Media Guide
To
Balloon Flights
Updated Version 1 / January, 2012
Introduction
Greetings. This page is designed to provide media outlets with basic information on the flight operations of Lighter Than Air America and the Spencer Air hot air balloons. This information can, however, be applied to most, if not all, professional balloon flying organizations and events. This information is slanted toward ballooning in Boise, Idaho.
We provide this information to you in the hope of avoiding confusion or incorrect reporting. This writing will also provide you with information considered “basic” in hot air ballooning designed to assist you in the creation of your stories while covering a ballooning event or promotion.
As always, should you have any questions feel free to contact :
Scott Spencer / Event Producer & Director
Lighter Than Air America, Incorporated
tigerpilot@earthlink.net
208-375-0512 (office)
Key Web Sites
Official Event Web Site
Ballooning web site for Scott Spencer. Site includes an area devoted to ballooning history as well as basic question and answer on ballooning. Also is the official web site for the Coca-Cola & Disney hot air balloon team(s).
Producer Information Scott Spencer, Boise native, is the founder, producer and
director of the Spirit of Boise-Balloon Classic. The 2012
Balloon Classic will be the 43rd major event produced by For complete a complete media package on Scott Spencer |
 |
Important Notes On Ballooning
The following things seem to happen during the course of the year and at almost every Spirit of Boise-Balloon Classic causing a stir for the local media and extra work for the event staff to manage. Lets see if we can’t work together to get past these on-going problems.
1) A Balloon Has Gone Down In The Boise River
Hot air balloons have been dipping in and out of the Boise River for forty years. Pilots absolutely love to land on the water, placing a few inches of the basket below the surface and float the river, just like those on inner tubes do in the summer. It didn’t crash.
When done correctly this maneuver is called a “Splash & Dash”. They “splash” into the water, float for a moment then “dash” back into the sky.
When a pilot misjudges the approach into the water and makes contact a bit faster than expected balloonist’s call that a “Poke & Soak”. You’ve landed harder or faster than you wanted to, the “Poke,” and as a result, you and everyone in your basket are now “soaked”.
2) A Balloon Has Crashed On My Street
Not very likely. Balloons regularly come down in streets, backyards, front yards, driveways, vacant lots, schoolyards, church parking lots and a host of other locations.
Two important things to remember here …
The First –
Balloon pilots (even after 200 years) are still unable to steer their balloons right and left or to move in a specific direction toward a specific destination at will.
A good pilot will tell you, “Hot air balloons are great transportation if you don’t care where you go or how long it takes you to get there”. No truer words have ever been spoken about hot air balloons and their operation.
Balloon pilots land on streets and other open spots because “that spot” was in the direction of flight. Wind speed and direction drives every aspect of a balloon flight.
The Second –
Simply stated, a balloon landing in a neighborhood is a fun and exciting thing for the local residents. Often times it gets them together outside their homes for the first time. Balloonists have witnessed many neighbors shaking hands for the first time after a balloon drops in. Neighborhood kids are usually “pressed into service” and made to feel special and part of the Balloon Team as they help pack the balloon away.
3) Weather “Words” You Might Hear at Balloon Classic
a) “The Boise Box”
The “Box” is not unique to Boise but is certainly one of the reasons Balloonists are so eager to visit Boise each year.
Surface winds in the City of Boise shortly after sunrise are, generally speaking, blowing gently out of the Southeast toward the Northwest. A little higher up, because Boise is dominated by a west to east flow, winds are usually blowing from the Northwest to the Southeast. A directional change of 180 degrees.
While pilots can’t steer balloons right or left they can climb or descend to find changing winds at different altitudes to influence where the balloon flys.
Pilots fly the Boise Box by lifting off, drifting toward the west for a distance then climbing into the wind carrying them back to the east. This maneuver allows them the opportunity to often land a short distance from where they take off, to a balloon pilot, who can’t steer, the Box is a pretty cool thing.
b) “Is There a Downslope ?”
Wind is weather to a balloonist. A “down sloping” wind is a common thing here in Boise and drives our weather here in the valley.
Warm air here in the valley tends to rise into the atmosphere. Our local mountains with their cooler overnight temperatures cause air to flow towards the valley in order to quite literally replace the warmer, rising air here in the city.
If you take an early morning trip to Lucky Peak, you’ll be greeted on most days to exceptionally high winds flowing down lake toward the valley. That’s our “Downslope” in action and where those winds flow depends on the geographic terrain in the area.
c) “Where’s The River ?”
This doesn’t refer to the Boise River. It makes reference to wind “currents” in the sky.
Where our Balloon Classic pilots end up going is defined by terrain. Just like a real river of water, winds in the sky have width and depth and “it” (the wind) will flow around building, hills, trees and other obstacles.
4) “Ballooning Provides Many Powerful & Uplifting Stories …
If you’re willing to take the time, ballooning can provide you with many exciting, powerful and uplifting stories. The people that participate in ballooning are often colorful and ready to share their story.
5) “Significant Points of Interest in 2012 for us …”
a) 2012 marks the 21st Anniversary of the first Boise River Festival balloon rally
held in Ann Morrison Park.
b) 2012 marks the 41st Anniversary of event founder and director, Boise native
Scott Spencer’s first balloon flight.
c) 2012 marks the 35th Balloon Event in Boise presented by Scott Spencer.
d) Coca-Cola is the longest running sponsor of ballooning in Boise having been a part
of every balloon event produced in Boise since 1991.
We hope this page has helped in insuring the accuracy of your story. If we can be of additional help please don’t hesitate to call on us.
ScottSpencer.net | Lighter than Air America, Inc. | Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic | SpencerAir.net
This website and all original contents are Copyright © 2012 Scott L. Spencer
and may not be reproduced or used without permission.
Spirit of Boise and Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic are trademarks of Scott Spencer’s
Privateer Group, Incorporated
PEAK Explorer and Spencer Air are trademarks of Scott Spencer’s
Lighter Than Air America, Incorporated
Tony the Tiger is a registered trademark of the Kellogg Company.
Coca-Cola script and The Coca-Cola contour bottle are registered trademarks
of the Coca-Cola Company.
Disney, Disneyland, Mickey Mouse and the Mickey Mouse balloon likeness are registered
trademarks of the Walt Disney Company.
No content or image on this web site or any of its included pages may be reproduced
without express written permission.