Hot Air Balloon Fun Facts » BALLOONS ABOVE THE VALLEY - hot air balloon california

If you have never experienced a hot air balloon California-style adventure, you are in for a treat when you do. In Napa Valley, where hot air balloons rides are legendary, you can experience an incredible sense of freedom and exhilaration as you drift lazily above the communities and vineyards of Napa Valley.

And, this most memorable experience in Napa Valley comes with beautiful weather, breathtaking views, and a magnificent mountain backdrop.

So, before you take off on the best balloon ride in Napa Valley, perhaps you can learn more about balloon aviation with some Fun Facts to enlighten your friends and family.

Did You Know…?

  1. The first live passengers to fly in a hot air balloon were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster. Since many worried that high altitude might affect humans in unknown ways, these animals were chosen because 1). the sheep have physiology similar to a human’s, 2) ducks can fly high without ill-effects, and 3) roosters are also birds, although they do not fly.

Soaring for eight minutes and about two miles, the animals landed safely with no ill effects. After their short brush with glory and fame, the animal passengers presumably headed back to their respective farms.

  1. The first untethered balloon carrying humans flew two passengers on November 21, 1783, in Paris. The designers of this first human-carrying balloons were the Montgolfier Brothers. American Founding Father/scientist Benjamin Franklin was present at the event and wrote about the experience in his journal.
  1. The first hot air balloons made by the Montgolfier Brothers were constructed from silk with paper linings. Today’s hot air balloons are made from nylon that provides the strength to resist puncture, lightweight to reduce the amount of fuel needed to stay aloft, and fireproof.
  1. Balloons Above the Valley, a premier hot air balloon California company in Napa Valley, flies some of the most massive balloons in the business. The envelope, when fully inflated, holds a volume of air equal to 400,000 cubic feet and weighs about 600 lbs. Fully inflated, the balloon reaches ninety-one feet in the air.

Add Memories to Your Napa Valley Visit

In addition to tasting the great wines, savoring the wonderful foods, sipping the locally hand-crafted beers, and enjoying the many music, art, and historical venues of Napa Valley, take the time to fly hot air balloon rides Napa Valley. Safe and comfortable, your Balloons Above the Valley balloon, piloted by our top professionals, will give you a perspective of Napa Valley you have not experienced before.

To learn more and reserve the best balloon rides Napa Valley, go to the Balloons Above the Valley website

Or, phone the reservationists at Balloons Above the Valley at 1-800-464-6824.