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CT Ballooning NEWS Archive
Fall 2009
First and foremost we’d like to say THANK YOU to our clients this year. The past few months have proved to be quite challenging with the weather but we’re hopeful things are finally settling down.
We are booking Fall Foliage hot air balloon rides!!! The State of Connecticut DEP is expecting peak colors between Oct 9 and Nov 9. Dates are filling fast so don’t wait – contact us today to schedule your flight.
We recently wrapped up our 2009 festival schedule and it was another great year. It’s always fun to fly in different areas but it’s the people we get to meet during our travels that make it so much fun. 2010 will feature a new look to our festival travels so keep your eyes open.
Winter/Spring 2009
Warmer weather is starting to show itself and CT Ballooning, LLC is ready for another exciting season of flying. It’s been a busy winter for us with ongoing equipment maintenance, safety seminars, and the occasional flight. One HUGE development recently in the entire hot air balloon industry involves insurance coverage. CT Ballooning, LLC was blindsided by a 24% increase in our premiums and while we understand finances are tight for everyone, we unfortunately had to pass along this increase to our clients.
CT Ballooning, LLC will be participating in 12 balloon festivals across the United States, Canada, and Mexico during 2009. Hot air balloon rides are available at these events - possibly at discounted rates. Don’t get paired with just any balloon, contact CT Ballooning, LLC to schedule your ride at any of these great festivals. Click here for our 2009 festival schedule
****Plainville Hot Air Balloon Festival****
This annual balloon rally is held at the end of August in Plainville CT to benefit the Plainville Fire Department. A favorite amongst the team at CT Ballooning, we will be flying at least 3 balloons that weekend and discounted hot air balloon rides will be available for that weekend. Call Today to schedule your hot air balloon adventure at the Plainville Hot Air Balloon Festival with CT Ballooning.
Nov/Dec 2008
It was a tough fall season for us with many weekend flights being cancelled due to wind and/or rain. Mother Nature was however nice enough to give us some very nice weekday flights so all was not lost. Look for us in the skies as we fly throughout the winter months.
We have implemented a more client friendly deposit/cancellation policy. Please visit our “Rates & Details” page to view this.
We are pleased to announce the recent addition of “Live~n~Laugh” to our fleet of balloons. Once we get some good weather and can fly again, we’ll post some photos of her.
September 2008
It’s that time of year again….FALL FOLIAGE. The State of Connecticut DEP is predicting a later than normal peak color season, with October 13 thru November 3 as their current target.
Our 2008 balloon festival schedule is now slowing down and what a great summer it was. We participated in festivals in Rhode Island, New Jersey, Quebec, Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. Great summer weather led to many incredible flights.
Competition flying - yes, there is competitive flying with hot air balloons. While participating in the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning and the New York State Festival of Balloons, chief pilot Jim Regan nailed 5th place finishes at both events. He also participates in the year-long GEBA competition and is currently holding 2nd place with just over a month to go in the season.
July 2008
****Plainville Hot Air Balloon Festival****
This year’s festival is scheduled for the weekend of August 22-24. CT Ballooning will be flying at least 2 balloons that weekend and flights are already filling up. Call Today to schedule your hot air balloon adventure at the Plainville Hot Air Balloon Festival with CT Ballooning.
Wow…where did the first half of 2008 go??? It seems like just last week we were planning our summer schedule and now we’re well into it. Look for us at upcoming South County Balloon Festival (Kingston, RI) and the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning (Readington, NJ).
On June 6th, CT Ballooning offered tethered balloon rides at the Relay For Life in Manchester, CT. $1000 was raised and added to the Manchester Firefighters team donation to the American Cancer Society.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, CT Ballooning participated in the Letchworth Red, White & Blue Balloon Rally in Castile, NY. Flying from Letchworth State Park, 28 balloons enjoyed an amazing weekend of flying into the gorge and amongst the waterfalls before heading out into the surrounding farmland. If you’re a balloon enthusiast, this is a “must see” event as there’s only one way to describe flying the gorge – Unbelievable!!!
In early May, CT Ballooning traveled to Saltillo Mexico to participate in the 1st Festival International de Globos En Saltillo. With 8 balloons representing 4 different countries, this was a fabulous event. The backdrop to our flights was a beautiful 400+ year-old city surrounded by 2000’ tall mountains. Throw in the sunny and 85+ weather everyday and the flying was spectacular.
April 2008 Update
See us June 6th at the American Cancer Society – “Relay for Life” being held at Northwest Park in Manchester, CT. CT Ballooning, LLC will be offering tethered balloon rides from 6pm to 8pm with all proceeds being added to the Manchester Firefighters relay team donation.
Beautiful spring days are upon us and CT Ballooning, LLC is gearing up for another great year of flying here in CT. We flew sporadically this winter but as the temperatures rise, so will our flying activity. Call Today to schedule your hot air balloon adventure with CT Ballooning, LLC.
CT Ballooning, LLC will be participating in 11 balloon festivals across North America during 2008. Balloon rides are available at these events - possibly at discounted rates. Don’t get paired with just any balloon, contact CT Ballooning, LLC to schedule your ride at any of these great festivals. Click here for our 2008 festival schedule
January 2008
2008 is off to a great start with an unexpected high number of flyable mornings. Yes, the cold and snow is here but we’re still flying and it’s been awesome.
On January 5th, we participated in the annual “Frozen Buns Fly-Out” along with 16 other balloons. Snow covered ground, frozen ponds, and clear visibility made for a fantastic flight from Southington, over Ragged Mountain, and into the southern end of Berlin.
As 2007 draws to a close, the entire team at CT Ballooning would like to thank you for making it such a great year.
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!!!
Seems like just a few weeks ago we were hitting the road for our first balloon festival of the year. This just reaffirms that time flies when you’re having fun.
Here are just a few of our highlights s far from 2007…..
CT Ballooning participated in eight balloon festivals this year. This included events in CT, NY, NJ, MA and Canada.
Our most recent festival was the Adirondack Balloon Festival in Glens Falls, NY. The team from CT Ballooning flew the Old McDonalds Farm balloon and mother nature graced us with 3 beautiful flights.
CT Ballooning helped out the First Congregational Church of Granby and its 2007 Vacation Bible School. This years’ theme was hot air balloons and we graciously provided one of our hot air balloon baskets as a prop for many of their activities.
CT Ballooning was one of 3 balloon ride businesses to be featured in the Hoffman Auto Groups summer 2007 publication of “Decades”. The article covers hot air ballooning in Connecticut and its tourism appeal.
CT Ballooning was featured in the February edition of Hartford Magazine as a provider of one of the most romantic Valentines Day gifts. Pilot Jim Regan even made his modeling debut with the article……it was a short lived career J
Congratulations to Kevin Bennett & Lizz Pawlson on their recent engagement while ballooning with us. The entire team at CT Ballooning wishes you both the very best!!!
New addition to the team: Congratulations to flight team members Cory & Kerri Zmeskal on the birth of their son Connor Francis Zmeskal
During this years Red, White, and Blue Balloon Rally, CT Ballooning was fortunate to have professional photographer Chuck Schug join us. Some of his amazing photos are shown on our photo page and more can be seen at www.chuckschug.smugmug.com.
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