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Up Up & Away: What a Day -- The RE/MAX Balloon

I went out to Bealeton, Virginia today to the Flying Air Circus to watch WW-I era bi-planes doing aerobatics and to see the hot air Balloon Festival. I had no idea whether there would be a RE/MAX balloon there, but fortunately there was. Wow!! It is truly incredible to see the massive RE/MAX balloon up close and personal for the first time.

The aerobatic plane show was amazing, and there was even a wing-walker. A woman climbed out onto one of the wings in mid-flight at about 100 MPH and then hung upside down holding on with her ankles! Wow! We chatted with her after the show.

And even better than that, I took a ride in one of the bi-planes up to 3000 feet over Fauquier County, with amazing views of the Blue Ridge mountains. And the pilot did loops and spins and breathtaking acrobatic flight maneuvers.

My wife and I had hoped to take a hot air balloon flight, but unfortunately the tickets were sold out. Maybe next time.

Overall an incredible day! View all the photos.

Next weekend's adventure: Whitewater Rafting on the Youghiogheny River!

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Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate on 08/18/2007 08:59 PM

Comments (26)

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26 Comments on Up Up & Away: What a Day -- The RE/MAX Balloon

AUG

2007

Hello Brian,

I am jealous. I would love a plane ride like that. I could do without seeing the RE/MAX balloon up close though......LOL

Duane Hosek at Coldwell Banker in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Hi Brian. How neat for you! I want to brave flying in a hot air balloon, too, one day.

The balloon is way cool..... I had the pleasure of riding in it a couple of years ago at a township event. It was amazing how quiet it is up there after you launch..... I would recommend it to anyone!!

Hey Brian, you were in my neck of the woods. I've passed that Flying Air Circus a bazillion times showing property and always wondered what kind of show it was. Nice to hear it was a good time. Maybe I'll head out there sometime...but I'll be watching from the ground!

You are a brave soul! Who was your driver? I've only rode up in a teathered balloon. I'd end up at the bottom of the basket if the ropes broke. The RE/MAX balloon will be here on September 15 for our Fall Festival.

AUG

2007

I went to the Flying Air Circus a bunch of years ago and it was amazing! Now, I know you rushed home to write this to make your Saturday night deadline for weekly posts!

Oh wow..those pictures are great!!!! A Remax office in Massachusetts recently held an event with the balloon but I was out of town that weekend...it looked amazing!! I would be way too scared to go up though - you are braver than me.

Yes, it is a sight to see. WE use it at our MEECHIGAN party every year. It is tethered and a big hit. I won a free ride and it is still at my desk, 2 years ago. I think I will donate to raise money for charity.

The balloon we have done....the airplane ride we could do without. We actually host a "RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Program" once a year at one of the area elementary schools. Our pilot explains about how hot air balloons work, he took us into the middle of the balloon with the principal of the school to show us how big it is and then he took us for a lift. The kids always seem to love it! Thanks for sharing and glad you had fun!

BRIAN: Great photos. I was supposed to go the Long Island balloon festival last weekend, but somehow the comp tix went missing for Saturday, and I had appoinments on Sunday. I thought that it would have made for a cool blog, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. Your photos are much cooler anyway, because you did things that I wouldn't have even come close to. I'll give you a call sometime tomorrow.

That's cool Brian! I'm jealous! :-) Too bad I missed it. I'll have to try and catch it next year.

-Keith

RE/MAX Olympic, Manassas VA

http://www.MyRealtorKeith.com

AUG

2007

Duane: The plane ride was truly incredible. Flying in an open air cockpit with the pilot behind you and nothing in front of you except a small windshield, the propeller and the open country is amazing. I can understand why people get such a thrill out of flying. You haven't lived until you've seen the Earth upside down below you!

Ilyce: I hope to get into a hot air balloon too! Unfortunately the tickets for those rides were sold out but it was beautiful to see them all in the air.

Desiree: Sounds like you really enjoyed your balloon flight. I'd like to do a sunrise launch sometime.

