My heart goes out to those who died yesterday in a hot air balloon accident in Albuquerque - I’ve been to the balloon fiesta there and had the good fortune of being able to go up…twice! It’s an incredible experience and one that should not be passed up if given a chance. I always felt safe with my pilots - that said there isn’t much between you and the earth below and in a moment much can go wrong. I don’t really want to know the details of this accident, it doesn’t change a thing. I simply feel for them and their families.
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It is sad. 2 couples plus the pilot died. One of the men was a police officer.
I too have been up in a balloon. Its such a smooth, quiet experience.
5 dead after hot air balloon crashes in Albuquerque street | AP News says that the balloon hit power lines.
It’s still on my Bucket List of things to do someday. I definitely feel for those who tragically died and their families/friends though. I wish life always went the way it’s supposed to.
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Such a tragedy.
My dad and a friend of his took me up in friend’s hot air balloon for my 15th birthday. Not sure if I would have the courage to do it now that I am older and more of a worrier.
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D1 and I took a tour of the Loire Valley to see castles, get cooking lessons and wine tasting from a Michelin Star chef, etc. We had the absolute best time with our guide and small group of 8. If memory serves, the tour lasted a week. According to the brochure, the tour finished with a hot air balloon tour over some castles we had toured. I had already decided I wasn’t going to go on that particular leg. D1 is very adventurous and worked on me hard. All of the other members of the group were going and there was a lot of peer pressure. I finally decided it would be a shame to let my fears of heights and other mishaps to affect my life to this degree. For some reason, our particular balloon would not reach the heights of the others around us. We were still high, still would probably not have made it in the event of a disaster, but it did serve to ease my anxiety somewhat and I was able to enjoy it very much. When we landed, we actually ended up in a vineyard instead of the adjacent road, which I found amusing since I’m such a wine fan. After we all helped the pilot clean up the scene and ready the balloon for re-assembly, we were all treated to some very fine French champagne.
A great memory documented in some good photos, but I doubt I will repeat the experience. I’ll just call it a “check” on my bucket list (even though it never made that list lol).
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I went up in a hot air balloon once in Napa Valley. To be honest, it was disappointing. You don’t feel a rush, since you are flying with the wind. And it isn’t quiet or peaceful since the burner is very noisy. Once was enough.
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Took my wife on a balloon ride for our first anniversary. Was the last part of the day at sunset. Didn’t tell her we were going because I knew she would freak out. She went and really liked it. Few years later, I took my dad on a balloon ride for father’s day. Both were relatively cool afternoons so burner use was not significant. Pilot on the first one said he would take people up in the winter for twice as long for the same price based on reduced fuel needs.
Ride with my dad had a pilot who was more adventuresome (though first ride pilot knew my wife was nervous). He took us through the tops of some trees. Could pick leaves from the tops of the trees as we passed by. Basket tilted a little which definitely got your attention.
But both pilots (who were fully licensed/certified with 30+ years experience) told us at the beginning that safety was the goal and not protecting their egos. So if we wanted to point out power lines, both were totally fine with that. Didn’t spend much time close enough to the ground for it to matter but when we were, both pilots wanted us to be on the lookout too. Each ride was in relatively small baloon with just 3 people (including the pilot).
Was interesting how clearly and easily you heard conversations of people below you. Hundreds of feet above them it was like you were talking on the patio with them.
Champagne is the tradition drink to celebrate a successful flight. And you share with owners of the property on which you land if they come out to watch. Both times we landed in empty fields so it was just us.
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A local hot air balloon adventure company used to fly their balloons over our house (guess that was due to the prevailing winds in the area). I still have photos of the one that made emergency landing on the field across the street. Yes, those things are noisy! We knew the balloons were coming because we could hear the noise before we could see them. The neighborhood dogs would go bananas! Even our dog would join in trying to protect his yard from aerial invaders, lol. Our neighbor said that his friend once sued the company because a pilot let the balloon descend too low and drunk passengers threw beer cans and spooked his horse. The horse ended up slamming his body into a fence and injuring himself. The vet bills were horse-sized, of course.
Balloons are beautiful to watch and photograph, but I am not sure I would want to pay $500 or whatever to fly in one. Plus, it can get quite cold and windy up there.
Balloons typically launch right after sunrise and an hour or 2 before sunset when winds tend to be less. And you have a big heater right above your head. 
The final toxicology report on Nichols Meleski (the pilot) from the accident was released today.
The report shows levels of THC found in marijuana in his [Nicholas Meleski’s] blood and urine, cocaine in his blood and urine, and cocaethylene – a mixture that occurs with cocaine and alcohol – in his urine, but not his blood.
While the cause of the accident is still “under investigation,” surveillance video shows the balloon hit power lines before the balloon envelope separated from the gondola.