Update: Tonight I achieved my first lighter-than-air flight in a hot air balloon for my crew participation efforts! Lifting off from the National Balloon Classic launch site, the pilot and I flew a distance of 7+ miles in slightly more than an hour. Our scenic evening flight took us over 1,000 feet up for a grand view from above, but also as low as the neighboring cornfields where we brushed the silky tassled tops. In fact, we pulled off a spectacular "splash-n-go", consisting of skimming the balloon over the surface of a farmer's pond, touching only the bottom of the basket and scaring up a few ducks. It was totally incredible!
