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Anyone have experience with hot air balloons?
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:39 pm
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:39 pm
So I see that a hot air balloon cost around 30 to $40,000 to buy.
I can get a hot air balloon license for about $5000 and I think a couple weeks of training.
I was thinking of a business model in a tourist place where I give 10 minute photo rides.
I simply grab four-six passengers at 10 bucks a piece, and bring them up a hundred yards or so, the balloon basket is tied to the ground by use of a winch bolted to the ground.
Turn on the gas We go up, they take their pictures for Facebook and Instagram, then I remote the winch and it drags us back down.
Anything obviously deal breaking in this model?
I can get a hot air balloon license for about $5000 and I think a couple weeks of training.
I was thinking of a business model in a tourist place where I give 10 minute photo rides.
I simply grab four-six passengers at 10 bucks a piece, and bring them up a hundred yards or so, the balloon basket is tied to the ground by use of a winch bolted to the ground.
Turn on the gas We go up, they take their pictures for Facebook and Instagram, then I remote the winch and it drags us back down.
Anything obviously deal breaking in this model?
17
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:43 pm to Kujo
You have to ride in a balloon over and over again with gross strangers
No thanks
No thanks
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:46 pm to Kujo
I would think insurance would be a nightmare.
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:46 pm to Kujo
Probably will have to charge $500+ to turn any kind of profit.n
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:47 pm to Kujo
Never had a desire to go up in a hot hair balloon
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:52 pm to The Boat
Watched one burn up while they were trying to inflate it. If that balloon catches fire, it’s gone in seconds. I watched it from 50 feet away on a levee in vidalia. I would never get on one of those things.
This post was edited on 4/29/21 at 11:52 pm
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:52 pm to Kujo
Permits to fly it near anything are probably a bitch, in addition to insurance already mentioned.
Plus, unnecessary amounts of trips off the ground dangling from a balloon, ie more than zero.
Plus, unnecessary amounts of trips off the ground dangling from a balloon, ie more than zero.
This post was edited on 4/29/21 at 11:52 pm
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:58 pm to lsuwontonwrap
If I got a permit to attach it near the Riverwalk, The rides would be over the Mississippi I assume for the most part depending on wind.
I think flat areas that would work the best where you don't really typically an up close elevation view.
How much do people pay for those horrible horse carriage rides in the quarter behind a smelly tortured animal
I think flat areas that would work the best where you don't really typically an up close elevation view.
How much do people pay for those horrible horse carriage rides in the quarter behind a smelly tortured animal
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:58 pm to Kujo
quote:
I was thinking of a business model in a tourist place where I give 10 minute photo rides.
I simply grab four-six passengers at 10 bucks a piece, and bring them up a hundred yards or so, the balloon basket is tied to the ground by use of a winch bolted to the ground.
Turn on the gas We go up, they take their pictures for Facebook and Instagram, then I remote the winch and it drags us back down.
Anything obviously deal breaking in this model?
This exact business used to exist in Niagara Falls.
Posted on 4/29/21 at 11:59 pm to Kujo
Eta
Use it to transport cocaine or dump bodies into the ocean/gulf at night for $10,000 a body. Be sure and take cash upfront, check for counterfeit, etc.
Swiss banks are happy to have foreign residents as customers. You can hold an account in Swiss francs or in a range of other world currencies. Each bank will usually set the minimum deposit amount for opening the account, (usually $100,000 initial deposit) so you will need to find a bank that will accept the amount of funds you have.
You don't fire up your balloon till you're paid in full.
This post was edited on 4/30/21 at 12:10 am
Posted on 4/30/21 at 12:00 am to Barstools
quote:
Permits to fly it near anything are probably a bitch, in addition to insurance already mentioned.
Yeah that's true, but I'm wondering if elevation may make it a non-issue. "Flying" is usually defined by certain altitudes correct? Is there guidance for being less than 300 ft off the ground?
Posted on 4/30/21 at 12:10 am to Evolved Simian
quote:
exact business used to exist in Niagara Falls.
You wouldn't happen have any other details? I couldn't find anything
quote:
Section 91.119(b) requires that all aircraft, except when necessary for takeoff and landing, operate over congested areas of cities, towns, or settlements or over open air assemblies of persons at an altitude no lower than 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.
So to get around this I would not be able to stay in one place, I would need to go to max height and then have the winch slowly bring us down. I'm taking off and landing... Never flying
Posted on 4/30/21 at 12:17 am to Kujo
Dont forgive the government would want their cut.
Posted on 4/30/21 at 12:30 am to Ryan3232
Had some friends in college who had one. They brought it on campus to light it up and take off into the wild blue yonder.
They lifted directly into an oak tree and we all laughed at them and went to go get blitzed.
So, it was a normal Saturday that we got drunk as hell, except we got to watch a balloon smash onto a tree.
They lifted directly into an oak tree and we all laughed at them and went to go get blitzed.
So, it was a normal Saturday that we got drunk as hell, except we got to watch a balloon smash onto a tree.
Posted on 4/30/21 at 12:35 am to BregmansWheelbarrow
Went to the balloon festival in ABQ a few years ago.
Those balloons go fricking everywhere. Saw one land in the cloverleaf of the interstate. Apparently they drop all over town depending on wind direction.
Those balloons go fricking everywhere. Saw one land in the cloverleaf of the interstate. Apparently they drop all over town depending on wind direction.
Posted on 4/30/21 at 12:35 am to Kujo
quote:
I can get a hot air balloon license for about $5000 and I think a couple weeks of training.
I've done balloon ride and thoroughly enjoyed it but they are expensive. Never had any desire to do the tethered version though.
Have you confirmed you don't need a full pilot's or commercial license to do the tethered ride? I think the biggest hitch in your plan is going to be the insurance. When you are taking paying customers up into the air, they usually like to see years of experience under the operator's belt.
Posted on 4/30/21 at 12:42 am to Kujo
quote:
If I got a permit to attach it near the Riverwalk
Sure, maybe if you're Pampy Barre's childhood blow-buddy you might get that.
Posted on 4/30/21 at 12:53 am to USMEagles
The national championships used to be at the State fairgrounds. All the pilots would meet in the morning and would be told of an X on a map. The pilots would then race to the best part of town to take off from pending the wind direction. The goal was to fly over the X and throw a bean bag at it. Closest to the X won. There was also a day where they would hang a car key from a pole and you had to fly to the pole and try to grab the key to win a new car.
I know this because my parents were on a chase crew for one of the pilots. Chase crews would help them take off and then chase the balloon and help it land.
I know this because my parents were on a chase crew for one of the pilots. Chase crews would help them take off and then chase the balloon and help it land.
Posted on 4/30/21 at 12:55 am to SATNIGHTS
Posted on 4/30/21 at 2:12 am to Kujo
When we lived in Albuquerque, most of the pilots charged $300-$500 per rider, granted it was a couple hours up.
I always wondered, what happens if you have to pee?
I always wondered, what happens if you have to pee?
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