Kelly Hilberth

There are SO MANY things I love about hot air ballooning! I appreciate the adventure and excitement of each flight. I enjoy bringing this unique experience to others. Having a completely different perspective of the world, by means of being suspended in a balloon hundreds to thousands of feet above the earth is something euphoric. Trusting the process. Like life, there may be some unexpected ups and downs and turns along the way, and you may not understand the path, but eventually you will land. God's plan is much greater than my own!

From our meet-up point, set-up, flight, pack-up, and post flight celebration, the entire experience is approximately 3-3 1/2 hours. The actual flight time is usually close to one hour. It largely depends on the wind conditions and landing opportunities on any given flight.

I can't always know...but often I hear that I have helped make passengers feel more comfortable and put any fears they may have had at ease. I also enjoy tending to the details of hospitality for each of my passengers. Having custom experiences tailor made is something I get most excited about when preparing for flight.

Though hot air ballooning still seems to be male-dominated, women are certainly making great strides in growing the female contingent of lighter-than-air (lta) pilots. I am thrilled to be offering lta training to other women who also have dreams of flight.

I don't ever know exactly where I will land. I usually have a very good idea based on the direction and speed of the wind during the time of the scheduled flight. An Ideal landing site will be an open area free of livestock, crops, trees, and other obstacles. Safety is my chief concern while seeking a landing site.

I really enjoy taking my duck for a swim, so I do enjoy flying near "splash'n'dash" opportunities. A popular route for me is crossing the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. But if a large pond or lake presents itself, Ill be just as happy to briefly touch down on the surface.

I'd love to help you achieve your goal to become a hot air balloon pilot. First I recommend an introductory flight where you can have a hands-on experience and even have supervised control of the burner. When you have caught "ballooning fever" I'd be happy to discuss some options that can get you FAA certified to fly.

Absolutely!  It is a special honor to be trusted with the details of helping a couple get engaged or married in a hot air balloon. I use a 10' drop-down banner while in flight that proclaims "She Said Yes!" You can see some pictures of these priceless moments in our Memory Gallery.

Yes! Autumn is an amazing time to view the New England fall colors from the air. Plan your trips now... we recommend a sunrise or sunset flight.