Story and Photos by Seth Anderson
The Dream Catcher hot air balloon team was out for a flight this evening with a Huntington couple as passengers and Chris Smart piloting. The team took off from a location near Highway 5 and 16 and landed shortly before sunset an hour later in the 400S block of Broadway (near Indiana St.), a distance of about 4.5 miles as the bird flies, or in this case as the balloon floats. The 4.5 mile trip took about an an hour of flight time.
The crew prepares to put the basket in their trailer as the evening light fades.
At the conclusion of the safe landing, Chris got out a bottle of champagne (the sparkling grape juice variety) for a traditional toast that is done by ballooners after a good landing. The definition of a good landing has changed over time, Chris told the group of onlookers and crew, because in the early days of ballooning a good landing was “anything you could walk away from”.
Chris Smart tells the history of the toast.
With tonight’s landing being picture perfect, Chris uncorked the champagne and led the group in The Ballooner’s Prayer:
“The winds have welcomed you with softness. The sun has blessed you with its warm hands. You’ve flown so high and so well that God has joined you in your laughter and set you back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.”
The Dream Catcher lights up as it lands.
The Dream Catcher is a Cameron C-80 balloon and has a volume of 80,000 cubic feet and stands 65 feet tall and can carry 2-3 passengers. The Dream catcher gets its lift from an ultra-single burner, which puts out 22-26 million BTU’s.
Chris Smart serves as pilot of the balloon and is joined by his crew chief and wife, Trina Smart. Their four children and other family members make up the crew.
Rides are available for $175 per person and you may contact Chris and crew for ride information at 260-344-1346.
The Dream Catcher's crew works to bring the balloon in for landing.
The crew works to deflate the balloon.
The Dream Catcher approaches its landing
It was our first ride on a hot air ballon and we never thought it would be that thrilling. Unlike an airplane that travels so much faster with such a limited view from a small window, a hot air balloon goes very much slower and you have a 360 degree bird’s eye view of the beautiful scenery. Except for the occasional sound of the burner the ride was tranquil. You can hear the ducks quacking, the children playing and the sound of the busy streets. It surely was a relaxing and exhilarating experience that we would definitely recommend to anyone.
I would like to especially thank the pilot, Chris Smart who did an excellent job at keeping us comfortable throughout the entire ride and also his benevolent sponsor who made the memorable experience an opportunity for us.
Our 16 year old daughter asked for a Balloon ride. So May 18,2009 her and her 2 teenage brothers took flight with Chris Smart on Dream Catcher flight #847. As parents we watched the beautiful balloon, as the kids took part in an adventure. They came back better people- in total AWE of the world. They asked to go high, so at over 3000 feet (360 degree) the view was breathtaking!! The pictures they took was something I never seen before. Chris also took then among the tree tops where they spotted several deers and small animals. My son explained to us-”it’s a place your mind is not suppose to see, so it doesn’t make any sense, its exhilarating and peaceful at the same time, Total Awe” Thank you for much to the pilot Chris Smart- (as the kids video taped everything) he was excellent pointing out things and making them feel very comfortable. He was wonderful. I asked the kids if Cedar Point was better or not. They said, the balloon ride was everything they ever dreamed of, and Cedar Point doesn’t come close. The toast afterwards was so special, they came back different people. Thanks to Chris and the Dream Catcher Balloon Team