OUR PILOTS
OLIVÉR GARAB
What was your first flying experience?
I was around 17 years old when I flew in a hot air balloon for the first time – at the time as a passenger. I remember that I was still very afraid of heights and of flying in general, but as soon as we touched back down on the ground, I knew this would be my life. Today, I am the chief pilot of a gas balloon. My aim is to provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to experience the wonderful feeling you get from flying.
When was the first time you flew a balloon?
I made my first solo flight in a gas balloon when I was in Paris for pilot training. It was very strange – in contrast to my experiences with hot air balloons – that in this kind of aircraft you can feel if the wind is blowing and it is prevented from rising as the cable keeps it fixed to the ground. When we were there, the wind was quite strong. We really shouldn’t have been flying at all in such conditions, but since the aim of this sort of training was to prepare us for anything, we did eventually take off.
What makes BalloonFly so special?
It might be a cliche, but it’s true: in terms of Hungarian tourist attractions, BalloonFly really is one of a kind. Everyone who has flown with us has been part of something truly special. Gazing down on Budapest from 150 metres up in the air. It’s the experience of a lifetime!
MÁTYÁS MÉSZÁROS
What was your first flying experience?
The first time I flew was in a balloon released from the roof of the WestEnd shopping centre. I was very young, so I don’t remember the flight that well, but the forest of train tracks at Nyugati Train Station really stuck in my mind. It was an amazing experience to look at something like that from up in the air. I knew I wanted to experience it as often as I could.
When was the first time you flew a balloon?
I recently completed my pilot’s training course, which was organised by BalloonFly. It was the first time I went up in an overhead guided gas balloon.
What makes BalloonFly so special?
When I first saw the bird’s eye view of the city, I understood why BalloonFly is located here. You see every aspect of the city from a new perspective.
GYÖRGY KÁRPÁTI
What was your first flying experience?
I may have been ten years old when I travelled to the East German part of Berlin with my parents to see an international fair. We made the flight on a four-engine IL-18 plane with propellors. The gas turbine engine caused vibrations and I can still remember the sound of it in the cabin. We travelled back on a TU-134. I was no that upset.
When was the first time you flew a balloon?
Last November, I flew a gas balloon for the first time during my pilot training – under the supervision of my instructor, of course. It was really memorable,. Taking off is always a special experience, but here I could guide it myself as I enjoyed the sunshine and the force of the wind as we floated above the city. It was liberating.
What makes BalloonFly so special?
It is the largest balloon in the world with a licence to transport passengers. Helium-filled balloons have also flown in the atmosphere of another planet (Venus).
ÁDÁM NEMES
What was your first flying experience?
I flew for the first time when I was 11. I was really excited, and could hardly sleep the night before. Luckily, I had a ticket for a window seat, so I could watch as we left the ground. I was immediately captivated by the feeling. The way the Albanian mountains appeared through the clouds and the blue sky gradually darkened – I’ll never forget it.
When was the first time you flew a balloon?
It wasn’t too long ago that I flew a balloon for the first time – in February 2023 – under the supervision of an experienced pilot, of course. It’s a great experience as a passenger. But to pilot one? Totally different. Instead of enjoying the sights and the view, you have to pay attention to clouds and reference points. This leads to a far more conscious flying experience, and that is something I really enjoy.
What makes BalloonFly so special?
In the heart of the city and from 150 metres high, you can see one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. That in itself is special, but for me it is a great pleasure to know that it is a bucket-list experience for many people, and we can make it happen. We have become one of the most iconic attractions in Budapest, and that’s something you can see on the faces of all our passengers.
GÁBOR ÁRON MÜNCZ
What was your first flying experience?
I first flew at the age of 14 when I was given a ticket to fly in a hot air balloon as a school-leaving present. At that time, the burner seemed loud and strange, while I also had a few difficulties with the height, but overall flying was a truly enriching experience and made me forget all my worries. In the end, I came down to earth a ‘balloon-head’, in a cloud of propane gas.
When was the first time you flew a balloon?
I first flew a balloon as a pilot in 2021. I was just a trainee at the time, but the feeling was indescribable. The way we went up, circled above the trees, and finally took a break on a dirt track near Vác.
What makes BalloonFly so special?
For me, the reason it’s so special is that every time you go up above Budapest you see something different, and in clear weather you can see as far as the water tower in Dunaújváros.
JENŐ PUSKÁS
What was your first flying experience?
It was around ten years ago at a hot air balloon meeting that I had my first encounter with ballooning. Despite being a bit afraid of heights, I went ahead and tried out this form of aviation, and all my fear vanished the instant the balloon took off.
When was the first time you flew a balloon?
I had already been familiar with hot air balloons for some time, having participated in competitions as an organiser for several years. Gas balloons, on the other hand, were a completely new experience in my life. I joined the BalloonFly team in May 2023.
What makes BalloonFly so special?
The fact that it is the only attraction of its kind in Hungary, situated in the most beautiful part of the country’s capital.
