1. What should I wear?
A. Wear casual clothing and comfortable shoes appropriate for an outdoor adventure. Dress for the season and layer your clothing so that you can adjust for warming or cooling temperatures. In the winter, appropriate clothing includes hats, gloves, boots and sunglasses. Summer attire includes long pants, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses. No shorts, open-toed shoes or sandals please. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
2. What kind of fuel is used for the burner?
A. Propane is used to fuel the burner that heats the air inside the envelope (the “balloon” part of a hot air balloon”).
3. How big is the balloon?
A. Mystic’s envelope holds 90,000 cubic feet of air.
4. Where are we going to land?
A. That’s all part of the adventure – you never know exactly where the flight will take you. Wind directions and speeds can vary at different altitudes, so the pilot can use the winds available to change direction or speed.
5. Why do you only fly near sunrise and sunset?
A. During the day, as the sun heats the Earth, thermal columns form in the atmosphere. Thermals can be dangerous to fly in because they can create false lift or down drafts that take steering power away from the pilot. Therefore, our flights are generally at sunrise or approximately an hour and a half before sunset, when the atmosphere is the calmest. If there is complete snow cover in the winter, occasional daytime flights can occur because thermals are unable to penetrate the snow cover to warm the Earth.
6. Can I pick a specific date I want to take my flight?
A. You can, but unfortunately we fly only when weather conditions are just right. Before each flight, our pilot gets special weather briefings for hot air ballooning from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Flight Services and various internet services. If the pilot determines the weather is unsuitable for a safe flight, the flight will be postponed. There is no way to guarantee that the date you want to fly will have “flyable” weather, but if you have a certain date in mind, we will certainly do our best to schedule a flight as close as possible to that date. Fortunately, South Dakota offers year round scenic balloon flights!
7. How do hot air balloons work?
A. Hot air balloons rise because the air inside the balloon is less dense once it is heated and the resulting pressure differentials produce an upward lift.
8. How do you get the balloon inflated?
A. A fan is used to blow cool air into the balloon. Later the burners are used to heat the air as the balloon lies on the ground. Gradually the balloon will rise to an upright position.
9. What if I have a fear of heights?
A. Many people with a fear of heights have flown with us and found balloon flight to be quite enjoyable. Both of our balloon baskets feature a bench seat that can be used at any time you feel unsteady or are just tired of standing on your feet! We will do everything we can to make your flight comfortable, but if you continue to experience discomfort after the launch, we will bring you back down.
10. How many passengers can go up at once?
A. Mystic’s basket can usually accommodate two to three adult passengers, depending on the passengers’ size.
11. Are there any restrictions on who is able to fly?
A. We do not take pregnant passengers for their own safety. While the flight is gentle, the landing could be jarring. Any child under the age of 18 must have parental consent. Use your own judgment as far as any disabilities or medical restrictions you may have. It is also at the pilot’s discretion as to whether he feels it may be unsafe for a passenger to take a hot air balloon ride. You need to be able to climb into and out of the basket. We have taken people well into their 80s and 90s for balloon rides with no problem. Tell us at the time of booking your flight if you have any medical issues that we should be aware of.