Faqs / Top questions
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Your safety is our absolute first priority. Hot air balloons are extremely weather dependent and require a narrow window of conditions for safe and enjoyable flight, not only at ground level but also at altitude. As such, cancellations are unfortunately rather common here in the midwest.
The week of your flight, we will reach out with an update based on the forecast at that time and let you know if there are any necessary changes.
This is our least favorite part of the sport but it is our duty to keep you safe – and if we don’t want to fly based on conditions, trust us that you don’t either!
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Riders are accepted at the discretion of the ride operator. Your safety is our first priority and certain conditions must be met to fly. It is your responsibility to review these requirements and alert us of any discrepancies. It is critically important that you provide us accurate information especially when it comes to passenger weight. All of this information is private and used solely for safe flight planning. Balloons require a delicate range of weight and inaccuracies may force cancellations.
All Passengers:
Must be in good health and alert us of any pre-existing conditions.
Capable of standing 90 minutes and walking up to 1,000 feet.
Passengers under 18 must have a legal guardian present.
Must be at least 42” tall and over the age of seven.
Provide accurate weights, within 5 pounds.
Must not be pregnant or possibly pregnant.
Our guests that reserve our wheelchair accessible basket are exempted from mobility related requirements but please inform us of your specific medical needs to ensure a safe flight. Individuals with heart conditions, back or hip problems, weak knees or ankles, fainting spells, recent surgeries of any kind, or any other ailments should check with their doctor and also inform us of these conditions. If you have any such conditions, or your average passenger weight exceeds 225 pounds each, please contact us before booking your flight.
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Balloon flights may be canceled due to weather conditions, and we understand that there are many reasons you may need to cancel or reschedule your flight.
If WE cancel your flight due to weather or any other reason you will be rescheduled and your deposit will carry over.
If YOU cancel with at least 48 hours notice, you can reschedule and your deposit carries over.
If YOU cancel with less than 24 hours notice you will be charged 50% of the total booking cost.
If YOU fail to arrive for your flight by launch time, the entire fee amount will be due or you will forfeit your certificate.
After 3 cancellations we can stop rescheduling and refund your deposit on request.
If your flight is for a one-time only date, please make us aware of that prior to booking!
If you cannot reschedule a flight right away, carry over deposits are valid for two years.
Balloons must be loaded delicately. If you cancel late or fail to arrive for your flight, it may force cancellation for everyone else. Please do your best to arrive on time for your flight, and if there are any problems please reach out as soon as possible so we can assist you.
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We are based in Indianapolis, Indiana and our standard flights launch from the north side. We also travel and our balloons have flown all over the United States and even several other countries providing tethered rides, wheelchair accessibility, special shape displays, and advertising. For a custom quote on bringing us to your occasion, reach out anytime.
Meeting Locations:
Our meeting locations for flight depends entirely on the winds of that day, which we won’t know very far in advance. We utilize one of approximately 40 meeting sites, but all are across Indy’s north side and all are within 30 minutes of Indianapolis. The week of your flight we will provide updates as to where to go, based on the forecast.
Please note that our address is only a mailing address and not where we meet.
You can reach out via our contact page — this is usually fastest — or by giving our office a call at 317-863-0318
For payments or other mail:
Midwest Balloon Rides
11807 Allisonville Road #209
Fishers, IN 46038
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Shared Rides:
Unless you booked a private ride, your flight will be a shared ride – there will be other passengers in the same basket (maximum 6 passengers in addition to the pilot). For most flights, we will be using our basket that holds the pilot plus 6 passengers.
If you are booking a shared ride with 2 or fewer passengers, we may need to change your date and will make you aware of the change no less than 3 days in advance (this is very seldom an issue), this is due to operational cost. We will, of course, make the change fit your schedule. If you are booking 3 or more passengers or have booked a private ride, this does not apply.
Private Rides
If you booked a private for 5 , 6 or 7 people there is a small chance we may not have that balloon open even if the system states it is (this is a system fault we can’t fix at this time). If this does occur we will contact you ASAP and offer another date or refund your deposit paid. For a 7 person ride we are limited to 1200 lbs.
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Hot air balloons only fly just after sunrise, and just before sunset when winds and thermals are at their lowest.
Morning flights meet about 30 minutes before sunrise. Mornings tend to have more reliable weather, and the peace and light of dawn is hard to beat. Most of our pilots recommend morning when asked; there’s just no better way to start the day.
Evening flights meet about 2 hours before sunset. Evening flights are full of excitement as you float over neighborhoods of cheering children and soak up the late afternoon glow.
