To the right is two of our previous balloons in front of our house! The neighbors love to sit and watch our balloons from their front porches.

	On the day of the flight...? About noon on the day of the flight we begin by obtaining a weather information and begin to plan our flight. We will give you a call soon afterwards and let you know if there will be a flight and, if so, exactly when and where you should meet for the launch. After the flight, of course, we'll bring you back to the launch site. For Sunrise flights the notification will be sometime the night before the flight. When do balloons fly? Balloon flights are normally timed to take off at sunrise in the morning or within 3 hours of sunset in the afternoon. We don't fly during the day because the air is very turbulent with thermal winds. Generally we will not fly in winds greater than 10-12 mph. The final decision to fly, ALWAYS lies with your pilot. When don't balloons fly? Rain, fog, low clouds, too much wind, or not enough wind are the typical weather conditions that will cause flights to be postponed. In addition, very wet ground will keep our balloons on the ground. Safety is our first and foremost concern. For that reason, we are very conservative in the weather conditions in which we operate. We understand that your balloon adventure is special and that a postponement my come as a disappointment, but it is always better to be on the ground wishing that you are in the air, than to be in the air wishing you were on the ground! As always, your pilot knows best what conditions are not favorable for an enjoyable flight, and the pilot's decision is final. Where do you launch? BUGABOO Balloons operates from launch sites throughout the Greater St. Louis area from both Missouri and Illinois. The choice of the launch site depends on a number of factors including wind direction and weather conditions. We always want to launch from a location that provides a fair selection of good landing sites along our flight path. In the St. Louis area we have plenty of launch sites available that suit most all wind directions.
	Where do you land? Balloons are very limited in control of lateral movement so they travel wherever the wind takes them. Part of the Adventure is not knowing or having a destination prior to departure. During the flight, the pilot will select a landing site which is free from obstacles, large enough for a safe landing and deflation of the balloon, and hopefully easily accessible to the crew. The bi-state area offers plenty of suitable landing sites for balloons. How long is the flight? BUGABOO Balloon adventure flights generally last about 3/4 hour to 1 1/4 hours, but we suggest that you allow 4 hours for the entire experience. It is recommended that you not have any engagement immediately following your balloon adventure to allow for unforeseen circumstances that may delay our return to the launch site. How does a Hot Air Balloon work? Hot Air Balloons operate on the simple principle "Warm air rises". We start by filling the balloon with cold air supplied by a large gasoline driven fan. Air is forced into the balloon until it is fully packed with cold air. At this point with the balloon still on its side the pilot ignites the propane burner and begins to heat the air inside the balloon as we watch the balloon rise overhead. The passengers are taken onboard and away we go! Balloons descend by letting the air inside the balloon cool slightly until a descent is achieved. The rate of descent is controlled by periodically heating the air inside the balloon with the propane burners. Increased rates of descent and landings are accomplished by a large vent in the top of the balloon which the pilot opens and closes to allow warm air to escape the balloon and cause the balloon to descend. Once on the ground the pilot operates the vent to allow ALL of he warm air to escape and totally deflate the balloon the be packed away until the next flight. What should I wear? You should dress for the season. It is essentially the same temperature in-flight as on the ground at takeoff. You should wear casual clothing and comfortable shoes suitable for a walk through country fields. Is it cold up there? The temperature in the balloon basket will be very close to the conditions on the ground at launch. The only difference being lack of wind chill. Since the balloon is moving with the wind you do not have the wind chill effect while in flight. What should I bring? Cameras, video cameras and binoculars are all permitted during the flight. We suggest that you have straps on all your equipment to prevent you from losing your expensive cameras overboard. It is also suggested that you bring a small equipment bag to safely secure all equipment prior to landing. Can I help? Part of the ballooning experience involves inflation of the balloon. You are welcome to participate in the inflation process, photograph or just watch. We do have experienced crew on hand to handle the inflation process but you are always welcome to participate. How can I make reservations for a flight? Reservations for BUGABOO Balloon Flights can be made by calling (314)845-7746 or by email: bugabooballoons@earthlink.net. How do I get a gift certificate? To arrange for a Gift Certificate, call or Email BUGABOO Balloon Flights. Our representatives will take all the required information pertaining to the gift certificate and discuss payment arrangements with you. Our gift certificate is valid for one year from date of gift. How do I contact BUGABOO Balloons? We can be reached by phone at (314)845-7746 or email bugabooballoons@earthlink.net What other services are available? BUGABOO Balloons also offers commercial balloon programs, promotions and tethers in addition to new and used Balloon sales. In addition, flight instruction and consulting services are also available.
	We are a Dealer for Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons. Click on the links below for more information. Also listed are some of the local Ballooning Clubs to which we support and belong. If you read this far, one question you might have is: Q: What does BUGABOO mean? A: 'A cause of needless fear'

Lindstrand Balloons	GAA Balloon Club-STL	BAGI Balloon Club-IL

bugabooballoons@earthlink.net