NEW SMYRNA BEACH – For the ride of a lifetime, just come to the New Smyrna Beach Balloon & Sky Festival March 28-30 at the New Smyrna Beach Airport. Whether you choose a hot-air balloon, a helicopter, a vintage biplane or a single-engine Cessna, you’ll be high in the sky over beautiful New Smyrna Beach.
Hot-Air Balloon passenger flights – Early-morning one-hour passenger flights are $230 per person. These rides include the traditional post-flight ceremony and a toast with your special souvenir champagne flute. A reservation list is now being maintained. It’s first-come, first-served, so call 386-957-FEST (3378).
Tethered hot-air balloon rides – Will be offered on Friday and Saturday evenings during the Balloon Glows, and for a time in the early morning hours on Saturday and Sunday (if winds allow). These rides last a few minutes as the balloons hover above the crowd, and the cost is just $10. Tickets will be available at the event.
Biplane rides – Climb into an open-cockpit vintage 1941 World War II trainer for a trip into yesteryear at a price per passenger of $80. Advance tickets can be purchased by calling 386-478-0600. Ask for “Fest Rides” tickets, or you can purchase them on-site at the Sky Fest RIDES booth.
Helicopter rides – Will be offered in THREE different aircraft:
- The Enstrom F-28 helicopter can take two passengers per flight, and tickets can be purchased right at the Sky Fest RIDES booth for just $30 per person.
- The legendary Huey can carry 10 passengers at a time on an open-door thrill ride for just $75 per person. Tickets available at the event.
- The Cobra Attack Helicopter carries one passenger at a time on the ultimate ride for $300 ($500 for a longer flight). Tickets available at the event. There’s nothing else like this!
Airplane rides – Will be available in the classic Cessna 172 for just $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Sky Fest RIDES booth during the event.
Warbird rides – In a North American World War II AT-6 Texan trainer. Carries one passenger for a familiarization instruction flight where you get a chance to fly this high performance aircraft for just $320. For advance bookings, call 386-478-0600 and ask for “Fest Rides” tickets, or purchase them on-site at the Sky Fest RIDES booth.
Come out and enjoy all that the 2014 New Smyrna Beach Balloon & Sky Fest has to offer. Admission is only $10 for adults per day. Children under 12 get in free, and so do all veterans with ID. Parking is FREE!