Ever thought about dropping a penny out of a sky scraper window? Well, that's not exactly legal. However, dropping things out of a hot air balloon is. Balloonists drop items out of the balloon basket to see what the winds are doing beneath them. Obviously, pennies are too heavy, and could potentially be dangerous. The FAA’s rule is you can actually drop anything out of a hot air balloon as long as it does not damage any person or property.
>### You can actually drop anything out of a hot air balloon as long as it does not damage any person or property.
Most pilots don’t drop random objects for fun. They drop objects that are light enough and can easily be carried by the wind. Many pilots use the age old technique of spitting over the side of the balloon basket, and watching it intently as the wind shifts it from side to side. This works great, except sometimes becomes difficult as you run out of saliva about half way through the flight. The classier way is to use shaving cream. Shaving cream is light in weight, and when sprayed over the side of the basket can be easily seen for a few thousand feet. Every hot air balloon pilot has their favorite wind discovery device. Here’s our top 5 list items to safely drop out of a hot air balloon.
1. Shaving Cream
2. Popcorn
3. Rose Petals
4. Wood Shavings
5. Cheesy Poofs
So, if one morning, you’re on your porch drinking a warm cup of coffee, and a cheesy poof lands in your cup, it’s not the neighbor kids trying to pull a prank, it’s just a hot air balloon pilot trying to find his way while eating a delicious snack.
At Seattle Ballooning, we are happy to help make your proposal extra romantic and unique. Wouldn’t it be romantic to gather some rose peddles to drop from the balloon? Just book a private flight at http://www.seattleballooning.com, and we will have you on your way.
