Flying high
Our first experience hot air ballooning
by Stephanie Bernhagen
The wind had been blowing for two or three days in Florida, but finally a calm was upon us. It was a good thing as we were on our way to meet balloon pilot Bill and his wife Darlene for our first hot air balloon ride. As we sat at a McDonald’s in Lakeland waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive we discussed the flag flapping in the breeze. The weather report Bill had from the FAA said the winds should be about three knots, but it looked like about 8 knots to Bill.
Bill climbed out of the chase vehicle to send up what he called pi balls. These are silver black balloons filled with helium. When released they give the pilot a good idea of how windy it really is, which way the winds are blowing and what the upper air currents are doing. On this day the pi balls headed south before taking a quick turn to the west in the upper air currents. After sending up a couple of pi balls it appeared the breeze was quickly settling down so Bill told us to take our potty break as it was time to get the show on the road.
Part of the crew
The crew climbed into the chase vehicle, which is unique as chase vehicles go. Bill and Darlene are full-timers whose home is a fifth-wheel. To pull their wheel estate and carry their hot air balloon they drive an oversized four-door Freightliner with a big balloon enclosure on the back. To add an interesting touch, the fan for filling the balloon with air is placed smack dab in the center back of the truck behind the hitch, turning the Freightliner into a rocket truck!
Because of the direction of the wind we knew we needed to get to the southwest side of Lakeland. An undeveloped business park was spotted on the map. The boulevard into the business park was chained off on one side, but only partially chained on the other side. This looked like the perfect launch place. We drove to the end of the road, then down a dirt track into a field. Hold on a minute, four wheeling with a Freightliner?
We all piled out and listened intently as Bill and Darlene guided us newbies through the process of crewing on a hot air balloon. First gloves were passed out. Then a winch on the back of the truck was setup. The cabinet on the back of the truck was opened up and the winch was attached to the balloon’s basket. With Bill and Paul maneuvering the basket and Darlene running the winch the basket was soon on the ground. The rest of us gathered around the basket and pushed it over on its side. Next we pulled a huge canvas bag out of the basket. We dragged it a short distance from the basket before opening it to pull the balloon out, spreading it across the ground.
In the meantime the basket was set back up. Nylon poles were added on each corner and on top of these poles the two burners were place. Two cables ran up each pole to add strength. The propane lines were also run up the poles. Then a protective cover was placed over the poles, cables and propane lines.
The basket was again tipped over and the balloon was attached. It was critical that all the lines from the balloon to the basket were not twisted and tangled. Finally they started to fill the balloon with air while at the top of the balloon a couple of us worked to attach a piece of balloon material to close the hole at the top of the balloon. One would think this would be an easy task, matching numbers on the balloon and material then attaching with Velcro, but as the balloon filled with air it tugged making this a challenging chore. In the mean time Paul was hanging on to a rope pulled straight out from the top of the balloon. This provided control over the raising of the balloon. As the balloon filled with air and started to rise Paul walked this rope down to Bill in the basket and Bill attached it to the frame we had built earlier.
It was a lot of work getting the balloon ready to go and then all of a sudden it was ready. Most of us were hanging onto the basket and using all of our body weight to keep the basket from tipping back over with the light breeze. Next thing we knew Bill was asking who was going up. One person had missed out on a ride three times previously. He was told to get in. Then Bill thought of a number and told the rest of us to call out a number. Debbie climbed in and we turned them loose.
The chase begins
As they ascended we quickly picked up the bags and equipment and prepared to depart. Darlene, petite little thing that she is, hopped up in the monster chase vehicle’s drivers seat and proceeded to turn the truck around in the field. We were off. One thing I failed to mention is that none of us are from Lakeland, so we had to completely rely on maps and navigation skills to find roads to chase the balloon on. This in itself can be quite a feat! At one point we found a toll way that would take us south towards the balloon, but there was no exit for us to get off and chase the balloon west. The maps were studied some more. We continued west, then south on another road. As the balloon came down we pulled into a grocery store warehouse lot. The guard did not want to let us in, but with some persuasive talking on Darlene’s part we were asked to give our names, handed a security badge and told not to leave our vehicles. I guess it takes high security to protect those Twinkies grocery stores sell!
Bill had not landed there and we would soon know why. We turned around and went to the next road down and there they were, behind a barbed wire fence. We shot through as two of the ladies held the fence for us. As I turned to hold the fence so they could come through they said we aren’t going, you are. Go! I turned to scoot over to the balloon as I gulped and realized this was going to be for real.
