look us up. We'll be with the balloon called Air Provocateur II, piloted by Steve Hill.

Jim, I couldn’t agree with you more. Albuquerque, New Mexico is host to the annual “Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta” every October. Last year, we had 722 registered balloons from 22 different countries. If you have never witnessed a mass ascension, or the “Special Shapes Rodeo” you are truly missing one of life’s pleasures.

[Doug Keener]

Do any other of you Creekers enjoy hot air balloons? We have become friends with a pilot and his wife and now help them crew their balloon at different shows throughout the year. We will be at Peoria, Illinois this weekend, Centralia, IL next month, and Louisville, KY in September.

For any of you who have never been around hot air balloons, it can be really fascinating and beautiful. It's really neat to see it up close go from being stuffed inside a 4 foot bag to standing upright. Most shows have an evening glow, which is absolutely beautiful. Flying in the balloon is incredible. It's so peaceful up there.

If you get the chance to go to a show this summer, don't pass it up. If you happen to be at any of the three shows we'll be attending, look us up. We'll be with the balloon called Air Provocateur II, piloted by Steve Hill.

Yes! I love hot air ballons. I took a ride in one many years ago but there was so little wind that we only went a couple of miles. I went to the Albuquerque ( I used to know how to spell it!) New Mexico show in '89 or '90. Totally awsome.

[Dr. Zack Jennings]

I flew Hot Air Balloons all through the late 80's and Early 90's. I finally wore it out. I was in Albuquerqe in 1986. Competed in the U.S.Nationals in Iowa & in Baton Rouge and finished my career as the first American to compete behind the Iron Curtain when invited to Hungary in 1990.

I have a tremendous collection of memories from those days.

[Rusty Hughes, Indy]

I loved the hot air balloon ride that I took back on July 26, 1996. I know that date so well because I asked my girlfriend to marry me while we were up there. She said yes!!

I'll be going up again taking my children someday.

Thanks for the pics everyone.

[Don Farr]

Saw Mill Creek guys, you are just to cool. You absolutely just blow me away sometimes with all the different posts.

[Dennis Peacock]

Hot air baloons pass over my property and my house very frequently. I evidently live in a very good flight path for these baloons. I have never flown in one....but I sure do want too......I would like to take LOML up for a ride together.....maybe I can talk her into it...but not very likely.

[Charles McKinley]

Will be in New Castle, PA in Scotland Meadows Park July 17-20.

I hope to be there forthe night glow Thursday at 9:15.

PM me if you want more details.

[Jim Baker]

Hey Jim my Avatar is a very cool hot air balloon owned by a good friend of mine. It is a giant US Flag rectangular special shape. He just picked up his newest one - an 18 story tall space shuttle - He ordered it before the shuttle accident but had them add a memorial to the crew. on it. You can imagine he was very busy this last week - from New Hampshire to NY to 2 festivals locally here in PA to NJ - all this last week.

It's lots of fun to crew -but I've never actually taken a ride with him.

<img src="http://www.usflagballoon.com/Shuttle/FirstTestFlightBrazil/Mvc-026f.jpg"

<img src="http://www.usflagballoon.com/images/fd7592b4.jpg">

Tom- your friend has two incredible looking balloons. We were at Centralia, IL two years ago when a huge space shuttle balloon that looked somewhat similar to this one caught fire during a flight. It looked very scary, but I think the pilot and passenger were mostly OK afterwards. The balloon was a total loss.

[Tom Sweeney]

Tom- your friend has two incredible looking balloons. We were at Centralia, IL two years ago when a huge space shuttle balloon that looked somewhat similar to this one caught fire during a flight. It looked very scary, but I think the pilot and passenger were mostly OK afterwards. The balloon was a total loss.

Jim there were 2 original shuttle balloons - you saw the fire & the other one wore out very prematuraly. My brother was somewhat involved with them as he was president with the clear lake TX(NASA) chamber (forget the actual name) who was partners in those 2 balloons. That organization puts on a huge Balloon rally every year & my brother & his wife are heavily involved in that. The original pilot of those 2 apparantly isn't real happy with my friend for doing this one - but that's life.

I haven't seen the shuttle yet - but the Flag going up is a sight to behold.
If you want to see more pics & even some video you can visit their web site http://www.usflagballoon.com/

[Doug Littlejohn]

Boy, Bruce sure got it right. SWMBO and I had the GREAT pleasure of attending the Fiesta several years ago. I rate it as one of those main goals in life to be part of.

The year we were there they had over 800 ballons and being out 'on the deck' amongst all the ballons as they fire up and then do the mass ascention is truely a memory of a lifetime.

And the special shapes are way, way fun.

The best part is how visitors are encouraged to mingle amongst the ballons as they prep and launch. It makes you feel a part of the action.

If you have ANY interest in ballons, this is THE gathering to go to. I've been to many others, but when 800 ballons launch in waves of 250+ at a time, literally feet from you, there is nothing word wise to do it justice.

Thanks for such a neat OT.

[Jim Baker]

The Centralia, Illinois Balloon Festival is this weekend. It is a very well done event. If you live in Southern Illinois and get the chance to go, I don't think you will be disappointed. If you are able to attend, look me up. I'll probably be holding the crown line to Air Provacateur II.

[Jim Becker]

They pass over our house quite frequently during the nice-weather months.