The Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon Team is ready to bring a balloon to your event to really give you that WOW factor. Our Hot Air, Cold Air, and Remote-Controlled Balloons are a great addition to your Annual Meeting, Community Festival, Member Appreciation Day, Golf Tournament, or other cooperative event.
Hot Air Balloons and Remote-Controlled balloons are weather dependent; therefore, we schedule events in the early or later parts of the day. That is when the winds are the calmest. Our experienced pilots will carefully watch weather leading up to and throughout your event for everyone’s safety.
Many of our events involve tethering the hot air balloon. This is where the balloon is tethered to the ground with ropes to our chase vehicle and two other vehicles provided by the cooperative. This is a perfect set-up for Annual Meetings, as it allows members to go up in the air to experience a short, tethered ride if the weather permits.
Other options for bringing a Touchstone Energy Balloon to your event include our 10 foot tall Cold Air Balloons and nearly 25 foot tall Remote-Controlled Balloons. Both are replicas of the hot air balloon. The cold air ballons can be shipped and set up by cooperative members, while the hot air and remote-controlled balloons are driven to your event and flown by our world-class pilots.
Hot Air Balloon Information
The hot air balloon needs a space at least 200 feet by 200 feet that is clear of electric lines, trees, and light poles. A field or parking lot will work. We request two vehicles to tie off the ropes to secure the balloon. We also request a couple of cooperative employees to assist the crew, help members in and out of the balloon, and talk with the members. If you have a small stepladder, this will help the members get in and out of the basket. We carry enough fuel for 2 hours of tether time.
At events where we do flights, the pilot can usually carry two passengers. The pilot will review weight & safety requirements with you before the flight. All passengers are required to sign a release before taking a flight in a Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon.
The remote-controlled balloon needs a space at least 50 feet by 50 feet that is clear of electric lines, trees, light poles, or other obstructions. Winds must be less than 5mph.
The daily fee to bring in the hot air balloon or remote-controlled balloon and pilot is $3,000 per day plus mileage for the balloon van to and from your event at the current IRS rate of 67 cents per mile. The cooperative will also pay any registration fees for the balloon events. We will invoice after the event as sometimes we need to cancel for weather. The cost to bring in the cold air balloon is $175 per use plus shipping.
The pilot is available for radio, television, and other media interviews. In addition, vans and balloons appear at many parades. We have flashing pins, can koozies, and other merchandise available for purchase.
For further information, please contact Cheri White 217.898.6717 or gm@cbaballoon.com
For cold air bookings, please contact Kevin Bernson 217.774.3986 or coldairs@cbaballoon.com
Visit our website at www.cbaballoon.com
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