Informal balloon festival
Susan and Greg Lindsey of AZ Air Ventures invited a group of hot air balloon friends to Safford to bring in 2021 and spend four days in the air. All in all, seven pilots wowed residents all over the Gila Valley. The Lindseys hope that one day there will be a balloon festival held annually in the Valley.
The Lindseys personally designed The Floating Awaysis. Every feature signifies something personal to them. For example, the sunrise and sunset show how much they appreciate every day, the palm trees their love of travel and the cactus the tenacity Susan showed while battling cancer.
Safford resident Susan Lindsey fell in love with hot air balloons after attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in 2007. Now she owns and operates AZ Air Ventures with her husband, Greg.
Five of the seven hot air balloons that took to the skies over New Years weekend.
Madison Peterson, 16, of Safford on her first hot air balloon trip Jan. 1, 2021. "She was a little afraid to get into the balloon at first, but one of her New Year’s resolutions was to face her fears and do hard things. She was glad she did because she had a wonderful time," said her mom, Caryn.
The seventh and final balloon was in the middle of being inflated when the rest of the balloons took off Jan. 1, 2021.
The Floating Awaysis over the David M. Player Center for the Arts.
Susan Lindsey makes sure everything is good to go from inside Just Ducky.
Greg Lindsey heats the air inside The Floating Awaysis moments before taking flight Jan. 1, 2021.
Greg Lindsey
Safford resident Karen Coppola experienced her first hot air balloon ride Jan. 2 with husband, Brian. "Flying was the most peaceful, surreal activity we’ve ever done. What a way to start out 2021. We thought it would be scary but it wasn’t at all," she said afterward.
Just Ducky being inflated. Just Ducky is 90,000 cubic square feet. Most hot air balloons last 500-700 hours, said owner Susan Lindsey.
Susan Lindsey checks to make sure her burners are in good working order.
Seven hot air balloon pilots spent New Years weekend flying around the Gila Valley. According to the Lindseys, it was the largest gathering ever for the area.
Greg and Susan Lindsey have held a couple of "glow events" lately. They used their burners to light up The Floating Awaysis and Just Ducky to the delight of passersby, but remained on the ground.
These balloons are about seven stories tall and carry 96,000-105,000 cubic feet of air.
The Floating Awaysis is 105,000 cubic feet, 72 feet tall, 60 feet in diameter and weighs 861 pounds. Owner Greg Lindsey has 750 hours of balloon flight time. Susan Lindsey has 175 hours.
