The ride typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes and includes a gourmet meal, a traditional bottle of champagne, and a ride back to the lift-off point. Flights depart from Sugarloaf Mountain and land, mainly, wherever the wind takes you. Maneuverability of a balloon is what makes it so special. It follows wind patterns and travels up and down, depending on the amount of heated air inside the envelope. The more heat, the higher up you go.
Pilots use vents to gently nudge the balloon right or left.
Although Fancy Colors can soar 18,000 feet high, it normally flies 1,000 to 1,500 feet up off the ground, just above the treetops. The two major causes of accidents are high winds and power line contact. Danneman is very conservative and will not embark at even a hint of danger. His perfect safety records speaks well for that. Balloons are typically launched at sunrise or during the last two hours before sunset.