Note: We won’t be airborne during the actual rise/set of the sun — but pre-dawn flights are available as a special flight!
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Feel free to bring handheld camera equipment.
Due to limited space in the basket, we recommend handbags; backpacks and large camera bags remain on the ground. The baskets are designed to carry passengers, not luggage.
What to Wear
Passengers should wear outdoor clothing that is comfortable for the particular season and the time of the flight.
Dress for being in fields (for landing) by wearing full shoes or boots and long pants. Please NO open-toed shoes, high heels or skirts.
Morning flights may encounter dew or wet covered ground. For winter and cool weather flying, we recommend wearing layers. Put on as many as needed to remain comfortable. You can always remove a layer or two. It will not be noticeably colder in the air.
For summer flights we suggest a hat or head covering. During takeoff, you usually feel the radiant heat from the burner.
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Weather:
Hot air ballooning is extremely weather sensitive and we will never compromise your safety. Please be prepared for your flight date to possibly change due to weather conditions.
Standard Rides:
You will be airborne for approximately 45-60 minutes, but the entire experience will take about 3 hours. We will meet at an appropriate location, and drive you in our van to the launch site.
It will take about thirty minutes to inflate the balloons, brief passengers, and launch. There will be loads of opportunities for photos the entire flight, and any photos our crew gets will be provided to you at no cost. You can also help setup or tear down the balloon with the crew, for a deeper experience.
When we are finished we will have a ceremonial toast celebrating the successful flight and your inauguration as aeurnoauts. We will then return you to your vehicle.
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In a tether, we anchor a real hot air balloon to the ground which allows us to provide repeated short flights. Tethers instantly enhance any event or party they are at, and bring both attention and entertainment.
Typical one night tethers start at around $2,000 for small parties, and as high as $10,000 per balloon for large events. We are happy to travel for added fees. For more information, see here.
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We have gift certificates available for all of our flights. To purchase, please use this form.
To redeem a certificate, click here.
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Engagements
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Riders are accepted at the discretion of the ride operator. Your safety is our first priority and certain conditions must be met to fly. It is your responsibility to review these requirements and alert us of any discrepancies. It is critically important that you provide us accurate information especially when it comes to passenger weight. All of this information is private and used solely for safe flight planning. Balloons require a delicate range of weight and inaccuracies may force cancellations.
All Passengers:
Must be in good health and alert us of any pre-existing conditions.
Capable of standing 90 minutes and walking up to 1,000 feet.
Passengers under 18 must have a legal guardian present.
Must be at least 42” tall and over the age of seven.
Provide accurate weights, within 5 pounds.
Must not be pregnant or possibly pregnant.
Our guests that reserve our wheelchair accessible basket are exempted from mobility related requirements but please inform us of your specific medical needs to ensure a safe flight. Individuals with heart conditions, back or hip problems, weak knees or ankles, fainting spells, recent surgeries of any kind, or any other ailments should check with their doctor and also inform us of these conditions. If you have any such conditions, or your average passenger weight exceeds 225 pounds each, please contact us before booking your flight.
“ The winds have welcomed you with softness. The sun has blessed you with warm hands. You have flown so high, and so well, that god has joined you in laughter and set you gently back in the loving arms of mother earth. “
Our story
Midwest Balloon Rides is the region’s leading commercial operator of hot air balloons and specializes in unique experiences that delight its customers.
From its home base in Indianapolis, Indiana, the company organizes many events each year, ranging from a private flight at sunrise for a special engagement proposal to large balloon tethers at county fairs.
Owner Tony Sandlin is a small man that has nevertheless participated in hot air balloon events across the United States, as well as in Canada, Mexico and the Middle East. He regularly participates as one of only a few commercial pilots that give passenger rides at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, an annual gathering of more than 600 hot air balloons.
Midwest Balloon Rides operates several hot air balloons and works to make each ride is a memorable and exciting experience. The company offers a wide range of options, including private rides, group rides, multi-balloon flights, tethers (where the balloon lifts and lands at the same spot so many passengers can ride), school programs and corporate events.
Each ride is planned to create lasting memories and share the wonder of flight that has enchanted people of all ages since the first time humans took to the sky. Since all hot air balloon events depend on current weather conditions, it’s important to plan early and have some flexibility.
Midwest Balloon Rides has flown more than 25,000 passengers and is an active member of the Professional Ride Operators of the Balloon Federation of America.
Tiny Sandlin, owner and chief pilot, has flown more than 25,000 passengers and logged more than 2500 flights throughout the United States, Mexico, and the Middle East.
His wife and sons are all also part of ballooning, and he has made many close personal friends through the sport he loves, and loves to share.