Fly with our commercially licensed pilots in a colorful hot air balloon! Our guests help us with the inflation, then rise above the earth on a safe, yet exciting and exhilarating flight. The flights start soon after sunrise or just before sunset when the air is at its calmest. As the balloons can only drift with the wind once they are launched, we make our ascent upwind of an area known to have a large number of good landing sites. For this reason our launch sites vary depending on the wind direction at flight time. Flights are of course weather permitting. We at the BALLOON DEPOT have been flying in the beautiful valleys of the Puget Sound region since 1978; this long, accident-free experience enables us to provide you with the best possible flight. We may brush through the treetops, sweep down over a field of wildflowers, skim over a pond, or climb high above the earth for a spectacular view. Each flight is a unique experience.
Any adventure has a certain element of risk, and our insurance company requires that all passengers sign a standard liability release waiver (copies sent by request), but our record of 26 years flying without accident resulting in injury is one we are proud of. Our pilots are commercially licensed by the FAA and have many hundreds of hours of experience. The balloons are also licensed by the FAA and maintained to the same high standards as other commercially flown aircraft. We exclusively fly, in our opinion, one of the safest, highest quality, and most expensive make of balloon on the market, and our well-paid pilots and crew do their professional best to provide the best service to you that is possible. Although we are a small business, we don't cut corners here! Your safety is our number one concern.
HOW SAFE IS BALLOONING?
Any adventure has a certain element of risk, and our insurance company requires that all passengers sign a standard liability release waiver (copies sent by request), but our record of 26 years flying without accident resulting in injury is one we are proud of. Our pilots are commercially licensed by the FAA and have many hundreds of hours of experience. The balloons are also licensed by the FAA and maintained to the same high standards as other commercially flown aircraft. We exclusively fly, in our opinion, one of the safest, highest quality, and most expensive make of balloon on the market, and our well-paid pilots and crew do their professional best to provide the best service to you that is possible. Although we are a small business, we don't cut corners here! Your safety is our number one concern.
IS IT COLD UP THERE?
It is no colder in the balloon than it is on the ground. There is also no wind chill factor to account for, as we are traveling with the wind. So, wear whatever you are comfortable in, with solid shoes (no high heels!). Evening flights land around sunset so you may want to bring a jacket to wear when you land.
WHERE DO WE LAUNCH AND WHERE DO WE LAND?
Prior to your arrival at the BALLOON DEPOT's meeting site our pilots have been busy compiling weather reports. After you've checked in you may see them watching pibals (Pilot Balloons). These tell us the local wind speed and direction. We'll then board our trucks and drive to the launch site that gives us the longest possible flight that ends in the safest possible landing area.
HOW HIGH WILL WE GO?
Every flight is different. Your pilot will search for the most favorable wind directions from 500 to 5000 feet or more. Most flights are flown between 500 and 1500 feet.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
You should budget around 3 to 3&1/2 hours for the whole occasion and we plan on being in the air for around an hour or so. Wind speed and direction will dictate the exact length of your flight, so there can't be any guarantee of exactly an hours' flight time, but that's what we aim for. Sometimes more, sometimes a little less! Flying in balloons doesn't bother most people who are afraid of heights. Perhaps it is due to the reassuring bulk of the balloon directly overhead, but folks who would otherwise avoid heights enjoy ballooning tremendously.
HOW MANY PASSENGERS DO THE BALLOONS CARRY?
The smaller balloons carry 4 to 6, and the bigger ones carry 8 to 10 passengers, plus a pilot. We can for an extra fee accomodate just two passengers for a private romantic flight. see our Rates page for more information.
Call the BALLOON DEPOT office at (877) 881-9699 or (360) 805-1538 and book the morning or evening flight most convenient to you. In summer it's a good idea to schedule about a week ahead of time. We accept checks, cash and most credit cards over the phone. You may also purchase flight certificates right here on our website, from our Rates page. You can hold a reservation with a credit card and pay on arrival as well, if you wish. If you have received a gift certificate, have the certificate number handy when you call. You may now sit back in anticipation; it will be worth it. We wish you calm winds and gentle landings.
CANCELLATION POLICY
No shows and flights cancelled by passengers within 48 hours of reservation will forfeit certificates. We really need to know how many passengers we will be flying on a given day, it affects all aspects of the flight. Flight certificates are transferable to anyone, though no refunds can be made.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
We have two different meeting areas, either Carnation or Snohomish, and which one we use is dependent on what the wind is doing that day; this maximizes our chances of getting a flight in on your day. Just call our office at (877) 881-9699, or (360) 805-1538, two hours before flight time and we will happily give you detailed directions on where to meet us for your flight.
History of Balloon Flight Finally on November21, 1783, before a vast throng of onlookers that included the King and Queen of France, Marquis D'Arlandes and Pilatre de Rozier piloted humanity's first aerial voyage, more than a century before the Wright brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk.
Ten days after the first manned hot air flight, a French physicist named J.A.C. Charles made the first manned ascent in a hydrogen-filled balloon. Ballooning became quite popular for over half a century thereafter in Europe. Eighteenth century farmers, frightened by one of these strange objects descending from the heavens, actually attacked the balloon with pitchforks. Early aeronauts quickly learned to carry champagne aboard to present to the farmer upon landing, to prove that they were merely humans and not monsters of some sort! Thus was born the traditional post-flight champagne ceremony.
With the advent of powered aircraft, ballooning became a less practical form of flight, practiced by only a few enthusiasts. The modern day sport of hot air ballooning evolved through research for the U.S. Navy in the 1960's and has enjoyed a remarkable comeback due to the development of a durable, comparatively inexpensive nylon for the envelope in combination with an improved and efficient propane burner system. Today there are more than 5,000 balloon pilots in the U.S. alone.
