WHERE DO YOU FLY FROM?

Our pilot defines speed and direction of the wind at the flight day.  Launch site is determined by the speed and direction of the wind. This launch site will be situated in 15minutes from the place of meeting.

HOW LONG IS HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT?

A hot air balloon ride lasts for about one hour (usually a little more than one hour) depending on weather conditions and landing sites. You should allow at least four-six hours for the whole experience (including time to get from your place and back).

WHEN DO YOU FLY?

We fly all year -round, seven days a week. We fly twice a day from March to November: early in the morning – first 2-3 hours after sunrise and in the evening –  3 hours before sunset. Lower temperatures in winter time allow day flights to take place.

WHY DON’T YOU GENERALLY FLY DURING THE DAY?

During the day, the sun heats the Earth which in turn heats the air above causing «thermals». These thermals cause updrafts and downdrafts which affect a pilot’s ability to safely control the flight.

WHAT TIME DO I NEED TO BE AT THE MEETING PLACE?

Follow the link, here you may see an approximate schedule  of the meeting time. The time of meeting changes depending on the time of sunrise and sunset. Please, feel free to ask our managers about exact time of meeting before the flight.

HOW HIGH WILL WE FLY?

A high will vary within the flight. The pilot can regulate speed and direction of the flight using different wind direction. The balloons will fly from ground level to a maximum altitude 500 meters in Istra and Dmitrov regions. There are high flights when balloons fly to a high over several kilometers. The more high of the flight the more rarefied air become. This fact affect on work of the equipment and state of health of the people. Safe flight (without special equipment) are usually the flights on the high less than 4000 meters. Usually a high of the flight depends on the passengers’ wishes but it is limited and restricted by the rules taking place in a particular region of flight. An average high of the flight with passengers   – 500 мeters (you can compare it with a building of 150 floors).

HOW FAR WILL WE FLY?

We will go as far as the wind will take us for one our of the flight. You could fly a relatively short distance or as far as several kilometers. The fuel is enough for two or three hours.

WHERE WILL WE LAND?

Hot air balloons travel on the wind and you never know where exactly you are going to land. Place of landing depends on the wind direction.The pilot will be looking for a suitable landing site. It will be empty area which is suitable for landing of the balloon as well as suitable for the retrieval crew to arrive shortly after landing

HOW WILL WE LAND?

Your pilot will choose a big and suitable landing site. The stronger wind the bigger area of the landing needed. It is necessary to to avoid collision with the objects. Your pilot will stop heat envelop of the ballon just before the landing and the balloon will slowly begins to descend. The heated air inside will go away with help of parachute valve. During landing you will be in the safe seated landing position within the basket and handle the handles as instructed by your pilot. It is very important to follow all the pilot’s instructions. 

DO THE PASSENGERS NEED PARACHUTES?

There is no need in parachute according to the flight manual of a Hot air balloon. Hot air ballooning is a safe activity and the most safe type of aircrafts in general aviation. You may need to have parachutes only in uniq cases such as high flights or record flights.

CAN PEOPLE COME WITH ME TO WATCH?

Your friends may follow the retrieval crew by means of their own transport or if you have only one person to accompany we may may take him in a retrieval crew car.Also your guests may wait for you at our location in Dmitrov.

WHAT IF I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION (DISABILITY)?

We are client-centered, we wish to give a chance to everybody to fly. We have written instructions for people with hearing sense limitation. As each case is unique we have individual approach to each customer. The main important thing for us is to perform a safe flight that’s why we are ready to discuss all the details with you. Please feel free to contact us. 

HOW HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT HAPPEN?

At the flight date our representatives will meet you in a specified place, the pilot will choose launch asite. Our team will prepare balloon for the flight, if you want you can take part in this process: to make photos or even help the team. The balloon pilot will instruct you and advise as of safety, then you will have a flight. After landing you will have a traditional first flight ceremony. After the celebration of the first flight the passengers will be transported back or at home (in case you have previously ordered the transfer).

CAN THE BALLOON FLY OVER MY HOUSE?

This may be possible only in case if you house situted on the direction of the flight and it is the correct wind direction on the day of flight. 

DO THE BAGS WITH SAND NEEDED?

Bags of sand are needed only for gas balloon. We fly hot air balloons and don’t need bags with the sand.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

We kindly recommend comfortable clothes depending on the time of year and on the specific day you are flying. Flat shoes, a cap or other hat for the warmth from the burners. Generally comfortable layers are welcomed bacause you will have to get over basket which is approximately 1,10 m high. If it had been raining the day before, you would may be walking in wet, muddy fields sensible shoes or trainers are essential. Usually we offer our passengers to help with the inflation or deflation of the balloon which most people relly enjoy. We  appreciate this help so much because it helps to make the process much quicker, so we also reccomend you wear clothes which you don’t mind getting a little dirty.

CAN I BRING A CAMERA?

