San Patricio Electric Cooperative is taking its Annual Meeting to new heights this year! For the first time ever, your co-op is offering tethered hot air balloon rides at its Annual Meeting on Saturday, September 28.
Rides will begin at 8 a.m. and will last as long as the pilot has fuel and/or weather permits. First come, first serve!
Touchstone Energy operates five hot air balloons, participating in events across the country on behalf of electric cooperatives. Its balloons have flown at more than 650 national competitions and special events. This year, the program is celebrating its 25th anniversary!
The Touchstone Energy Balloon holds 77,000 cubic feet of hot air, stands over 75 feet tall and is 60 feet wide when fully inflated. It will be piloted by Cheri White, a Texas native who has more than 40 years of experience flying balloons across the country.
Hot Air Balloon FAQs
This magical experience comes at no cost for SPEC members. Come enjoy a ride while fuel costs and weather permit!
Typically, 2-3 people can ride in the hot air balloon at a time. The balloon can only carry a certain amount of weight, and the pilot will ultimately decide how many people can safely ride at any given time.
Members of all ages are welcome to take part in this bucket list experience! Every rider will be asked to sign a waiver, and minors will need an adult to sign for them.
SPEC employees will be available to assist members in and out of the balloon.
Tethered hot air balloons will begin at 8 a.m., weather permitting. The pilot should have enough fuel on hand to last up to 3 hours. However, rides are weather dependent. Certain weather conditions could cancel the rides, or cause the balloon to shut down early.
For safety reasons, there are some conditions that would cause SPEC to cancel the balloon rides. Rain, surrounding storm systems and winds in excess of 10 miles per hour are all reasons the pilot would not be able to safely fly the balloon. Operating the balloon early in the morning offers the best chance of favorable weather conditions.
We will be monitoring the weather closely leading up to our Annual Meeting.
For our tethered rides, the hot air balloon will be anchored to vehicles on the ground. It will not fly higher than 100 feet.