The Art of Flight

A day when the wind is less than 10mph and more than 3mph, is an ideal day for a hot air balloon flight! Red Line Flyers offers flights just after sunrise and about an hour before sunset due to the wind conditions in Indiana. We chose to go on a sunset flight. We wore jackets, but the weather was pretty nice and not very windy. They can fly in any temperature, but the warmer it is, the less weight the balloon can handle. 

We unloaded the balloon in a meadow like area with the chase crew. You can be involved in the process as much or as little as you like. The inflation of the balloon is the most interesting part because you can see how big it is. The chase crew is a crucial and exciting role. The crew chief ensures everyone is safe and capable. They manage the mouth of the balloon, monitor the fan, pulls the crown line, and packs up. During the flight, they are on walkie-talkies with the pilot, following along in the chase vehicle as the balloon follows the wind. A special app is used to follow the balloon's progress. Upon landing, the crew helps pull down the envelope and packs up. The crew was great and energetic!

Flying took place over Morse Reservoir.  As we floated, we spotted a group of kids waving and shouting, "Hi"-adding an extra layer of joy to the experience. A second highlight came when we dipped down into the lake, and the basket touched the water near some boaters.

Landing was the hardest part because there was little wind, and we needed an open space to land. The chase crew was fast acting as we were unsure of our exact landing area. Our pilot, Lee, was great, and we had faith that we would be ok, although we did meet a tree! An elderly lady watched from her balcony as a small crew of onlookers watched below. I'm going to say that landing was probably the most exciting part because no one knew exactly what would happen and where.

After landing, we helped pack the balloon up. Then we all shared a bottle of champagne with a toast. The pilot tells the history of hot air ballooning and why we have a toast afterward to celebrate. It was truly an experience to remember!

Any day with good wind speeds is a good day to fly. You can contact Red Line Flyers for their summer 2025 schedule at redlineflyers.com Prices range from $1200-1500 for private flights with 2-4 passengers. The entire experience lasts 3-4 hours and the flight is roughly 1 hour.  Some Indy balloon companies offer larger share-a-ride flights