About Tailwinds
Our Hot Air Balloon Rides give you the chance to fly with the winds, safely and comfortably supported inside our gondola. Frederick County, Maryland is your flying venue, and along with the breathtaking views of the Appalachian mountains and downtown Frederick you will also be able to witness deer grazing in the fields, talk to neighbors up early for their morning coffee, or maybe even catch the sun right before it goes to sleep! The experience of leaving the bonds of the earth and floating with the tailwinds will make memories that will last a lifetime. Below is a sample of a few of our flight packages, however we are always willing to try and accommodate your special requests! We are available for weddings and parties, or even corporate events!
Patrick & Meagan Smith (And Family!)
Ever since Patrick was young he wanted to be a pilot. In fact, while all the other kids had their battery operated motorized cars, Patrick rode around on a motorized airplane! In 2004 he was able to take his first flight lesson and has been gazing skyward ever since. Patrick and Meagan met in 2003 while working as lifeguards. They fell in love and ran away to college together! After graduating with a BS in Aeronautics from Liberty University, and having logged over 4500 hours and even instructing student pilots full time for several years, Patrick has found his passion in flying Hot Air Balloons! He holds a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration in Airplanes, and Hot Air Balloons. Meagan also graduated from Liberty University with a BS in Communications. She has used her marketing experience to help promote the business and her photography is featured throughout our collection.
Kevin & Cindy Smith
Kevin and Cindy are your pilot's parents and you'll probably hear them go by either "Mom and Dad" or "PaPa and Grandma" during our flights. Having been supportive of Patrick's love of flying, they tried for years to keep him on the right path. Being grandparents to four grand kids, the balloon business was a perfect opportunity to continue the excitement and to have a lot of fun! Cindy and Kevin were both teachers for Frederick County Public Schools and it is not rare to have them go by another name on landing "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" as they constantly run into present and former students. You can find Dad on the crown line and driving the chase car and you'll be sure to see Mom getting everyone excited for the flight. Sadly, Cindy left us in May of 2020 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, however her legacy is engrained into our business!
Safety First
Your pilot has over 4,400 hours in aircraft, no accidents, incidents! 100% safety rating!
