The balloon is the easy part. Everything that goes wrong goes wrong at the other end of the line.
Anchor to something that is not going anywhere
A sandbag, a ground stake driven properly, or a fixed point on the building. Net lift on a 13-foot blimp is about three pounds, so the weight is not the issue.
Wind loading is the issue, and it is many times the static lift. What holds a balloon on a still morning will not hold it in a 25 mph gust. Anchor for the gust.
Height: 120 feet, and why
We fly at 120 feet deliberately. Below 150 feet above ground level the FAA is not involved, and 120 leaves margin.
Within five miles of controlled airspace, ring the local tower and ask. In forty years we have never been refused, and the call takes two minutes. Johnny Mulder, who runs the company, holds an FAA commercial pilot certificate, so this is not guesswork.
Look at what is behind it
Before you fix the anchor point, drive your own approach road and look at the balloon’s position from the driver’s seat.
Against open sky it reads. Against a tree line or a tall building it loses most of its contrast and much of its apparent motion. Five minutes of this is worth more than any size decision you will make.
Then it is a daily habit
Check the forecast. Over 25 mph, bring it in, before the wind arrives rather than during it.
Weather loss is not covered by any warranty, ours included, because it is a decision and not a defect. Customers who make that call reliably report fourteen years out of a balloon.
Ask for a quote. Call 1-800-791-1445 or email sales@arizonaballoon.com and tell us the size and whether you want it printed.
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