By Desirée Taylor
NJ Today
If you see a giant T-Rex, pink elephant and Darth Vader in the sky this weekend don’t be alarmed. They’re just a few of the hot air balloons featured this weekend at the 30th annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning. The three-day festival kicks off today at Solberg Airport in Readington. Weather permitting, all 100 hot air balloons will take flight twice a day, at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., every day.
“I’ve been doing this 25 years and the hair on my arm still stands up when this happens,” said Howard Freeman, executive producer of the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning.
Flying the balloons are FAA certified pilots from several countries as well as various areas of the U.S. Hot air balloons fly because the air inside of the envelope is hotter than the outside air. By using propane-fueled burners, the air is heated, and the balloon ascends.
So how high can they fly? “Typically 2,500 to 3,500 feet or higher,” said veteran pilot Scott McClinton. “I have a lot of people who want to see what a mile is like … In this little basket a mile is pretty intimidating.”
You can purchase a balloon ride, however organizers point out that they’re selling fast. There are also a host of family fun activities throughout the weekend including five music concerts.
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