4:30 AM. Alarm sounding, softly, louder and louder. Roll out of bed, still dark out. Use a flashlight to find clothes set out night before, get dressed, brush teeth, put on shoes, pour coffee in mug and head out.
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| before dawn |
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| Lancaster Balloonport |
Load up the truck with the basket (burners already assembled on basket), envelope (balloon) and fans. Pull out to the grassy yard and start setting up. Basket is dropped off, burners checked and in working order and then the envelope is laid out.
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| burner check |
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| envelope laid out |
The envelope is pulled out from the sides and the skirt is held back and the mouth opened ready to receive air from the fans.
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| fans on and air is a-blowin' |
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| full of cold air (outside looking in) |
At this point I am holding the mouth of the envelope open to receive the air, so snapping pictures is very difficult (but I did manage to capture some photos). After the balloon is inflated with cool air, the burners are turned on and the flames heat the air to lift the balloon upright. The balloon is filled with just enough heat to remain upright until the pilot can get permission for lift off. 6 AM, sunrise, ready for take off.
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| radio to the tower to get permission for lift off |
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| up, up, up and away! |
At this point the crew buttons up the building, putting away the fans and we pile into the truck and get to chasing!! We keep in contact with the balloon by radio and stay on roads close by. Today we took off at the Lancaster Airport and landing was just outside Manheim off 772. Flights are generally an hour give or take depending on finding a suitable landing spot. The crews job is to follow closely and be waiting at the landing spot the pilot has picked out. Today's landing was in the parking lot of an elementary school. Landings have been in the middle of roads, farmer fields, backyards, parks, anywhere away from power lines.
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| one more shot before tear down |
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| releasing the hot air |
The basket is tipped back on its side, the hot air released from the deflation port at the top of the envelope and as the balloon slowly empties the crew packs the envelope into a neat rope like package ready to be stuffed back in the envelope bag for storage until the next flight. The basket is loaded back onto the truck and off we go back to our starting point. 7:30 AM arrival.
And then we do it all again tomorrow. Crew is important in the whole process, we put the balloon together, help inflate it and assist the pilot as he or she needs us. Needless to say, my hands were full today and it was GREAT getting back out there, I can't wait to do it all again tomorrow!
If you or somebody you know is interested in a hot air balloon ride you may contact the
Lancaster Balloonport here and read more about the pilots, history, etc.
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