Irene: Definitely a show that's worth seeing. And only $10 per person to get in. Of course, the flights cost quite a bit more, but that's all it costs to enjoy the show. I suggest bringing your own picnic lunch like we did, because the food they have for sale didn't look too appetizing. Also, next time we'll take 66 to 29 to 17 like we did on the way home, instead of sitting forever in traffic on 95.

Kay: Well, we didn't actually get up in the balloon, which would have been great. Enjoy your festival next month.

Patricia: I'd first learned about it a couple of years ago in a book called "Virginia Day Trips" and had been meaning to go for a while. And when I saw that there was going to be a balloon festival as well, it made it even more attractive.

Erica: I can't wait to e-mail my RE/MAX colleagues the pictures today!

Missy: That would be a great promotion donating your balloon trip proceeds to charity. It sure is a sight to see!

Rick & Lynn: Your hot air balloon program sounds like a great idea. The plane ride wasn't too scary. But then again, I've also been catapulted off of an aircraft carrier. Though my wife opted to remain on the ground during my flight.

Adam: The last time I had been to a balloon festival was around the age of 5 or 6 in New York. So it did bring back some of those memories. The day was also a surprise for my wife, and to my delight, she quite enjoyed it.

Keith: You should definitely go! Especially out in Manassas, you have a much shorter drive than I do. They do hold the Flying Circus with the planes every weekend May through October, but the balloon festival was only this past weekend.

Never went up, but I have seen the RE/MAX balloon up close and personal. It's huge, isnt it? Sounds like you had a well-deserved great day!

Margaret: Yes, I believe it is 7 stories high! Very impressive to see it. It was definitely a very fun day and perfect weather.

Great pictures! The RE/MAX balloon is a beautiful thing! The question I have for you is, How did you get the American flag and flag pole to stay on your head like that? LOL

David: It was a tough balancing act!

Who is the skydiver? I am an avid skydiver myself and was wondering how to get linked with these events.

Adam: No skydiving. That's me wearing the parachute before going up in the plane. My wife has nixed the idea of me going skydiving, but I'm going whitewater rafting next weekend. How many jumps have you done? I've watched the videos of a few friends who have gone skydiving, but I've never done it myself.

Brian - You got some great shots there! I got the chancew to take a ride in the RE/MAX baloon myself about six years ago - very cool.

Bill: Thanks for the comments. I sent this out to everyone in my brokerage today, and I've been appointed chairman for our group trip next year!

AUG

2007

Brian:

Thank you so much for this post. My husband and I are looking into getting certified to fly one and are strongly thinking about purchasing our very own RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon. You just pumped me up about doing it again!

Jessica: Wow, that would be pretty cool. What's a RE/MAX Hot Air Ballloon go for these days?

Brian:

I was told $14,000 - $30,000 but I will not be using the guy who told me. He was just sleazy I wanted to take a shower after meeting him (doesn't work for RE/MAX in any way). It is a huge investment but I really think it could be kind of cool to take my clients up in it or tie down and take people up about 200 ft in the air in my parking lot on the weekends. Great PR!

Jessica: That's doesn't sound like too bad a price. Sorry about the sleazy balloon salesman! (I'm picturing a used car dealer from whom I once bought a car) I think it would be a great investment for your business and certainly draw lots of attention. You could hold charity balloon rides and get lots of great PR! Another idea would be to give relocating clients a view of your town from above, and maybe even take some aerial shots of homes you have listed.

Brian,

My son would be so jealous. He's what I call my "flyboy". He is so into aviation that he's taking lessons and at 12 years old, has 12 hours flying and about 23 landings. Good luck with purchasing a balloon and have fun. :)

Kathy

Kathy: 12 years old and already flying -- that's impressive. I've got one friend who is currently a pilot for NetJets, flying corporate jets all around the country. Another friend of mine used to be a commercial pilot and now is a commercial Realtor. I'm not looking at buying a balloon though, that's Jessica who wants one.

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