Balloons
Balloon Rides | About Balloon Flights | Pilots
Tethered & Paid Balloon Rides
Tethered Rides are offered on the Alabama Jubilee schedule as part of our evening operations each day.
Tethered rides are at the pilots discretion and are FREE.
We do not offer paid balloon flights at this event.
Tips:
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Lines for the rides can be long so arrive early for the wait.
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Minors (under 18) are not allowed in the balloons unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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Most pilots will not fly a child under the age of three (3).
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Balloons are aircraft, not fair rides. Many will run-out of fuel after one or two hours.
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If weather conditions change, the balloons may have to discontinue.
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Smoking not allowed on the launch field. Balloon fuel is liquid propane and is dangerous.
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Be mindful of tie-down ropes. Do not cross these unless you are told to do-so.
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Do not touch the balloon equipment unless directed to.
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Balloons have weight and capacity limits. Large groups will be asked to split-up.
When to See the Balloons
Events are early and late in the day. The best time to arrive at the field is before 6:00am for morning and 5:00pm for evening.
Balloon inflations and flights are often canceled, delayed, or postposed due to weather. Please see our event announcements page for more information on these happenings.
Get Close to the Balloons
The Alabama Jubilee is one of the few balloon events that allows the public to walk on the field.
The public is encouraged to ask pilots questions and to get close to the balloons.
Please remember to follow the rules and comply with all pilot requests.
Crewing
Would you like to get involved and crew for a balloon? See our crewing information on the balloon page.
Balloon Events & Tasks
The Alabama Jubilee balloon events consists of four balloon events.
Each morning there is a is a competition flight for the balloons. In the evenings half the balloons will fly with the other half stay on the field for tethers and a balloon glow.
For those who often ask how you compete in a balloon a brief description of balloon competition tasks are below:
Saturday Morning - Morgan County Commission Hare & Hound.
One balloon designated as the 'hare' will launch before the others. Once in the air they try to follow the first balloon.
The first balloon will land and roll out a large fabric 'X' onto which the "hound" balloons will try to drop a bean-bag marker. Whoever is closest to the center wins.
Sunday Morning - Lynn Layton Key Grab
This is a 'fly-in' that brings the balloons from off the field back onto it for the Lynn Layton Key Grab.
Balloons must fly a pre-set distance, usually three miles, and attempt to navigate back to the field in order to grab a ring from the top of a tall pole. A secondary goal is to drop a bean-bag marker at the center of an 'X' that is also laid-out at the pole.
Balloon: Tequila Sunrise
Pilot: Adam Riley
Madison, Alabama
Balloon: Daikin
Pilot: Mike Wahl
Decatur, Alabama
Balloon: River City Drifter
Pilot: Ken Carner
Decatur, Alabama
Balloon: Party On
