Air-ristocrat Balloon Rides

10/23/2024

Interesting flight today.
South up top, north on the surface so I wiggled my way into gasoline alley.
Super happy couple #53 got engaged.
Love is in the air my friends

10/20/2024

Nice day for a flight. Decided to shout out a few businesses that caught my eye. Who doesn't like a Happy Hippo, and RV Alley on the north end of town.
Special shout out to my landowner Cathy. Super nice lady who is now entered into the landowner draw for 2 tickets to ride

10/06/2024

Nice day for a flight!
Looks like the dirt bags were at it again with the yard art ☹️
This is why empty fields with nothing in them have locked gates these days.

09/24/2024

September balloon flying is gooood.

09/20/2024

It would be super awesome to see this from the air in an Air-ristocrat Balloon right?!?
Unfortunately the conditions that make that picture, also make ballooning very unsafe.
Safety is our #1 priority.

09/17/2024

This is what a really good gas balloon race looks like!
The goal is the longest distance flight measured in a straight line.
The Austrians won with a distance of 2111.16 km. 3rd place was 2108.47 km.

09/09/2024

It was a little smokey out today but no matter how hot I may be, it's not my fault.

09/08/2024

Just another day at the office

09/07/2024

Sometimes people say "It's beautiful out. Why didn't you fly?", so today's post is about flight planning.

Quite often in this area the wind can be 40 to 60 kmh at 500 feet above ground. It also doesn't usually surface until later in the day so that doesn't particularly concern me except for 3 directions.
As shown in the pic...
Gull Lake is 25 km
Sylvan Lake is 17.5 km
Pine Lake bush area is 13.8 km
What that means from a flight planning perspective, is that in those directions, depending on the upper wind speed, I will have to land after a 25 to 30 minute flight or face a very long "I hope we make it across" flight.

Nobody will be happy with a 25 minute flight, and I will NEVER do an "I hope we make it across" flight.

A very experienced pilot once told me "Superlative pilots use their Superlative skills to avoid Superlative situations."

09/06/2024

Another awesome day above ground!
Awesome passengers, awesome crew, awesome landowner, and I got to take a pic of my awsome propane truck at Invicta

09/05/2024

Sooo much flying in the last week.
Next 4 days looking good too!
I just noticed that the Lowes is now a Rona.
I need to get out more.

09/02/2024

Last day of the Hespero balloon race and I finished second with the biggest balloon there.
As the Aussies say... figjam!

09/01/2024

More good times with my posse at the Hespero Balloon race.
I think I came in 3rd.

08/31/2024

Guess I should post some balloon pics.
Hanging with my posse today

08/25/2024

I think I have a new marketing model.

"DO NOT fly with Air-ristocrat Balloon Rides. Not only do they take off from the ground, they land on it too!
BUT THERE'S MORE!!
Apparently balloons only go with the wind so we had to get back to our car in a van.
The pilot kept talking about weather and safety and stuff, but I just tuned out because it was close to sunrise and OMG who gets up at that time of day"

I think it's a winner.
Netflix likes it, wadda ya think.?

08/12/2024

Another beauty day above ground.
The picture is of the Red Deer Golf and County Club where the greens look good!

1 of my passengers from yesterday sent me this video of the flight
I have the best passengers.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGNqF8vxcI/zPJa2gKEWmZCkktIkQikqw/watch

08/11/2024

Nice flight today.
W***y has been crewing for me for 13 years and his wife went for the first time today. She started out nervous (that's why it took 13 years), but it was picture perfect from start to finish.

07/29/2024

Doesn't happen often but 2 passengers didn't show up today.
Their booking fee had a beautiful flight

07/28/2024

Happy passengers get to fly today!
Still a bit smokey out but the new UFA is looking pretty good

07/08/2024

I need help and I can bribe you with a pen.

I'm going to do some radio ads about the Erika Balloon, and I'm going to do it as a Q & A.
I have the A, so now I need some good Q.
What would YOU like to know about Western Canada's only accessible balloon?

If I use your question (1 question per person) in the ad I will give you a 20th anniversary Air-ristocrat pen.

Regular flights, special events, tethers, walk in balloon, school demonstrations, and travel to your location are all available.

07/07/2024

We're in for some good flying weather around Red Deer.
Nice flight today