Today was a good day for a balloon ride over Middletown. The weather might have been a little bit clearer to be perfectly photogenic, but the experience itself was the same. The staff of Fantasy Balloon Flights did a fine job piloting and landing the balloon, making for a memorable day. Captain Ken Smith, at the controls, claimed that hot air ballooning is the safest form of travel.
The first leg of this trip went from Randall Field to the parking lot outside Target at the Galleria Mall. The second leg ended on a residential street in Scotchtown. The first video clip below briefly shows the propane flame heating the air, causing the balloon to rise. The second clip shows the folding up of the balloon after it landed in Scotchtown. Crew members were assisted by some of the passengers and a few surprised neighborhood residents.
Here is a short clip from the air on YouTube: