Skydive From a Hot Air Balloon: How It Works & What to Expect

Key Takeaways
Hot air balloon skydiving is a rare but thrilling experience that requires specific skills, perfect weather, and access to a balloon. Unlike airplane jumps, balloon exits happen in dead air, offering a unique freefall sensation and often off-DZ landings. Typically reserved for licensed skydivers or special tandem events, balloon jumps occur at lower altitudes and cost more — but the unforgettable experience makes it worthwhile for skydivers chasing a true bucket-list adventure.

Can you skydive from a hot air balloon? Yes, it is possible to skydive from a hot air balloon, but it’s not a common practice because it requires, well, a hot air balloon, as well as specific conditions and experience. Hot air balloon skydiving is actually a long tradition in the sport – the first ever successful skydive was made from a hot air balloon by André-Jacques Garnerin in 1797! 

Let’s learn a little more about this specialized jump that tops the bucket list of newbies and pros alike!

Who Can Skydive From a Hot Air Balloon?

Making a skydive out of a hot air balloon requires specialized training and very specific weather conditions. And that’s not even taking into account the most important part – access to a big, beautiful balloon that’s piloted by someone who’s down to let people skydive off the basket! 

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) strongly recommends the following qualifications for people wanting to skydive from a hot air balloon:

• A USPA B-license 
• Jumping with familiar equipment
• Proficiency and confidence in landings away from the dropzone
• Experience exiting at a low altitude

Some dropzones will allow tandem skydives out of hot air balloons, but the instructors conducting those jumps are also held to extremely high standards and must demonstrate proficiency in all of the skills necessary to complete a hot air balloon jump. 

The extreme nature and additional preparation required for hot air balloon skydives mean that these jumps are typically only available at special events.

What Is Hot Air Balloon Skydiving?

So, why is jumping from a balloon so special? Falling through the air is falling through the air, right? Wrong! Hot air balloon jumps are quite different from airplane skydives. From exit to landing, the experience of jumping out of a hot air balloon is unique.

What to Expect During a Hot Air Balloon Skydive

The Weather

Hot air balloons are extremely sensitive to weather. They need nearly still wind conditions, and certainly no rain or inclement weather. Flying a hot air balloon is a science, and the lack of an engine means that being able to plan the flight path is crucial to a successful flight and landing. Hot air balloons are not like parachutes, which can be steered with extreme precision

The Exit

First of all, exiting a hot air balloon is a drop into dead air. For comparison, you are already travelling at the speed of the airplane (approximately 80 mph to 100 mph) when you exit on a typical skydive; you accelerate to terminal velocity, which is about 120 mph. With hot air balloon skydiving, you experience the sensation of falling into complete stillness; you go from almost 0 mph to 120 mph. Pretty cool, right?!

The Freefall

First of all, exiting a hot air balloon is a drop into dead air. For comparison, you are already travelling at the speed of the airplane (approximately 80 mph to 100 mph) when you exit on a typical skydive; you accelerate to terminal velocity, which is about 120 mph. With hot air balloon skydiving, you experience the sensation of falling into complete stillness; you go from almost 0 mph to 120 mph. Pretty cool, right?!

The Landing

Your landing will be a mostly improvised target that was chosen based on the location of the balloon when you left it, instead of the typical planned landing back at the dropzone. So, how do you get back from a hot air balloon ride? Chase cars follow the balloon and scope out your landing so they can pick you up and give you a VIP ride back to the launch site! 

The Possibilities

Some people even take hot air balloon jumping to the next level. If you’re someone who wonders things like: Can you bungee jump from a hot air balloon? You may have found your people. You can bungee jump from a hot air balloon, as well as eat a meal at a table suspended below the basket, and soar on a giant rope swing dangling below the balloon!

The Altitude During a Hot Air Balloon Skydive

Even if you’ve made a skydive before, jumping out of a balloon is a completely different experience, so it’s important to understand what to expect. One of the biggest differences is the hot air balloon skydive altitude. Hot air balloon skydives generally happen from a lower altitude than airplane jumps because balloons don’t have an engine. 

Physics (and time) mean that getting a hot air balloon to the 10,000 to 14,000-foot altitude typical of airplane jumps would be extremely difficult. Skydivers usually exit from a hot air balloon between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. But sacrificing those few thousand feet is totally worth the sensation of jumping out of a balloon! 

When it comes to making a hot air balloon skydive, cost is another factor to consider. Hot air balloon jumps cost a bit more than typical skydiving prices because of all of the special circumstances involved. On average, a hot air balloon skydive runs $100 to $200, whereas lift tickets for licensed skydivers are between $25 and $40. But, just like your very first skydive, the experience of jumping out of a hot air balloon is totally worth the price! 

Where to Skydive From a Hot Air Balloon

Already searching for “hot air balloon skydiving near me”? We get it. Luckily, dropzones understand the demand for hot air balloon jumps and will do their best to include balloons in special events. The Skydive New England Boogie happens to be a fantastic option for scratching that hot air balloon itch! 

Looking to jump out of a balloon? Start with a tandem so you’re ready when opportunity knocks! Blue skies!