Balloon Rides

It is like floating on a cloud, sailing without the waves, or flying in the wind. There is no sensation of movement or vibration. It can perfectly silent except for the burner and the sounds of nature. You may be able hear dogs barking and people talking while the world glides by beneath you.

A Balloon Passenger Ride Flight is generally one (1) hour. It can range from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on flight conditions. The entire excursion, from meeting to pack-up and our landing ceremony, can take up to three (3) hours.

Tether Rides only last approximately 10 minutes as the hot air balloon is tied to the ground and only climbs about 100 feet. Tether rides may be set-up for 30-90 minutes for special gatherings and events to allow many people the chance to experience short tether rides.

Morning flights meet 1/2 hour before sunrise and launch at sunrise. Evening flights meet two (2) hours before sunset and launch at least one (1) hour before sunset. These times are not only legally set by the Federal Aviation Administration regulations, they are also the time of day when winds are typically the calmest and safest for lighter-than-air crafts like hot air balloons. Find out what time sunrise and sunset is in Kansas City by visiting Sunrise/Sunset Times.

We must have stable weather with good visibility, no rain and no thunderstorms in the area. Light winds and a good direction are also necessary. And, while temperature and humidity variances alone do not prohibit a flight, they may impact the amount of weight we can carry and how long we can stay in the air with the maximum amount of propane fuel we can carry.

Launch site choices are dependent on wind direction and speed. Your pilot will determine the launch site suitable for that day. Due to the varying wind directions in the Midwest, meeting places and launch sites are chosen the day of the flight.

Dress should be comfortable, casual, non-restrictive clothing. For your safety, sandals, high heels or open-toed shoes are NOT allowed. It is also recommended to choose natural fabrics such as cotton, denim, leather and canvas.

Balloons can climb over 12,000 feet above sea level before the pilot and passengers require oxygen. However, most flights rarely exceed 2,000 feet above the ground. This gives the passengers a better view of the area below. It is often said, “You are one with the wind flying in a balloon” because hot air balloons travel with the wind’s direction and speed. Therefore if the wind speed is 5 mph you will travel 5 miles within an hour.

In the case of a Tether Ride, winds will be calm enough to only go up and down and high as the tether ropes are long. Tethers usually only climb about 100 feet.

The basket will touch the ground. It may slide a few feet and stop. In faster winds the basket may bounce, tip at an angle, or lie over and drag to a stop. This is absolutely normal and passengers are just asked to hang on tightly prior to landing. Your pilot will make the landing as gentle as possible given the flight conditions.

The balloon travels with the wind. The wind direction plays a critical part of the planning process. The pilot will choose a launch site that allows for a safe, open landing site. Landing sites vary from backyards, parks, playgrounds, parking lots, cul-de-sacs, open lots and large fields.

Yes. Spectators are welcome to follow the Balloon Chase Crew vehicle as long as they abide by all traffic rules and do not impede the activity of the crew.

The crew will travel beneath us with the vehicle to carry passengers and equipment back to the meeting site after the flight. If your family and/or friends decide to follow the Balloon Chase Crew and you would like to leave the landing site with them following the completion of your adventure, you are welcome to do so.

Yes, we do require that a Passenger Release Form be signed prior to your Balloon Ride Passenger Flight and Tether Rides. You may download the Passenger Release Form here. Please print and sign before your scheduled flight. You are welcome to mail it to us or bring it with you on the day of your flight. We must have it prior to allowing you to participate in the flight.

Yes, all Balloon Ride Passengers must be 12 years of age or older. There is not maximum age, however, passengers are required to climb in and out of the basket that has sides that are 4-5′ high with a small hole for one step in the side of the basket. For tether rides, passengers may be younger if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

You may book a reservation by calling us at (913) 649-2359, Email Us your request or complete our Contact Us Form . If you email or submit our contact form, please be certain to include your desired flight date an whether you are interested in a morning or evening flight.

We understand that sometimes things happen that require cancellation of a flight. Please understand that a short notice makes it difficult for us to fill you spot left vacant by your cancellation. We do require at least a 24-hour notice. If you cancel within the 24 hours prior to your flight, we must charge you the non-refundable deposit.

A hot air balloon is a registered aircraft within the lighter-than-air classification and must follow the same Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] regulations as that of an airplane. All of our pilots are FAA commercial certificate holders and veteran pilots who have flown all over the country.

Kansas City AeroSports has several different sizes of registered aircraft, certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and inspected and maintained in accordance with FAA rules and regulations. You will most likely fly in a balloon that holds 90-105 thousand cubic feet of air. That is equivalent to approximately 90-105 thousand basketballs. Our baskets are designed to take only 2-3 people in addition to the pilot so you will likely not be sharing your experience with a lot of other people. We do not fly large basket ride operations as seen in other parts of the country.