Hot air balloon rides and biplane flights for over 28 years. Gift certificates available. The area's most experienced ride company.
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Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
Light Flight Balloons and Barnstormer Aero have been in business for over thirty years. During this time we have flown thousands of satisfied customers without an incident or accident.
What is your primary product or service?
Our primary product is fun! We do this by offering hot air balloon rides, champagne charter flights, and open cockpit biplane rides in a restored 1941 Stearman biplane. We own and operate 10 balloons and 2 airplanes.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
Our Chief Pilot, Mike Gerred, has been flying since he was seventeen years old. He is retired from the Naval Air Reserve. He was an accident prevention counselor for the Baltimore Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards District Office for 18 years and managed the Aberdeen Proving Ground Army Flying Activity for 6 years.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
What makes us different is the fact that we are full time and our level of experience. We are Maryland's most experienced ride operator. Light Flight is a full time balloon company and a Maryland Corporation. We are not a hobby business or someone trying to subsidize their expensive fun recreational sport. As a full time ride business we have much greater experience than any of the competition - over thirty years and our Chief Pilot has over 3000 hours of pilot-in-command time in balloons. Ask the others, they may be unwilling to divulge their level of experience. Ballooning is a skill and simply stated; the more often you do it the better you become at it! Being a Maryland Corporation indicates that you are dealing directly with the company that you will fly with and not some broker or middle man that is in business to sell you a certificate. We are in business to provide you the actual service and are concerned about your safety and enjoyment from beginning to end.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
We have only one location in Maryland, Bel Air which is about 30 miles northeast of Baltimore. Our flights occur in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Balloons are very weather dependent and we don't solicit business from over two hours drive away because of this. If a company is trying to get your business from farther away, they are more interested in your money than the inconvenience to you of having to drive a long distance for a possibly postponed flight due to weather. We have no current plans to expand; we like the fact that we get to know our customers on a one-on-one basis and beleive that we have a superior service as a result.
Provide detailed directions to your location
We use a PO Box for the business because after ten years we closed down our Bel Air storefront as unnecessary overhead. We have nearly three dozen launch sites in MD and PA and the wind speed and direction dictate which one will be used. We meet passengers in Pylesville, MD 18 miles north of I-95. After picking you up, we transport you to the launch site, inflate the balloon, fly, land, pack up, and celebrate your flight with a two-hundred year old tradtion of a champagne toast. We then deliver you back to your vehicle.
What type of payments do you accept?
We accept Cash, Personal Checks, Master Card, Visa, Discover, and AMEX.
Which areas do you service?
Our passenger base is wide spread. We draw from the DC and Northern Virgina areas as well as all of Maryland and Southeastern, PA. Northern Delaware is also in our market as we are only 35-40 minutes from Newark.
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
Light Flight Balloons is incorporated in the State of Maryland and Barnstormer Aero is a wholly owned subsidiary of Light Flight Balloons, Inc. Light Flight is a closely held corporation and its President is Michael Gerred. We are not a broker; you are dealing directly with the company that will provide the ride.
What are your hours of operation?
We operate with normal business hours however you may often find someone in the office at unusual hours due to the nature of balloon flights. We fly the first hour or so after sunrise and the last hours before sunset; that could be as early a 5 AM and as late as 10 PM!
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
That our service exceeded their expectations; a compliment that we hear regularly.
Contact Barnstormer Aero & Light Flight Hot Air Balloon Rides:
