In Five weeks in a balloon (1863), the French writer Jules Verne tells of the heroic deeds of Dr. Samuel Fergusson, an adventurous traveler and journalist who, accompanied by his servant Joe and his friend Dick Kennedy, wants to fly over the Middle East of Africa in a balloon inflated with hydrogen. The three explorers begin their journey on the island of Zanzibar and over the next five weeks cross the Moon Mountains, Lake Victoria, the Nile, the Gold Mountains, Lake Chad, the Sahara and the Niger until they reach the Gouina Falls, from where they begin the journey back to England.
The 19th century passed and flying in a hot air balloon was a feat reserved for only a few adventurers. But more than a century and a half later, it is an experience that can be had very close to the city of Buenos Aires and in different parts of the country.
Like the pages of Jules Verne, this journey is not without its fair share of adventure, as the pilot controls the altitude of the balloon and allows himself to be guided by the air currents, but cannot determine the landing site in advance.
Takeoffs take place at dawn or dusk, when the wind dies down and the skies offer the best conditions to soar and fly like the intrepid adventurers.
“The flights are never the same and are carried out with a support vehicle responsible for picking up the adventurers after landing. They can last about 20 to 45 minutes depending on the weather conditions. And for the descent, the pilot will try to choose a field close to a road, preferably without crops or animals,” explains Adrián Barozza of Flotar en Globo, a pilot with more than 2,000 flights, instructor and balloon manufacturer.
He adds: “Their flights are group flights (four or five people) and for certain occasions the balloon can be rented in captive mode, i.e.
He adds: “The requirements are that passengers must weigh up to 100 kilos, be between 6 and 70 years old and have good physical fitness. It is recommended to wear comfortable clothing (swimsuit, long pants, sturdy shoes), insect repellent and a camera to take photos and videos.”
The ride begins to take shape the night before the flight when the pilot checks in to confirm that weather conditions are favorable.
“It was a birthday present for Flor, my wife. She always dreamed of the possibility of traveling in a balloon and after contacting the boys from Lujan we agreed on the day for the flight. We went with our children Pedro (8) and Lola (15) and when we arrived at the airfield, when they explained to us what it would be like, we started assembling the balloon with them. The progression was crazy, something inexplicable, a beautiful experience, with a wonderful one View of the sunrise. We felt safe from it. At the beginning we enjoyed it very much and when we landed we were laughing. “A spectacular experience, from start to finish,” recalls Roger of the baptism that he and his family performed a few weeks ago.
Once at the airport, the balloon envelope is unfolded and inflated with the help of the passengers. First, it is filled with cold air using fans, then it is heated with propane burners until the balloon rises completely on its axis and breaks equilibrium, ready for takeoff. The inflation time varies between 10 and 20 minutes and the result is amazing. Suddenly the balloon’s envelope, made up of around 3,000 cubic meters of air, measures 26 meters high, which is the height of a seven-story building.
Next, participants enter the interior of the wicker and rattan boat and are ready to sail. Then the captain orders the anchors to be released and the ascent begins very slowly, very gently, at a speed of one meter or one and a half meters per second. And so it continues until you reach a height of 200 meters, like a privileged balcony to look out and enjoy the twilight of dawn, with a magnificent 360 degree aerial view, combined with the pleasure of floating in the air, the view of a limitless horizon and the feeling of freedom that the pampas inspires.
“The balloon has no engine or directional control, you move to the rhythm of the wind. This creates a very deep connection with nature and the present moment. There is no dizziness or noise. It is an experience as gentle as it is powerful: you float in silence, with a 360° view of the landscape… and of yourself. I would describe it not just as a flight, but as a pause in time. The greatest virtue is the feeling of absolute freedom,” says Fernando Cescato, pilot and founder of EnGlobo, a company specializing in tourist and promotional hot air balloon flights in the city of Rosario.
He adds: “Every flight is different. The light changes, the wind changes, the people you take with you change. And that’s what keeps you alive. There are days when I continue to watch the sunrise from the air as if it were the first time. The adrenaline doesn’t go away: it just turns into a feeling of fullness. In a time when everything is a screen, a balloon ride looks at the world with different eyes again. That’s the real fuel that makes us fly.”
After a distance of approximately 10 kilometers, the descent is just as gentle as the ascent. When it comes into contact with the ground, the boat drags a few meters over the surface of the field until it comes to a complete standstill. The end of the flight has come.
Float in a balloon. The airfield is located at Calle 33 Orientales 1272, Lujan. Further information: www.flotar-en-globo.com
Rosary EnGlobo. You will depart from Alvear Aerodrome/Aeroparque in the town of Alvear, 15 minutes from Rosario. Instagram:@rosarioenglobo
About The Author
