Unforgettable Christmas Gifts: How About a Flight in a WW II Bomber or a Hot Air Balloon?

Ypsilanti, Michigan – December 18, 2006- If you’re still looking for a unique Christmas gift for that special person then consider a “the gift of flight” in a fully restored World War II Bomber or a hot air balloon flight over the Michigan countryside.

“When you give someone an adventure like a bomber flight or a hot air balloon ride instead of a material thing, you can be certain that the gift will be remembered and appreciated,” says Scott Lorenz, President and Chief Pilot of Westwind Balloon Company of Plymouth, Michigan. “Nobody forgets these flights and nobody forgets who gave it to them either.”

The bomber flights originate at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti with a flight path up the Detroit River with spectacular views of downtown Detroit, Comerica Park, Belle Isle and Canada. Then the mission heads west over Oakland and Washtenaw Counties back to home base. “The pilot keeps the altitude between 3,000 to 5,000 feet so you can really see the countryside,” says Bob Hynes of Yankee Air Museum, operator of the flights. “The B-17 Yankee Lady and the B-25 Yankee Warrior are both fully restored aircraft. Passengers become part of the air crew and can view each crew position from the waist gunners’ to radio room, the flight engineer, the bombardiers’ and the navigator position,” says Hynes.

Flights are about 30 minutes and cost $425 per seat for the B-17 and $400 per seat for the B-25 and are operated from mid March to October; Visa and MasterCard are accepted. For flight information or to reserve a spot on a flight call 734-483-4030 or visit the “Yankee Air Museum Store in Hanger 2” at Willow Run Airport. (The museum is expected to reopen in the spring) Take Michigan Avenue to Tyler Road then follow the signs to the museum. The museum is open 9am-4pm Tuesday thru Saturday. The Yankee Air Museum is a non-profit organization with operating costs paid for with contributions and volunteer service. http://yankeeairmuseum.org

“The hot air balloon flight lasts about one hour,” says Lorenz, “we fly over the woods and streams of Kensington Park or Island State Recreation Park near Brighton before sunset seven days a week.”

The balloon flight costs $695 for two people. Colorful gift certificates for flights can be purchased by calling 734-667-2098 or by visiting www.westwindcos.com/balloon or via email at: scottlorenz@westwindcos.com. Checks, Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and Discover Card are accepted. Flights are scheduled May through October.

When a group of fellow employees want to pool their money for a special gift for the boss few gifts will leave the chief speechless like a balloon flight. “Of course there’s always some friendly ribbing about how the balloon may never land due to all the “hot air” coming from the boss,” says Lorenz, ”but it’s all in good fun.”
“A gift of flight is perfect for parents too. That’s why the so-called "experience" gift is so popular, because people who have accumulated everything material they could want don't really need anything. The only things they want to collect anymore are experiences. A flight in a balloon or a bomber is the ultimate experience,” says Lorenz.
Ballooning is a great gift for couples. Hot Air Ballooning with the Westwind Balloon Company is listed as one of the Five Best Creative Dates by author Paula A. Komar in her Guide to Dating in Southeastern Michigan. Komar, a contributing expert to the best seller It’s Just Lunch by Andrea McGinty, lists hundreds of great date ideas in her Southeast Michigan guide as well as great dating advice.

About Scott Lorenz
Scott Lorenz has been a commercial balloon pilot since 1982, and has logged 1,200 +
hours as pilot in command in a hot air balloon. Lorenz has been featured by FOX-2 News, Hour Detroit and The Detroit Free Press. Scott’s memorable ballooning experiences include: Flying over Niagara Falls, The Great Wall of China, Disney World, the Olympics in Calgary, St. Wolfgang, Austria, Saga, Japan, the Grand Prix in Spain, co-piloting one of two balloons for Mike Howard’s Guinness World Record ”balloon walk” flight at 19,000 feet, a 20 hour-361 mile Gas Balloon flight with Gordon Boring and handling media relations for Kevin Uliassi’s Round the World balloon flights.


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