Balloon flights in the area of Oklahoma    

Oklahoma Hot air balloon trips

Balloon flights are popular in Oklahoma, and your family can enjoy this unusual and photogenic activity whenever the weather is favorable. While many outdoor enthusiasts have never been around a ballon, those who have taken flight in one remember this marvellous treat for years!

Balloons do most of their flying in the boundary layer of air close enough to the earth's surface to be affected by it. Just as water flows around and over rocks in a stream, so does air flow over and around obstructions in the landscape. Balloonists learn to "hide" behind a hill or tree line to gain calm conditions at launch, and to stay clear of rotors a little further downwind of those same obstructions during flight. Balloons flow with the air currents up and down riverbeds and valleys, and around hills and buildings. Working with these local variations is much of balloon flight planning.

Balloon flights can be experienced by all ages. Most trips last approximately an hour, nevertheless check with your the company to find out what they offer. Many have different trips to select from.

Do you need a license to fly a balloon?

Yes.
A Balloon Pilot Certificate is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration in the USA. You must pass an FAA written exam, obtain a prescribed number of hours of instruction, make a solo flight, a flight to a specific altitude and pass a flight test.

A pilot offering balloon rides (flying passengers for hire) must receive additional training and have more experience than a private pilot. You don't have to be able to fly an airplane since it is a completely different type of aircraft, although many balloon pilots also fly other types of aircraft like airplanes and helicopters.

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