Our turn!
Paul and I climbed in on one side as the other passengers climbed out on the other side. Before we knew it we were taking off and waving at our friends on the ground. A few weeks earlier when Bill had asked if we would be interested in flying I had e-mailed Bill back and said yes, providing I could sit down if I became on comfortable. I had gone on to explain I have a fear, not of heights, but of falling. Now, here I was about to find out how I felt about flying in a basket in the sky! I soon commented to Paul and Bill, it didn’t bother me at all. I could lean over the basket and look down and had no fearful reaction.
Flying in a hot air balloon is so peaceful, just floating through the air on a magic carpet, until the burner has to be run. Then it is so noisy you can not speak to one another. The burner kept us warm and I peeled clothes off.
As we continued into the sky I looked for scenery to photograph. Florida did not offer much in this area. Off in the distance was a golf course with no one on the nine we would fly over. Bill started to search for a golf ball. It never hurts to practice for competitions. As we flew over a green Bill dropped the ball, trying to make the hole in one he would never make on the ground. Opps, missed the green. Landing in the rough, the ball was swallowed by the earth.
The trees ahead were beautiful from the top. But I quickly grew anxious as I wondered if we would hit them. I was unsure of how much control Bill really had over the balloon. While skimming just above the trees Bill told how mutual friends of ours had flown with him in a competition and they had to pluck a green pinecone from the top of a tree. I was feeling a little uncomfortable with skimming the trees and did not feel up to adding to a pinecone collection. He finished the story and sent the balloon back towards the sky.
Landing - whew!
We started looking for a landing spot and selected a great spot behind a warehouse complex. We landed as the chase crew tried to get to the back of the buildings. It was Sunday however, and the complex was locked up tight. We were fenced in. We lifted off again and spotted another landing field. Radioing the chase crew we told them how to get there. It is so much easier to navigate from the sky!
The wind was blowing just hard enough that by the time we hopped over some transmission lines it was going to
be difficult to reach the field. Off to the side were a pond and a tall grassy ridge. Earlier Bill had said he would like to do a splash and dash – touch down in water. Was it the breeze or was it Bill’s desire to do a splash and dash that soon found us heading right down into the pond? Next thing we knew there was water rushing into the basket. Paul jumped up on the side of the basket and only got one foot wet. Had I done that I probably would have gone headfirst into the pond. Instead I got wet to my ankles. Afterwards Bill chuckled and said he had stayed dry because he was on the high side of the basket.
Just when I
thought we were going to actually land in the pond Bill sent us towards the sky just far enough to lift us onto the thick grassy ridge. The chase crew was running to assist with the landing, but the grass was so thick and deep two of them tumbled to the ground instead.
When the crew arrived Paul and I climbed out of the basket and with Bill sending the balloon slightly towards the sky we all walked it over to the side of the road so it could easily be put back in the truck. The steps for packing it up are reversed from set up with one exception, getting the air out of the balloon. With some of us hanging on to the rope at the top of the balloon with everything we had, the others started to squeeze the air out of the balloon at the bottom. The process of pulling the balloon together and pushing the air upwards is called "jerking off the elephant."
Champagne celebration for a safe return
With the balloon put away Bill shared the history of ballooning with us as he opened bottles of champagne. 
Darlene spread a prayer cloth, actually a quilt with four squares of colorful ballooning pictures, on the ground. The four of us who had flown for the first time were asked to kneel on the prayer cloth. A ballooning prayer was said, giving thanks for our safe return. Champagne glasses were filled and we were told to drink up, but not to use our hands. This was easier than I had expected, but while we were drinking Bill shook the champagne and started to spray us. Everyone ran while I stayed put, figuring if I finished my champagne Bill would stop spraying us. Finally we were pinned. Bill reached down the girls tops to attach a balloon pin and Darlene attached a balloon pin to the guys flies. Then we were warned to wear our pins of honor for the next 24 hours or what was underneath would fall off!
This was a very special day. One I will remember for a long time. I would encourage everyone to try hot air ballooning with one warning. Be very careful who your pilot is and that they take all the necessary precautions. Ballooning is a dangerous sport and a small error could cost you your life. Bill has flown for 14 years. We knew his credentials were good.
Stephanie and Paul have also crewed for Bill and Darlene at the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fesitval. Photos by Stephanie Bernhagen.