Aerostation 
 The Art of Ballooning 

Hot Air Balloon Flight Record - 30Sep2007
Dan and Kerri

Launch:  Stow, MA - Minute Man Air Field   Duration:  1:25
Land:  Marlboro, MA - Marlboro High School   Distance:  7.51
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Map of the flight


This is a Google Earth version of the track and should open in your local Google Earth. For more information or to install Google Earth on your system, go to Google Earth.

Link to Picture Gallery

This flight was planned to fulfill Kerri's wish for a balloon flight and combine as a memorable event when Dan proposed to her. Not a time you want to be troubled with weather delays.

The planets aligned properly and the day cooperated to provide a great flight. We all showed up at the launch field to calm winds and some light cirrus. Rudi was already setting up so we also had another balloon to fly with. We got off the ground slightly after Rudi and he was already off in the distance with his higher track. We stayed down in the airport trees for a while before climbing to chase Rudi south.

We dropped lower along route 62 to avoid covering too much ground, but stayed high enough to remain well west of the Sudbury tower and get a good view of the Boston skyline. Down near Hudson Main street, east of route 62, we dropped into the marsh and actually reversed direction to move slowly north. When we climbed out of the marsh we again turned south toward the Fort Meadow Reservoir.

I think it was during the part of the flight that Dan proposed, but really, I was concentrating on flying. We dropped a bit over the water, but no one was skiing today! By working the lower winds I was able to turn a bit west and head for Marlborough High School. This kept me north of the other possibility, the neighborhood east of the school with underground utilities.

The crew was right there waiting as we came over the edge of the trees and dropped into the parking lot. Now if the landing had not required that one bounce....


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This page modified: August 14 2023 16:52:50.