Meeting Points - Times & Directions
(Last updated on March 02, 2008)Before heading to the launch site, passengers, crew and the pilots meet at a convent location to do a last minute check of the weather and wind conditions. Our primary flying areas are in Woodstock, CT and in Coventry, CT. We do fly in other parts of Connecticut during special occasions or events and Meeting Points are shown for them here as well.
Meeting Point Times are based on the Actual Sunrise and Actual Sunset time for Hartford, CT as posted on the weather underground web site in the astronomy section. Plan to be at the assigned meeting point no later then:
- 1 hour before actual sunrise for a morning AM flight.
- 2-1/2 hours before actual sunset for an evening PM flight.
The pilot will release a small helium balloon called a "PIBAL" and watch the direction it goes off in. The direction of the "PIBAL" will determine which launch site we will use. We will then transport you to the launch site. When the flight is finished we will bring you back to the meeting point for your car.
Sunrise and Sunset Times - Actual Sunrise and Actual Sunset times can be found on the Weather Underground site for Hartford, CT in the astronomy section.
Primary Flying Area - Meeting Points
- Putnam Meeting Point – Chase Building Supply
parking lot on Route 171 on the Woodstock/Putnam town line, 1 mile east of the
Woodstock fair grounds on Route 171.
- Ashford Meeting Point - Dunken Donuts parking lot at the intersection of Routes 44 and 74 in Ashford.
We park our cars in the commuter parking lot on Route 44 which is at
Saint Philip Apostle Church (.6
miles east on Route 44 on the left side of the road)
- Coventry Meeting Point – Dunken Donuts and CVS parking lot at intersection of Route 31 South and Route 44 in Coventry. We will meet in the parking lot between CVS and Dunken Donuts. (near Highland Park Market & the Getty Gas Station)
Meeting Point Time
Because we only have a limited amount of time to fly Hot Air Balloons each day it is VERY important to be on time at the Meeting Point. We will wait only 15 minuets after the meeting point time before moving on to the launch field. It is not fair to other passengers and crew, who have arrived on time, to jeopardize missing a flying opportunity for passengers or crew who are late.
If you are going to be late to a
Meeting Point, call the pilot as soon as you know you are going to be late ! Call 860-428-6769. Leave a
voice mail message and your cell phone number if he does not pick up. We will
try and make other arrangements to get you to the launch field and
maybe still make the flight. Please call, 860-428-6769, as soon as
you know you are going to be late.
Secondary Flying Area
& Meeting Points
NOTE - The Secondary Flying Area and meeting points are only used for
Special Flying Events
Farmington Meeting Point – The Commuter "Park and Ride" lot at Exit 37, Fienemann Road, off of Route 84 in Farmington, CT.
Cheshire Meeting Point – The Commuter "Park and Ride" lot on Route 10, 1/4 mile north of Route 691 at exit 3 in Cheshire, CT.
Festival Meeting Point - If you are flying with us at one of the festivals listed on our Flight Schedule page, a special Festival Meeting Point will be coordinated with you.