We did it. My friend Ron and I found the perfect day to do the thing that
we always wanted to do.
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
over New York City.
Our journey started by taking us over
the bay at Sandy Hook NJ and up the coast of Staten Island NY.
The people below were yelling with excitement as we floated overhead. Passing by
the Verizano Bridge and entered the shipping harbor, we waived to the people on
the Staten Island Ferry and other boats and ships down below. Still getting
closer to the city, our flight path was taking us directly in front of the
Statue of Liberty and strait up the Hudson River.
While waiving back at Lady Liberty, it was then we realized that what we
hoped and planned for would come true. A flight directly over the Island of
Manhattan.
We continued to fly up the Hudson River at a relatively
low altitude until the wind shifted, moving us directly into the City. This gave
us no choice but to climb up over the buildings of Manhattan. Once we leveled
off at about two thousand feet, slowly drifting across the City, I had time to
look down on the magnificent sights below. So much was happening right below our
feet, in the most exciting place on the planet to live !
Looking past the city, for a place to land, it was clear that up ahead the
landing spots were rather sparse. In fact we would cross over the LaGuardia
Airport and enter it's controlled airspace. This is ok, since we had clearance
to pass over. However, it does get a little busy around airports like that.
Taking a multiple of things in consideration, we decided to take the perfect
landing spot that happened to be directly below us, Central
Park ! After informing flight control of our decision to attempt
landing at the park, we prepared for landing. Descending lower and lower, our
approach was right on target, an empty baseball field on the North end of
Central Park. It was a standard routine landing.
Upon touchdown we were greeted by a number of the inhabitants of the city,
followed by a visit by many of New York's Finest. After questioning and a
thorough FBI background check, all involved realized that we were no a threat to
the city. This was a good thing because we did not have to spend the night in
the luxurious accommodations that were currently provided to us.
After looking back on this flight, i wouldn't change a thing, it was a
perfect experience. One that will always be part of me. I would like to show you
some of the shots I Captured along the way, and perhaps, you too would like to
take an Air Balloon Ride over New York City with
me.