Pilot: Robbie Wahl
Hoover, Alabama
Balloon: Bandit
Pilot: Brian Dial
Decatur, Alabama
Balloon: Black Pearl
Pilot: Steven Rauseo
Decatur, Alabama
Balloon: Cool Ray
Pilot: Jeff Maddox
Decatur, Alabama
Balloon: Oliver's Dream
Pilot: Ruth Swann
Madison, Alabama
Balloon: Dreamweaver
Pilot: Laura Stewart
Decatur, Alabama
Balloon: Flight 847 The Misfit
Pilot: Clay Turner
Decatur, Alabama
National Pilots
Balloon: America
Pilot: Frank Anger
Beldon, Mississippi
Balloon: Armadillo Sheriff
Pilot: Ricky Dillbeck
Interlachen, Florida
Balloon: Perceptions
Pilot: Rob Hall
Germantown, Tennessee
Balloon: Blue Spirit
Pilot: Joel Jones
Seale, Alabama
Balloon: Patty Sue
Pilot: David Koenig
Menasha, Wisconson
Balloon: Stars & Stripes
Pilot: Rusty Miller
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Balloon: Tuchstone Energy
Pilot: Joe Ritchie
Bryant, Arkansas
Balloon: Sunset Dreams
Pilot: Tom Steinbock
Crestwood, Kentucky
Balloon: the enTeisment
Pilot: Mike Teis
Candler, North Carolina
Balloon: Desperado
Pilot: Tim Billingsly
Carrollton, Georgia
Balloon: Mischief
Pilot: Skip Durham
Memphis, Tennessee
Balloon: Marilyn
Pilot: Chad Hebert
Zackery, Louisiana
Balloon: Windwalker
Pilot: Gary Jones
Diamondhead, mississippi
Balloon: Brair Rose
Pilot: Ben Noyce
Bolivar, Tennessee
Balloon: Kalos
Pilot: Kelly Sasser & Gary Brossett
Columbus, Georgia
Balloon: Mis-Direction
Pilot: Frank Stevenson
Frankfort, Kentucky
Balloon: Ol Yeller
Pilot: Larry Torgerson
Meridian, Mississippi
Balloon: Middle Age Crazy
Pilot: Mike Brent
nashville, Tennessee
Balloon: Mr. Winkle
Pilot: Charles Edwards
Ft. Myers, Florida
Balloon: Ole
Pilot: John Hitron
Louisville, Kentucky
Balloon: La Bayou Dream
Pilot: Karen Kent
Port Allen, Lousiana
Balloon: Seedquel
Pilot: Bob O'brien
Waupaca, Wisconson
Balloon: Dense Fog
Pilot: Charlie Schobel
Cumming, Georiga
Balloon: Billy the Kid
Pilot: Steven Stokoe
Lutz, Florida
Balloon: Storm
Pilot: Matt Torgerson
Anchorage, Kentucky
Balloon: OHANA
Pilot: Patrick Dailey
Bardstown, kentucky
Balloon: Pepsi
Pilot: Pat Fogue
Columbia, Missouri
Balloon: Star Rider
Pilot: Jonathan Hodge
Madison Hights, Michigan
Balloon: Prizmatic
Pilot: Paul Knuth
Crestwood, Kentucky
Balloon: Master Blaster
Pilot: Gary Odom
Valparaiso, Florida
Balloon: Udder One
Pilot: Andy Schraufnagel
Sheboygen, Wisconson
Balloon: Re/Max
Pilot: Joel Sturdevant
Lee's Summit, Montana
Balloon: Diamond-Aire
Pilot: Stephen Turner
Atlanta, Georgia
Balloon: Bama Breeze
Pilot: Mark Daniel
Northport, Alabama
Balloon: ALF
Pilot: Mark Fox
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Balloon: Dreamer
Pilot: Justin Hoffmann
Sandoval, Illinois
Balloon: BlueLoon
Pilot: David Koenig
Menasha, Wisconson
Balloon: Joy
Pilot: Fred Poole
Meridian, Mississippi
Balloon: Carolina Twist
Pilot: Anthony Seeger
Traveleres, South Carolina
Balloon: Checkride
Pilot: Dave Sullivan
Fayetteville, Georiga
Balloon: Southern Winds
Pilot: Buster Hicks
Griffin, GA
Balloon: Ado
Pilot: William Davis
Helena, Alabama
Balloon: TAD Too High
Pilot: Robert Foxenberg
Black Creek Wisconson
Balloon: Highly Kentagious
Pilot: Ken Johnston
Madsion, Mississippi
Balloon: Bubblegumbo
Pilot: David Koenig
Menasha, Wisconson
Balloon: RU Kidding ME!?!?
Pilot: Shawn Krause
Zackary, Lousiana
Balloon: Liberty
Pilot: Richard Ret
Dallas, Texas
Balloon: Treetop Flyer
Pilot: Tim Slattery
Madison, Mississippi
Balloon: Lucky Charm
Pilot: Dennis Sutter
Hallsville, Montana
Are you a pilot wishing to join in the fun at the Alabama Jubilee? Fill out our application: Pilot Application