Seattle Ballooning is proud to partner with Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation to bring wheelchair accessible hot air balloon flights to the Seattle area.
For many people, flying in a hot air balloon has felt out of reach. This partnership is about changing that.
A New Chapter in Ballooning Access
At Seattle Ballooning, we believe extraordinary experiences should not be limited by mobility.
Through our partnership with Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation, we are creating new opportunities for guests in wheelchairs to experience hot air ballooning here in the Pacific Northwest.
This is important because for a long time, ballooning simply was not built in a way that worked for many people with physical challenges. Standard baskets can make boarding difficult or impossible. That meant an experience that should feel open and joyful was often unavailable from the start.
We want to help change that.
Why This Matters
A hot air balloon ride is not just another activity. It is quiet, beautiful, and unlike anything else. You rise gently off the ground, the world opens up around you, and for an hour, everything feels a little different.
For wheelchair users, that experience has often been excluded by design, not by desire. The issue was never whether people wanted to fly. It was whether the equipment and planning existed to make it possible.
That is what makes this partnership meaningful.
Reach for the Stars was built around solving that problem. Founder Pat Murphy was inspired after helping bring balloon rides to camps for children with special needs and realizing that some children still could not participate because standard baskets were not accessible. Using his engineering background, he helped develop a wheelchair accessible basket so more people could actually take part in flight.
This is what accessibility should look like: not good intentions alone, but a real solution.
How Wheelchair Accessible Balloon Flights Work
These flights use specialized equipment, extra planning, and very specific weather conditions.
According to Reach for the Stars, the accessible basket includes:
- a removable wide door for easier boarding
- a lowered side panel for better visibility from a seated position
- a four-point locking system to secure a manual wheelchair
- a drop-down viewing window designed for seated passengers
- private flight experiences designed around passenger needs
These flights are handled differently than a standard booking. Extremely calm weather is required for the safest wheelchair accessible flights, and each flight is planned with more coordination than a traditional balloon ride. Because hot air balloons are highly weight-sensitive, powered wheelchairs are not permitted on board. Access to a manual wheelchair is required for flight.
This is not a symbolic experience or a modified standard ride. It is a real hot air balloon flight using equipment specifically designed to make flight possible for more people.
Who These Flights Are Designed For
These flights are designed for guests with mobility challenges who use a manual wheelchair or need a more accessible way to experience ballooning.
Because every situation is different, accessible flights are booked by inquiry rather than instant online reservation. That allows our team to understand the guest’s needs, walk through the logistics, and make sure the experience is the right fit from both a safety and comfort standpoint.
If you are reaching out for yourself, a family member, or someone you care for, we would be happy to talk through the process with you directly.
Meet Your Pilot: Brian Lynch
This partnership is especially meaningful because it is not just external. It is personal to our team.
Brian Lynch, CEO of Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation, is also one of our commercial pilots at Seattle Ballooning. Brian has flown more people in wheelchairs than anyone else in the world. He has been a commercial balloon pilot since 2014 and has logged more than 1,000 hours in the air.
That matters because accessible ballooning is not just about having the right basket. It also takes the right pilot, the right preparation, and the right operational mindset.
Brian brings deep experience, strong judgment, and a real understanding of what these flights mean to the people taking them. That combination is a big part of what makes this program possible in Seattle.
Learn More About Pilot Brian Lynch
About Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation
Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on making hot air ballooning accessible to people with physical challenges.
The organization has spent years building and operating accessible ballooning experiences through specialized equipment, community support, and a mission centered on inclusion. Its work has helped bring ballooning to camps, schools, and special-needs communities, while continuing to expand access through donations and outreach.
We are proud to work with an organization that has done so much to make this kind of flight possible.
What This Means for Seattle Ballooning
Seattle Ballooning has built its reputation around creating unforgettable hot air balloon experiences in the Pacific Northwest.
This partnership allows us to take an important step forward by making those experiences available to more people.
It reflects the kind of company we want to be: one that cares deeply about safety, experience, and making ballooning more accessible than it has been in the past.
For some passengers, this may be something they have wanted to do for years. For families, it may be the first time they are able to share an experience like this together. That matters to us.
More Than a Ride
For many people, this will be their first time seeing ballooning offered in a way that feels possible.
That alone is powerful.
Hot air ballooning has always represented freedom, wonder, and perspective. Making that experience accessible to more people is not just about adding another type of flight. It is about removing a barrier that should not have been there in the first place.
The sky should belong to everyone.
Our Commitment Going Forward
This year marks the beginning of something special.
By partnering with Reach for the Stars and welcoming Brian Lynch’s specialized accessible balloon and basket to Seattle, we are creating new opportunities for wheelchair users to experience hot air ballooning in a way that is safe, thoughtful, and unforgettable.
If you or someone you love has dreamed of flying but assumed it was out of reach, we would love to hear from you.
CTA: Inquire About a Wheelchair Accessible Flight
Frequently Asked Questions
Are wheelchair accessible hot air balloon rides available in Seattle?
Yes. Seattle Ballooning has partnered with Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation to offer wheelchair accessible hot air balloon flights in the Seattle area using a specialized accessible balloon and basket.
Who pilots the wheelchair accessible flights?
Brian Lynch, CEO of Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation and a commercial pilot with Seattle Ballooning, pilots these accessible flights. Brian has flown more people in wheelchairs than anyone else in the world and has over 1,000 hours in the air.
What makes the accessible basket different?
The accessible basket includes a removable wide door, lowered side panel, four-point locking system for a manual wheelchair, and a drop-down viewing window designed for seated passengers.
Can I bring a powered wheelchair on the flight?
No. Because hot air balloons are sensitive to the weight they carry, accessible flights require a manual wheelchair. Our team can discuss the best approach for transfer and planning if needed.
How do I book a wheelchair accessible hot air balloon ride?
These flights are booked by inquiry rather than standard online reservation. Because they require calm weather and careful planning, our team works directly with each guest to coordinate the experience.
Where do flights launch from?
Flights launch in Seattle Ballooning’s regular flying area just south of Seattle.
Is Reach for the Stars a real nonprofit?
Yes. Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on sharing the joy of hot air ballooning with people with physical challenges.