Yes you can. You can bring a camera, phone, selfie stick because views out of balloon bascket  are so exciting. Do not  pack your things in big bags or backpacks it will disrupt the flight. The Club administration is not responsible for safe custody of your equipment. We kindly offer to use our photo and video servises to avoid any enconvinience. Your jorney will be comfortable and you will have enough photos of a good quality. 

WHAT IS THE BALLOON WEIGHT?

The weight of a standard ballon together with the equipmend and fuel is approximately 400 kg.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO FLY WINTER TIME?

Definitely. The only one thing is important — you should wear warm clothes. Winter flights are so excited and beautiful the air is so fresh and bright, the nature is so wonderful. 

HOW THE BALLOON IS TRANSPORTATED?

We need a special vice as well as off road car for the transportation of the hot air balloon because a landing of balloon can be at out-of-the-way place.

HOW BIG IS THE HOT AIR BALLOON?

It’s high is about 21m (7-floors), diameter — 14 m. A Big balloon is able to take about 850 kg, its high is like 8th — floors building.

WHAT FUEL IS NEEDED FOR A HOT AIR BALLOON?

Air inside the envelope is warmed by heating the air by ordinary mix of propane-butane. We need approximately 70 litres of gas for one hour balloon flight. 

HOW MUCH DOES A BALLON COST?

The Price depends on the material and the size of the balloon. You may buy a simple balloon  for 800,000 – 1 million Rubles.

HOW MANY PASSENGERS ARE THERE IN THE BALLOON?

This depends on a total veight of all the passengers, provision of the fuel, weather and the size of the balloon. We can offer a flight for 1 and up to 19 person in one ballon.

EQUIPMENT USED WITHIN THE FLIGHT?

Altitude-rate indicator – to calculate descent and drifting up speed, an altimetere to measure altitude, an envelope temperature gauge. We use GPS to  define location, also we use radio set to be in touch with the chase crew.

WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE BALLOON?

Usually the temperature inside the envelope is about 50 up to 110ºС, depending of season.

WHERE THE BALLOONS ARE MANUFACTURED?

The main known balloon manufacturers are: Cameron Balloons (United Kingdom), KubicekBalloons (Czech Republic), Ultra Magic (Spain), Rusbal (the Russian Federation). We fly balloons manufactured in Russia and Europe as well.

ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS (LIMITS) FOR BALLOON FLIGHTS?

In order to perform a safe flight and to get positive emotions you should be ready to:  climbe in and out over bascket (it is about 110 sm high); stand unassisted for an hour and to take correct position on the landing (adopt the bended knee seated landing position). You will also need to follow and fully understand the pilot’s safety instructions, to be able to react quickly to them. According to a current aviation legislation of the Russian Federation the Capitan of Aircraft (balloon pilot) is fully responsible for the safety of all the passengers on board that’s why the pilot has a right to take a desicion concerning permitting wether for flight of some person or other just before the flight.   

IS THERE ANY AGE OR WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS?

Children must be aged 6 or over and be accompanied by a responsible adult. Small children afraid of burners (work loud), one more problem is that small children do not see anything out of basket and to take children on hands is against the safety. Teenagers under 18 accompanied by a responsible adult as well. We are glad to wellcome passengers in all shapes and sizez but due to weight and space restrictions of hot air balloons and baskets , anyone who is more 100 kg will be required to pay a supplement. Please feel free to contact us, we will discuss all the details.

WHAT IF I AM PREGNANT?

Unfortunately, for safety reasons we are unable to fly women who are pregnant. However, if you become pregnant when you already have a certificate we will extend the validity until after you’ve had the baby. Just let us know accordingly. 

CAN I FLY THE BALLOON?

No. All our pilots are qualified and highly experienced (each has about 100 flights a year) it is better to let the proffecional perform the flight. However our pilots are always ready to answer all your questions about how it works and how to fly hot air balloon. If you want to feel yourself as a hotairballoon pilot you may choose our special flight program «To become a hot air balloon pilot» and you will get flight basics. 

IS HOT AIR BALLOONING SAFE?

Hot air ballooning is safe activity and safe type of general aviation. We choose only perfect weather for our flights, all our pilots are well-qualified all our balloons are certified.

IS THERE INSURANCE?

We have all the balloons, pilots and passengers insured. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY FLIGHT IS CANCELLED?

Even if the weather looks sunny and bright we can cancell the flight. Planning the flights our pilots use special web-sites and programs. The data of such web-sites and programs  may be differ than those in ordinary sourses. As you flight always important for us we will offer you some other date for flight.

I SAW ANOTHER BALLOON FLYiNG SO WHY WAS MY FLIGHT CANCELLED?

It might be a sport balloon training or a private flight (not with passengers). Our pilot’s decision whether to fly is not related to what other balloonists decide. Pilots consider all the weather factors and make their own decision always putting your safety first.  

WHAT IF I WANT TO CANCEL OR CHANGE MY FLIGHT?

Please inform us accordingly if you want to change the date of flight. You can change or cancel he flight date  not later than one day before the fligh. We will book some other date convenient for you and which is not booked yet by us.  

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