Frequently Asked questions
Q: What does a flight cost?
A: Our fee is $350 per passenger. That includes the balloon, fuel, pilot, ground crew, transportation back to the launch site after landing, and complimentary champagne toast. We offer a 10% discount for teachers, first responders, and active duty military personnel.
Q: How do I pay?
A: We accept cash, check, or Venmo. We never ask passengers to pay before a flight; go/no-go decisions regarding weather and safety are less stressful for pilot and passengers when you haven’t already paid.
Q: Do you offer a gift certificate?
A: Gladly! We can provide you with a certificate signed by the pilot, showing the recipient that they will fly in the balloon at a future date. You pay nothing until the conclusion of the flight.
Q: Why is your balloon called Belvedere?
A: Adam carefully chose “Belvedere” to have three layers of meaning. The word “belvedere” itself comes from Italian for “beautiful view.” That’s certainly a good description of a balloon, whether from inside or outside.
In architecture, a belvedere is a gazebo or balcony with a great view. Anyone who has ever flown in a balloon knows that this is definitely the case for us!
In college, Belvedere was Adam’s nickname. Originally inspired by the eager bulldog in the Chuck Jones cartoon “Dog Gone South,” it quickly became ubiquitous. Friends, fellow students, and even the occasional professor used the appellation. That’s why it was the perfect name for Adam’s first balloon.
Q: How high can you fly?
A: It depends on a lot of factors, including weather and payload. Belvedere could carry Adam to about 20,000 feet above sea level. In fact, similar sized balloons have been flown to 36,000 feet—the same as the cruising altitude of a commercial jetliner! Flying a balloon at those high altitudes requires special equipment and FAA clearance.
Adam has flown to just under 6,000 feet. Most of our flights reach a peak altitude between 2,000 and 3,000 feet above the ground.
Q: What’s the balloon made of?
A: The envelope (the colorful fabric part) is made of nylon, the same as a parachute. The basket where the pilot and passengers stand is wicker, woven around structural members made of stainless steel. The fuel tanks are aluminum.
Q: Do you have to have a pilot’s license?
A: Yes. Balloons are aircraft and subject to FAA regulations. Adam earned his private pilot certificate (with balloon rating) in 2018, and upgraded to commercial certification in 2023. Gas balloons and blimps require a separate rating.
Q: How big is the balloon?
A: Balloons are measured by their capacity (the amount of air they hold), expressed in thousands of cubic feet. Belvedere holds 105,000 cubic feet—in comparison, an Olympic swimming pool holds 88,000 cubic feet of water. When fully inflated, the balloon stands 77 feet tall and 60 feet in diameter. The basket is 66 inches by 47 inches, and 47 inches tall.
Q: How do you steer a balloon?
A: Adam would say “very well, thank you!” But balloons have no propulsion and can’t be steered directly. We control our direction by flying at an altitude where the wind is moving in the direction we want to go.
This is the real trick of ballooning, and the mark of a skilled pilot—the ability to navigate to a fixed point on the surface of Earth. In fact, when balloonists compete that’s exactly what they do. A target (usually in the form of an X) is designated on the ground. Each pilot has a beanbag that’s marked with a number. The pilots attempt to fly to that spot and throw their beanbag as close to the center of the target as possible.
Q: What weather conditions do you need to fly?
A: Surface winds of no more than 8 mph, visibility of 3 miles, and a ceiling (cloud cover) at least 1,000 feet above the ground. Those are the minimums, but gentler winds and clear skies are preferred.
Temperature and humidity affect the performance of all aircraft, including balloons. Hot weather and high humidity reduce the lifting capacity, whereas low temperatures lead to more lift and better fuel efficiency. Our friends who do extreme flights (very high altitude, long distance, or long endurance) seek out cold weather for those reasons.
Q: Is ballooning safe? I’d be so scared to fall out!
A: The safety of ballooning is comparable to other forms of aviation. There are hazards, but almost all of them can be avoided with planning and careful attention. We’re absolutely dedicated to flying safely. After all, Adam is in the basket, too!
The fear of heights (or of falling) is understandable. But the height of the basket sides (47 inches) provides a degree of security that can put most people at ease. The other thing that’s surprising to most first-time flyers is how smooth the flight is. You’ll feel very little motion, and generally no wind.
Q: What does a balloon cost?
A: Adam likes to say, you can spend as much on ballooning as you want to! Adam bought Belvedere used, for a price of $9,000. A comparable system purchased new would cost around $40,000. Other, smaller balloons retail in the $20,000 range. Maintenance and insurance cost us around $2,000 annually. There are other expenses for fuel, trailer licensing, and any needed repairs.
Q: Just where do you buy a balloon?
A: There are four major manufacturers of balloons in the United States: Firefly (Statesville, NC), Lindstrand (Galena, IL), Kubicek (imported from Czech Republic), and Cameron (Ann Arbor, MI). There are also smaller companies including National, Adams, and Head. All of them sell balloons to pilots.
There’s also a community of balloonists who sell used balloons. Some are sold because the pilot is retiring from flying, while others are replaced by larger or newer balloons. Sellers meet buyers online, at festivals, or through word of mouth in the ballooning world. Adam bought Belvedere from a pilot in Delaware he met through a Facebook balloon group.
Q: What got you interested in ballooning?
A: My uncle Rich Jaworski was the first balloon pilot in Nebraska, starting in the early 70’s. In his long and successful career, he set three world records and won major competitions including a team national championship in 2000. He’s recognized as one of the pioneers of the sport as it exists today. My dad worked on his ground crew when I was young; I always found it fascinating. When my military service ended in 2009 and I moved to Omaha, I was looking for a hobby and started working with Rich. When I finally decided I wanted to learn to fly myself, I was honored to be one of Rich’s last students before his retirement.
Q: Where do you store the balloon?
A: The envelope gets deflated and stuffed into a canvas bag that’s about the size of a bean bag chair. Then the bag, basket, burner, and fuel tanks go into a 10-foot enclosed trailer. Some pilots store them in garages, barns, or sheds.
Q: Where do you take off and land?
A: Unlike airplanes, we don’t need an airport or designated airfield. But not just any backyard will do for a launch. We need an open space large enough to lay out the balloon, and sufficient space downwind to clear any obstacles. It’s important that there are no obstructions on the field that could damage the fabric, and that we can drive the chase vehicle in and out without getting stuck or doing any damage. We have around half a dozen places that we use regularly, depending on which direction the wind will take us.
Landing gets a little more complicated. Because balloons fly only with the wind, we usually can’t land where we took off. Pilots identify a suitable landing site from the air, often with the assistance of the crew. The list of criteria is much the same as a launch field, but with the added difficulty of an approach path that’s free from power lines. We’ve landed on fields, roads, parking lots, pastures, lawns, and once even at the Millard Airport.
Q: How could I learn to fly a balloon?
A: All commercially rated balloon pilots are authorized to provide flight instruction for student pilots. Regulations require at least 10 hours of flight training, a solo flight, and completion of a written test and a flying test with an FAA examiner. If you’re interested in taking on the challenge, contact Adam.
Q: How else can I get involved in ballooning?
A: We’re always looking for new members of our ground crew. They help unpack and inflate the balloon, follow it in a vehicle during flight, then pack it back into the trailer. The requirements to get started are pretty simple: a good attitude, physical strength to lift ~40 pounds, and the ability to follow verbal directions. More advanced skills like reading a map, driving a vehicle with a trailer, and great communication will help—but we’ll teach you! If this appeals to you, contact Adam and join the team.