Public tethers that are scheduled, all are welcomes to attend.  Rides cost $12 per person.

1. Saturday 8-13-11 at the Cicero Baseball Fields behind the Library
2. Saturday 9-10-11 at Lions Park in Zionsville
3. Saturday 9-10-11 at the Taste of the Valley Wine & Microbrew Festival at Morrow’s Meadow in Yorktown
4. Friday 9-16-11 at Frankton Heritage Days located in Frankton
5. Saturday 9-17-11 at Frankton Heritage Days located in Frankton
6. Date TBA….The Janus Developmental Services Fall Festival in Noblesville

Indianapolis hot-air balloon team heads to Asian Cup 2011 tournament
Indianapolis, Indiana – December 30, 2010 — Tony Sandlin, a local hot-air balloon pilot and the owner of Midwest Balloon Rides, is pleased to announce that his team has been selected to participate in one of the world’s top soccer tournaments, the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™.

This international event involves teams from 16 countries and is sanctioned and organized by The Asian Football Confederation, the organizing body of Asian football and one of six confederations making up the FIFA and the FIFA World Cup™. The event takes place from January 7-29 in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, which was just selected to host the 2022 World Cup™.

Sandlin was contacted by organizers of the event, who were looking for hot-air balloons of solid colors to participate in the tournament that will be broadcast around the globe. They had a difficult time locating a solid yellow balloon until they reached Sandlin in Indianapolis last week.

Fortunately Sandlin had both a yellow balloon and experience flying at international events in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He quickly accepted the challenge of transporting his balloon and crew some 7,600 miles away for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“This was a unique opportunity to participate in a world-class event and experience the excitement of combining my passion for hot-air balloons with energy of the World Cup in one of the fastest-growing countries,” Sandlin said. “We look forward to participating in the international festivities with other balloon teams from Europe and Australia and fans from dozens of countries across Asia.”

From its humble beginnings in 1956, the AFC Asian Cup has developed into the continent’s premier football tournament, bringing together the top national teams from the length and breadth of Asia to compete for one of international football’s most sought-after prizes every four years.

More information about the event is available on the official web site at: www.asiancup2011.com

We have been so busy flying this year we didnt keep our diary updated like we wanted to. 

As of today we have had 100 free flghts, 12 tethers and 2 glows! 

October: 14 flights, 4 tethers & 1 glow

September: 14 flights & 3 tethers

August: 19 flights & 1 tether

July: 15 flights, 3 tethers & 1 glow

June: 18 flights & 1 tether

May: 9 flghts

April: 4 flights

March: 3 flights

February: 3 flights

January: 1 flight

And the year isn’t over yet!

Sunset flight from Durbin flying across Noblesville..Uncle and nephew had a great time.

See it now: http://bit.ly/caSOEI

Nice evening flight from Lapel High School almost making it to Mt Comfort Airport!

See the video here: http://bit.ly/cBhEw7

Wow what a busy June and July we have had with balloon rides!  I like to post info about each flight, but I have gotten a bit behind so I will recap the past 2 months here (June 1^st through July 18^th)…. 

We have had 30 flights that have included flight in Gas City, Kentland,  Muncie and of course Hamilton and surrounding counties.   During those 30 flights we have taken up 70 wonderful passengers and every one of them had a 60 minute or longer flight!

During the same time period we have also had 4 tether events taking up 439 passengers for a short flight!

I would like to thank our awesome crew for all those early morning flights they have gotten out of bed for and all of the hot and sweating evening flights we have had.  A big thanks go to those for assisting with the 4 tether events, those are always hard work.

Our crew during the past 2 months have included…..  Bob, Beth, Brian, Alan, Taylon, Bailey, Hazel, Erik, Tyler, Scott, Jenny, Stephanie, Brad, Terri, Mark, George, Gail & WILL!   Sorry if I forgot anyoneJ

Please take a look at the recap video…….enjoy!

http://bit.ly/91n6Hh

June 1, 2010       

Wilma Ray our 86 year old passenger had a wonderful time with her entire family following us on the ground. Crew person Brian also flew in the balloon taking pictures as he flew over Geist launching from our friend Randy’s house on 79^th Street west of Sunnyside. The flight concluded at the Noblesville Airport after 1:20 in the air. Bob and Beth crewed.

May 30, 2010

Race Day Sunrise flight over Geist with ski boats below us!  We launched from the church on 86^th Street east of Carroll Rd and landed at 146^th and River Rd. Darlene and her Sister Carol flew in the balloon with the two husbands following in their van. Bob and Brian crewed for the 1:20 flight.

May 29, 2010

Sunset flight from Durbin Elementary with 3 other balloons. The Lorton family flew with us with mom on the ground watching. Dad, brother and the 2 sisters were the lucky ones in the basket. We flew into Carmel and landed at Northview Church at 131^st and Hazel Dell. During the flight we flew over a few parties and waived at a lot of people in their yards.  Bob, Beth, Bailey and Will were the crew for the 50 minute Check out the flight here:  flight.

May 29, 2010

We launched from the barn in Fortville with two other balloons and had a very nice sunrise flight due west! We flew over Geist with some great views of the damn, continued over the Castleton Mall area, and viewed the buildings at Keystone at the Crossing and a great gentle landing at North Central High School.  Thanks David & Eva for flying with us.  Also thanks to Bob and Brian crewing.  Air time 1:20