CORPORATE BALLOON PROGRAMS  Thermogas, a Midwest distributor of propane liked our idea for a promotion based on a world record flight, particulary because hot air balloons are fueled with propane. We were confident we could set a record for time aloft so the company purchased the balloon and created a contest for customers to guess what the new, record time would be. Whoever guessed closest to the actual flight time would win not only a years supply of propane, but also various "propane related products," (as Hank Hill, of "King of the Hill" likes to say). In the Spring of 1973, the balloon and pilot Tom Oerman visited Dealer Open Houses to promote the company and the contest. Finally, on November 28th the record attempt was made from corporate headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa. The launch began a good two hours before sunrise to allow time to set a new record and get down before sunset. Late in the afternoon, about forty-five minutes after crossing the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa the landing was made near Mindale, Illinois. A new world record for time aloft in an AX-6 balloon was set at 9 hours, 32 minutes. The next day, we learned the burners caused the balloon to glow brightly in the early morning darkness and created Flying Saucer roports throughout the city of Des Moines!
 The Bandag Balloon was part of a major ad campaign for a new product line. Flights were primarily for dealer open houses and participation in major balloon races. Piloted by Tom Oerman, it was one of only six U.S. balloons to compete in The Second World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was also featured in two movies. "To Beat the Devil" was a documentary of a balloon race from the Island of Bimini in the Bahamas. The challenge was to fly sixty-five miles over the Atlantic Ocean's Gulf Stream (and the infamous, "Devil's Triangle"), to a final landing on the Florida shore. The winner was the balloon that landed closest to Race Headquarters; Le Club International, in Fort Lauderdale. "The Great Balloon Race" was a feature-length movie depicting a fictional reenactment of the Bahama-U.S. race. It was full of scenes never tried with balloons before; Like launching them from the back of a multi-million dollar yacht, then deliberately ditching them in the ocean for the Coast Guard to rescue!
The Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn Balloon was the first successful, special=shaped balloon. We worked closely with the public relations agency, Daniel J. Edelman, so that every flight was a media windfall. The first tether flight was on the ball field of Cominsky Park in Chicago between a White Sox double header. It was "Orville Redenbacher Day," and the game started with Orville throwing out a pop corn ball!
This picture was taken just before the Maiden Free-Flight at the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While we were there, a very short film of the balloon was made for distribution to TV stations throughtout the country. The movie received so much exposure that the agency won a Golden Trumpet Award for the effort. The balloon was also flown at Disneyland and Disneyworld when the brand was named "The Official Popcorn Of Disney".
This balloon promoted the bank's name change to First National Bank of the Quad Cities. For five years, several hundred passenger flights were made over the Quad cities from the Iowa side of the Mississippi River (Davenport and Bettendorf), to the Illinois side (Rock Island and Moline); Or vice versa, depending on the direction of the wind. This was our first co-op, or shared-costs arrangement, which halved expenses for both parties. Shown here on the balloon's Maiden Voyage, light winds allowed a "float" on the Mississippi just minutes after launching from the Bank's parking lot. The passengers, the President and Advertising Director, were apprehensive at first but soon realized it was safe... and fun, too!
For information on balloon promotions in New Jersey, regionally or nationally use our contact page or call us at: 908-534-5220
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