This flight was organised by Mrs Santa:

(Dawn Drifters Balloon Flight – Ring at 4am, rv at 5am, flight and champagne breakfast.).

I picked up a mate at we drove to Rydges Capital Hill at 5am.

Flight

10 passengers, 1 chaser, 1 pilot, 2 crew met at Rydges Capital Hill. The pilot lets off a $2 balloon with light attached to assess wind conditions whilst the crew welcome us. A briefing from the pilot.

We drive to Narrabundah Oval and let off a second assessment balloon. All systems go. One unit from Dawn Drifters and another from Balloons Aloft set up in the first light of morning. The basket is slid off the trailer and balloon laid out and attached. A fan is used to force cold air into the balloon, then the burners take over (see pic 1). A passenger on crutches is loaded in whilst the basket is still on its side. It rights as the balloon gets lift (still tethered to the 4WD) and we pile in. Shoulder to shoulder with 5 passengers in each of 2 compartments, with a third compartment for the pilot and his gas bottles and gear.

We in PRIME rise quite quickly. Very noisy and hot on the top of your head when the jets fire. The second balloon follows, but such are the vagaries of the wind that they take a different course. Cameras click as we drift over the Kingston Foreshore redevelopment, Barton buildings, the Parliamentary triangle (see pic 2). Here the basket is rotated (this is the only control the pilot has of the balloon, apart from up and down) so that a camera hanging in a frame off the side of the canopy above us can snap us all. We continue over Lake Burley Griffin, between Springbank and Spinnaker Islands. The other balloon is further south over Yarralumla. On over Black Mountain Peninsula and Weston Park. Glen Loch interchange passes under us as the other balloon prepares to land at the picnic area at Yarramundi Reach (see pic 3).

We sail on, getting extra value for our $. The Cork Oak plantation disappears beneath us as kangaroos, cattle and cockatoos are disturbed by the roar of combusting gas. We pass the new arboretum plantings then dip towards a 132kV powerline. A fierce burn lifts us, although the lag time is a bit disconcerting. We see the chase vehicles on the Coppins Crossing Road and our pilot thinks we might land, but still we fly on.

Excellent view of the Molonglo River country I recently walked between Coppins Crossing and Uriarra Crossing on 4 Dec 07. We cross Deep Creek and a second powerline, then prepare for landing. The ground rushes at us, we take up our brace positions and, with a bump and a scrape, are earthbound. The basket inelegantly tips over. The central divide becomes useful, as it prevents our now upper berth companions from falling down on us. We crawl out.

The balloon is folded up and loaded back on the chase vehicle trailer, which appears after successfully negotiating our retrieval with property owners. Back to the hotel.

Champagne and orange juice, certificates, the opportunity to purchase memorabilia. A huge cooked breakfast and home to kiss Mrs Santa - and doze.

A great experience!

Distance: 13.7km    Time: 5.55 - 7.25am (1.5hrs).

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Dawn Drifters Balloon Flight