October 1st dawned crisp and clear, and I was ready to partake in an experience to last a lifetime. Even though I had flown in hot air balloons before, it's a brand new adventure every time. The launch site was perched on a county estate just outside of Saint Peters, PA, and a stones throw from French Creek National Park. As the sun peaks over the summit to the east, the crew readies the balloon and basket for our morning flight.  Fall is one of the best times of the year to take a hot air balloon ride, but this morning was exceptional.  While the experienced and extremely hospitable crew of US Hot Air Balloon Team makes all the necessary preparations, they'll often ask if any of the passengers want to help out.  This is the perfect opportunity to meet and interact with their FAA Commercially Certified Pilots and their equally competent crew members.

Even though this was an early morning flight, everyone was at their best.  The air was fresh and cool, and the only sounds you heard were that of nature, waking up around you.

The photo on the right shows our Pilot, Stan Hess (left) and Brian Brown, a student Pilot, who has been working with Stan for over 8 years -- standing inside one of the balloons as it inflates.

The United States Hot Air Balloon Team was launched in 1987 to provide, fly, and maintain hot air balloons for the purpose of involving pilots, passengers, and spectators in the sport of hot air ballooning.

The United States Hot Air Balloon Team has successfully booked National and International flights and tours in balloons having custom designed panels with corporate identification.  They are the only company of this type in the world.  They are able to schedule a hot air balloon flight for individuals, couples, or groups at their Headquarters, where this flight took place, or from just about anywhere else in the U.S. or abroad.

In a matter of minutes, the balloon is filled with just regular air by powerful fans; which is then heated to provide the balloon with lift.  The basket or Gondola is made of very sturdy material and can weight several hundred pounds, empty.  You get a very secure feeling when you climb into it, but it never ceases to amaze me, with a flick of the wrist, a skilled pilot can lift it and all of us up like we were weightless.  The Pilot always carries more than enough fuel for each scheduled flight and controls them from his cockpit position in the basket.  These valves control specially designed gas burners, safely positioned away from passengers.

The Pilot also has special controls that allows him to bleed air out of the balloon by releasing it through special vents - engineered into each balloon.  This allows the Pilot to lower, steer, and even gently spin the balloon to allow each passenger the best possible view.  This process also allows the skilled Pilot to take advantage of air currents and wind directions at different altitudes, virtually allowing him to travel in different directions and at different speeds.  It really is quite a remarkable journey and equally educational.

The Pilot follows very strict safety procedures and performs numerous pre-flight checks before any passengers are loaded.  And only after they determine which way the wind will carry them, will the Chief Pilot give the command to load passengers and lift off.  The Chief Pilot will then instruct the lead balloon to commence its flight. Carefully watching the direction and distance of the lead balloon, the Chief Pilot will then begin his take off, always maintaining a safe proximity to the other balloon or balloons.

Even though I have been in hot air balloons many times, and only slightly distracted by keeping my camera going, I hardly even feel lifting off - that's how smooth it seems.  Also interesting, but an equally important factor to know about hot air ballooning, no matter what the wind is doing, you, as a passenger will rarely feel it.  Because the wind is what actually moves you and the balloon from place to place, you feel like you're being carried along like a feather.

Even though each balloon is equipped with the latest in avionic instrumentation, it's always good to have an experienced Pilot that knows the local terrain.  Our Pilot, Stan Hess, was able to guide us through the countryside like we were on a monorail.

He knew where to point us for the best possible views and he was able to point out even the slightest details of what these gorgeous vistas had to offer.  I must add, that when you're so caught up in all the beauty and marvelous scenery, you tend to forget you are actually flying.  It is so quiet and peaceful up there, just floating along unhurried and free.  Now, with that special someone, it would have to be one of the most romantic times one could ever experience.

That all said, you still may want to fully charge your camera's batteries and make sure that you bring plenty of film or storage cards.  But, if this trip is supposed to be a romantic one, let her use the camera, if you know what I mean...  The only thing that you should be concentrating on is HER!

After about two hours of flying and basking in this sun-drenched Fall morning, I can now see, the "chase vehicles" are in pursuit of us, below (actually, to the right).  As I fear, the end of this joyous occasion is way too near.  Damn their efficiency.

But all good things must end, right?  What more could one ask for?  The trip was fantastic, the weather couldn't have been better and it was all due (even the weather) to the extra efforts and work done by the great folks of The United States Hot Air Balloon Team, their Pilots, their crew members, and, of course, to all of the great passengers that attended today's flight. 

It was a perfect landing to end a perfect flight. An experience that'll be tough to beat, but not tough to book again and again.

Here's wishing that you become as smart as we were and book your next life long memory aboard any of the good ships of The United States Hot Air Balloon Team.  Farewell from (passengers listed left to right) Iris Gestram, Gil Bland, Jeff and Irene Mann, Jane, slightly buried, Gehret, and Keith Konell, along with the crew, (Stan's daughter, Angie Frame and his grandsons), plus, of course, the best person of all, the Pilot, Stan Hess (far right).

And no, I am never in the pictures, but this is Fred Blesgraeft, the faceless guy behind that camea, saying good bye and take it from me -- a guy that has taken several hot air balloon trips -- in several different places in California, this was the best, the smoothest, the most organized, and most rewarding flight that I ever had the pleasure to go on.

Oh, by the way, if you book a flight with these guys and don't mention this article.  Well, let's just say that the next time I'm up there, you better park your car in the garage.

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