The Flight The Balloon Club uses several launch sites in northern Lackawanna county, about ten miles north of Scranton, and within five miles of Interstate 81. We are easily accessible from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, the Pocono resorts, and Lake Wallenpaupack. Our flying area consists of beautiful rolling hills, sparkling lakes, leafy valleys and scattered woods against the backdrop of Elk Mountain. Morning flights enable you to view geese and ducks rising up from lakes with the morning mist, and deer, fox, and other woodland creatures feeding. Evening flights end before sunset, and often include invitations to join the fun from lakeside docks, fishing boats and picnics. Either way, the flight gives you a unique vantage point to view the scenic beauty of the Pocono northeast. If you live in the area or are visiting, and want to schedule a flight from your property or an area of special interest to you, give us a call. With some advance planning, we have flown from birthday parties, family reunion sites and wedding receptions. The Experience Balloon flights are scheduled at sunrise or about two hours before sunset, as these are the calmest times of day. The pilot will confirm the flight with you either the evening before or early in the afternoon of the flight day, and will designate the launch site based on the prevailing winds. When you arrive at the field, you will meet your pilot and crew, who will explain the procedure and invite you to join the crew in setting up. The balloon envelope will be laid out on the field, while the basket and burner are being preflighted and attached to the envelope. Then the envelope is held open and the inflator fan is set up, filling the envelope with cold air. The flabby bag quickly begins to take shape. Once the burner is turned on, the heat of the flame directed into the cold air filled envelope causes the balloon to rise majestically, ready for flight. The passengers join the pilot in the basket, and lift off. The ground crew stows the gear in the truck and trailer, and the chase begins. The crew stays in contact with the balloon via radio, and is close by to assist in landing and deflation. Then the system is packed up and everyone returns to the launch site. The entire flight from start to finish takes about three hours, depending on wind and weather conditions. Friends and family members are welcome to join the crew— the more the merrier! Some Restrictions Apply All balloon flights depend on the weather. Winds in excess of six miles per hour, rain, or the threat of thunder storms will cause the flight to be cancelled. The pilots are very experienced in evaluating local weather conditions, and will cancel when necessary. Cancelled flights are rescheduled to the next available window. As with many adventurous activities, ballooning requires that the passengers be in good shape physically. The passengers must be able to get in and out of the balloon with minimal assistance, and to stand throughout the flight. Certain health conditions may make it unsafe for a person to fly, and the pilot reserves the right at all times to determine that it is not safe for a proposed passenger to fly. This is a matter within the pilot’s discretion. A balloon’s flight capacity is limited to a certain payload, so the weight of the passengers may be a factor. The pilot will inquire when flights are booked, and limitations will apply. Champagne Flight Gift Certificates The Balloon Club of America will send you a Balloon Flight Gift Certificate for presentation as a special Anniversary, Graduation, Birthday, Father’s Day or Mother’s Day, Retirement or Holiday Gift. (We’ve even had several engagements take place on our flights—we’re good at keeping that secret!) We will provide you with information to present with the Gift certificate, so that the recipients can contact us to arrange the flight at their convenience. Gift certificates cost $200.00, per person, and are good for a year.