Looking Up

The view inside the balloon past the burner.

Balloons cast wonderful shadows!

An early morning shadow.

You can see forever, with an unobstructed view.

A farm takes on a "Norman Rockwell" appearance.

The views are spectacular.

The world seems a perfect place from the basket of a balloon!

Note that the shadow gets farther away with altitude.

A little morning fog in the distance.

A farm that looks a little like it belongs in a train garden.

The size of the shadow against the tree line gives perspective to the size of the balloon.

The view from the front cockpit of our Stearman biplane.

Through the wires and the struts on the biplane.

Our Chief Pilot, Mike, in the backseat - that's right you fly up front!

Happy passenger, Brian, up front in the Stearman.

A look down the left (port for you sailors) wing.

A banked turn over a grass strip aerodrome of the past.

A landing on the grass.

Our big yellow bird on the grass at the Flying Circus.

Balloon "Mellow Yellow" an Aerostar 105.

Mellow Yellow with the Stearman.

Balloon "Mellow Yellow" on a morning flight into the airfield.

Landing next to the biplane.

Even a medium size balloon dwarfs the plane and a hangar.

1941 Stearman or Navy N2S-3 Primary Trainer

Barnstormer Aero's Stearman over Harford County Airport, Churchville, MD

The tandem cockpit we call "The Office" where the passenger sits up front.

The front cockpit instrument panel - there are dual controls and you get to fly!

Passenger Paul enjoying a ride.

Balloon "Dawn's Early Rise" - a 240 thousand cubic foot balloon.

Our 240 is a little bigger than the house!

At home in the grass!

"Ole Yeller"

Ready to have some fun!

Our Balloon "Sherwin" An Aerostar 126

Inside "Sherwin" looking at the top with the burner on.

Our friend Dave Conn, from a balloon, in his Stearman.

Looking down on a farm and some fellow flyers.

Paula after her flight - all smiles! The following photos courtesy of Mike Malat

What she may have looked like 65 years ago.

On a fly-by.

On a clear day...

Ready to go again!

2009 looking like 1941 all over again.

The view from the front with oil on the windscreen!

A strafing run...

"Carousel's" Top from inside. All following photos courtesy Tom Kottke.

Casting a shadow on the Curtiss hangar at the Balloon Festival

"Sherwin" at the Flying Circus Balloon Festival 2009

Passengers enjoying their ride.

Preparing for take off.

A perfect morning for the Festival.

Dawn Patrol balloons catch the enemy aircraft on the ground.

The view from another balloon.

Great day to fly!

We "buzz" a plane for a change.

Bombing run over the enemy airfield.

A look at us from our other balloon.

Yippee!

Having fun at the Flying Circus 8/09

Great views in all directions.

The best seats in the house!

Alongside our good friend Kevin.

A look back at the take off spot.

"Sherwin as seen from "Carousel"

Following at tree top height.

Anyone can pick a leaf off the ground!

Shawdowing the trees.

Low and slow.

Having way too much fun!

A 1941 Waco UPF-7 flys by.

Nothing like a clear blue sky to set off the colors.

Showing the colors.

Stearman passenger gets a great shot at a balloon.

Only at the Circus do we get to enjoy the fly bys - here a Stearman.

After flying for 1.5 hours we manuever back to the airfield.

Yet another Stearman says hello.

A beautiful Waco as John gives us a fly-by.

A wave from passengers and pilot.

Low over the hayfield.

A reflection after dipping the basket in the water.

A perfect "splash and dash" touchdown on Lake Ritchie.

"Sherwin" Aerostar 126 shortly after take off. Following photos courtesy of Ben Anderson.

We make a strafing run on a Waco biplane.

"Carousel" & "Sherwin" up close and personal.

Reaching for the moon!

...almost there, just a little higher.

A peek inside during inflation.

The top cap and the rainbow.

"Carousel's" top looking up.

Rick and his Stearman named "Inverted Roberta."