On September 19, 1783, a sheep, a duck, and a rooster become the first passengers in a hot air balloon launched by the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph and Ettienne for a royal demonstration at the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. (FYI: Benjamin Franklin did not attended this demonstration as generally rumored. According to his report to Sir Joseph Banks of the Royal Society in London, he attended the flight of the hydrogen balloon in August of that same year.)

In the U.S. Civil War, World War I, and World War II hot air balloons were used as tools of warfare, for transportation surveying, and for communication.

During the 1800's, almost all balloons were filled with hydrogen or coal gas and were principally used for public displays, and by scientists and soldiers.

Ed Yost made the first modern hot-air balloon flight on October 22, 1960 from Bruning, Nebraska.

Today balloons are used primarily for two purposes: sport or scientific research. Sport balloons mostly use hot air. (Scientific balloons generally use hydrogen, helium, methane, or ammonia.)

Is hot air ballooning safe?

Yes, ballooning is very safe and we have a 100% safety record.

What type of weather is best for hot air ballooning?

For safety reasons, balloonists generally prefer for the the winds to be less than 10 mph and the clouds to be at least 2000' above the ground.

How many people can fit in the basket?

Up to 4 adults can fit in the basket (maybe 1 more if some are children). As it warms up, we can carry 2-3 adults on a hot afternoon. It is actually based more on weight and temperature than on number of people.

Where do we land?

There's no easy answer for this one. This is really a part of the excitement and adventure of ballooning!

What happens after we land? How do we get back to where we started?

You will come to appreciate our chase crew most once we have landed and you realize we have to get back. We are going nowhere until our crew shows up to get us. Balloon chasing is a fun challenge and hopefully the chase will be there waiting on us, or will arrive shortly after we land . We all drive back to the fiesta site together.

What should I wear?

Dress casually and comfortably for the weather. Remember it is a little cooler after dark and a little warmer while the sun is out. Also, no open toe shoes or high heel shoes allowed. We want to protect your feet just as much as the rest of you

How big are hot air balloons?

Most balloons are from 60,000 cubic feet to 140,000 cubic feet. However, some are small enough to fly from a harness on your back and some are capable of flying 16 people or more. Most balloons tower from 60' to 90' tall.

What material is the balloon made of?

Most hot air balloons are made from ripstop nylon which is similar to the material for parachutes. One difference is that our ripstop is coated inside to contain the hot air.

What is the basket made of?

Baskets or gondolas are made from wicker with a weave similar to your household wicker furniture. They are reinforced with metal tubes or aircraft cables and a wood floorboard. The wicker weave is what gives a balloon it's strength and flexibility at landing.

What kind of fuel do you use?

Balloon burners use propane similar to your gas grill. The only difference is that we use the liquid rather than the gas.