Arizona Hot Air Balloons
Discover the world of Arizona hot air balloons! There are some very important things that you should read before making your flight reservation. No doubt about it, Arizona has the perfect location for ballooning. With our warm weather, sunny skies and our Sonoran desert, it's no wonder many love to enjoy this 1-day-activity here in the desert. There is much to know and learn about the sport of hot air ballooning, so sit back, relax and enjoy!
Frequently asked questions about hot air balloons Here are some FAQ that you may, too, have wondered about..... Arizona hot air balloons are considered safe, but with any activity or sport, there are no guarantees nothing bad will ever happen. That being said, it will hopefully make you feel a little better, as it did me, knowing that balloon-pilots are required to possess a commercial pilot's license. More specifically, they are required to have a "fixed-wing" license to fly.
The best thing to do prior to your flight in an Arizona hot air balloon, is request to see certification. This will help ensure you will have a safe, fun and pleasant ballooning experience.
Hot air balloons rise when the burner, which is fueled by propane gas is positioned under an open balloon envelope. This in turn heats the air and makes the balloon rise. When the parachute valve at the top of the envelope is opened, some of that hot air escapes, and the balloon sinks. What if I am afraid of heights? If you are afraid of heights as I am, this will likely ease your mind....Since you're not attached to the ground, you will not get the feeling that you would if you were standing up on a ladder or something even taller than that. I understand that even if you are afraid of heights, most passengers of these Arizona hot air balloons actually forget about their fear of heights not long after they lift off of the ground.
The hot air balloon flight, itself, usually lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. The length of the balloon flight depends on both the wind speed and the direction of the wind on the morning of your flight. One should set aside about a 4-hour block, though, as there are steps before and after the flight.
The altitude will vary during your flight. However, most Arizona hot air balloon flights you will be between 1,000 and 3,000 feet up in the air. It is possible for hot air balloons to go higher, that is if the wind on the scheduled day of your flight allows for this.
Don't forget to bring your camera! Take your digital camera if you have one. Some companies will video tape your experience as part of their pricing, so be sure to ask. Also be sure to take along some drinking water. Some companies also provide your hot-air-balloon tour with a lunch once you land.
A fan is used to blow cool air into the balloon. Later the burners are used to heat the air as the balloon lies on the ground. Gradually the balloon will rise to an upright position. How do you steer a balloon? The only way to steer a balloon is by finding different wind directions at different altitudes. Pilots are specifically trained for flying and are extremely skilled at navigating the balloon.
Every balloon flight relies solely on the wind; thus, no two balloon flights are ever the same. Although you can never be sure just how many miles you will travel during your hot-air-balloon tour, because of this wind variation, most flights travel between two and five miles.
A fan is used to blow cool air into the balloon. Later,the burners are used to heat the air as the balloon lies on the ground. Hot air balloons gradually rise to an upright position.
The hot air ballooning organization states that the only true way a pilot is able to steer a balloon is by finding different wind directions at different altitudes. Arizona hot air balloons are really dependent on the wind and rides with it, if you will. For the pilot to maneuver the balloon in a certain direction, the pilot ascends and descends in order to locate the appropriate wind direction he/she is looking for. Pilots are also able to contact the weather service for assistance in determining which way the balloon will travel. The hot-air-balloon crew then follow the balloon crew by automobile.
All the companies I have researched, allow children. You just Usually around the age of six is when a child will be able to see over the hot-air-balloon basket, and when he/she will be able to better enjoy the ballooning experience. Keep in mind that some children are frightened when they hear the loud sound that the hot air balloon burners routinely make throughout the entire flight.
The balloon is often referred to as the "envelope," and is usually made of nylon or polyester. This is the same type of cloth that you will see on parachutes. To me, when I look at the the envelope, it doesn't really look like it is made out of a tough fabric. You can be rest assured, though, as it is much tougher than you might think. The baskets, as you might guess, are made out of wicker. Wicker is considered to be very sturdy and flexible, but yet lightweight. Flexibility in a basket is a big benefit when landing as it is able to absorb some of the energy on impact. The wicker basket prevents the passengers from feeling such a huge jolt when landing!
I have heard of companies that can accommodate up to 50 people and also companies that will even provide a wedding ceremony in flight! So, needless to say, you will be in good hands with most of these Arizona hot air balloons.
The wind is normally calm during these times, which is an extremely important factor with hot air balloons. Evening flights can be canceled more often than sunrise flights due to the fact that the wind during sunset hours is less predictable than sunrise.
This is only an example of the pricing that I was able to find. The pricing seemed to be quite consistent with other companies, however, I did see some companies charging upwards of about $375.00 per person, which is considerably more than the example listed below. I am not saying that their fees are not worth the price; just make sure that you know what exactly your cost includes. 1 Person $159 2 Person $329 3 Person $499 4 Person $669 I also found a couple of companies, here in Arizona, that offer you an online discount. These discounts are applied if you order online. (If you live outside of Arizona, it certainly is well worth it to check for any online discounts that may also exist in your area.) Some of these offers were as low as $125 per person, which is the cheapest that I was able to find. Just spend a little time shopping around for an acceptable price. Here is a great tip, too... Many of the local hotels and resort city/town locations where these rides many times originate, often will have a discounted brochure inside of their lobby area, so you may wish to stop in, if possible. I know they exist where I live here in Arizona. There are many companies that provide Arizona hot air balloons to any willing passenger; you just need to shop around to find the best company that suits your needs. Some companies may provide this service cheaper, but they may not offer some of the other perks that other companies do.
Here are some Arizona hot-air-balloon-companies: Adventures Out West P.O. Box 12009-266 Scottsdale, AZ 85267 (602) 996-6100 Balloon America Balloon Rides P.O. Box 31255 Tucson, AZ 85751 (520) 299-7744 http://www.balloonrideusa.com Climb On a Rainbow Balloon Flights 7418 E. Cortez St Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (602) 225-5666 Heart -n-SOL Balloon Company 15856 N. 46th Place Phoenix, AZ 85032-4208 (602) 992-2720 LarryLeenAZ@aol.com Northen Light Balloon Expeditions P.O Box 1695 Sedona, AZ 86339 (520) 282-2274 balloon@sedona.net Red Rock Balloon Adventure 295 Lee Mountain LN Sedona, AZ 86351 (520) 284-0040 Rainbow Balloon Flights Phoenix, AZ (800) 378-0470 RainbowBalloons@aol.com Roping The Wind Hot Air Balloon Company Mesa, AZ (480) 807-0001 arizcowboy@hotmail.com The Hot Air Balloon Company Brian Holmes 1833 East Redfield Road, Phoenix, AZ 85022 800-843-5987 info@arizonaballooning.com Unicorn Balloon Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480-991-3666 unicrnblun@aol.com Fleur de Tucson Balloon Tours 4635 N. Caida Place Tucson, AZ 85718 520-529-1025 fleurdetucson@earthlink.net http://www.fleurdetucson.net Aerogelic Ballooning 17822 N. 10th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85023 1-866-359-8329 flypanacea@yahoo.com http://www.aerogelicballooning.com Monument Valley Balloon Company 1833 E Redfield Rd Phoenix, AZ 85022 800-843-5987 brian@monumentvalleyballooncompany.com www.MonumentValleyBalloonCompany.com
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Arizona hot air balloons are able to rise because the air inside the balloon is warmer than the surrounding air. This results in pressure differentials and produces the balloon to be able to lift into the air. 
How does the balloon get inflated?
Well, that depends on the size of the balloon. Many hot air balloon companies have a wide array of sizes for all numbers of people. 
