Buzzards Glory Balloon Company, LLC has been operating in the Cedar Rapids for over 37 years. Flights are in the morning about sunrise and late afternoon about two hours before sunset, weather permitting. Your ballooning experience usually takes about two hours, including launch, flight, recovery and returning to the launch field. We wait to inflate the balloon until you arrive. It only takes about ten/fifteen minutes and you are gently lifting off to begin a magical experience. History and Information about the Pilots:
Peter O. Stamats took his first ride in a hot air balloon in 1974 and he was hooked. He bought a balloon, took lessons and then got his license, all in that order. He started Buzzards Glory Balloon Company in the fall of 1974. Ten years later, Peter taught his wife, Susan, to fly and their balloons were seen floating together over Cedar Rapids on most perfect days. Although Peter passed away in December of 2003, Susan still continues to fly. Pilot Susan Stamats is a commercial licensed balloon pilot. Susan has been flying the skies in the Cedar Rapids area for over 27 years. She has trained pilots for both private and commercial licenses and also sells balloons. During the summer months, Susan divides her time between flying the skies of Eastern Iowa and balloon competitions throughout the country. Ballooning has taken Susan to 17 states, Mexico, France, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Watch for Susan flying Guaranty Bank. Susan’s longest flight was one hundred miles, taking four hours. The amazing thing was the chase crew, after traveling 230 miles, was there when the balloon landed. The highest she’s ever been is 18,500 feet. She flew over the Continental Divide, over the Rocky Mountains. Buzzards Glory has a new balloon, Cost Cutters, it's red, white and black and usually flies with Guaranty Bank. You'll see these balloons flying in the early morning hours and later in the early evening on beautiful sunny days with light winds.
