Appearance Opportunities:

"Flying a gas balloon is unlike any other experience. There is no sound. No propellers, no jet engines. No burner, no heart-thumping rotors of a helicopter. Not even the wind that gliders experience. This is true, silent flight.

For a child, a cluster balloon flight embodies all the magic in the world. In an adult’s eyes, a cluster balloon launch reminds of a dream so many of us once had, but has grown quiet.

When you launch a balloon, part of the wonder is that you do not know where you will land. You are carried with the wind, towards destinations unknown. It is a wonderful adventure, and it is the most pure form of flight.

If you host a hot-air balloon festival, or gas balloon event, and would be interested in hosting a cluster flight, please contact me with your ideas. My passion is flight, and I look forward to my next cluster balloon flight.

Sincerely,
Jonathan R. Trappe
Cluster Balloonist"

 

About Jonathan

Jonathan Trappe is an FAA certified pilot, with a specific rating for Lighter-Than-Air: Free Balloons. Trappe’s first balloon was a Cameron M-34 ‘Cloudhopper,’ one of the tremendously beautiful and exhilarating one-man hot-air balloons. 

In addition, Trappe has completed specific gas balloon training and has flown under multiple lighter-than-air gasses. Gas balloon flights have included flying time in congested ‘Class C’ airspace, with approval from air traffic control, and solo flights to 17,930 feet.  Distance and duration launches include a flight in a standard gas balloon where Trappe remained aloft for 68 hours, 46 minutes.  On this one flight, Trappe traversed six states and traveled over 790 miles.

All flights are conducted in strict compliance with all Federal Aviation Regulations, and the FAA is always contacted before a cluster balloon launch. Safety equipment in flight includes two-way aircraft radios, altitude encoding transponder, aviator’s breathing oxygen, pilot parachute, gps, and emergency locator beacon. To date and going forward, Trappe’s flights are always run with a primary focus on safety.

Mr. Trappe is FAA certified for both hot-air and gas systems. 

If would like to host a Cluster Balloon launch, please Contact us for information