Balloonist prayer - like or dislike?

[Scoolover]

I hate it. To me, it is cheesy and silly sounding. Anyone else care enough to express an opinion on the balloonist prayer?

[Mark Pluta]

Ok, here is my take on it. Sure if you really want to analyze it to death, it does say "God" and yes, it could imply
"religion", but I have been involved with balloons now for 13 years, 10 as crew, 3 as pilot and I have yet to have the feeling that I am worshipping God like I'm in church or something, nor do I get that feeling from any passenger I have met in those 13 years. Take it from someone who doesn't normally do prayers outside the balloon world.

The feeling I do get is that it is a traditional celebration of a successful flight and that is the look I see in the eyes of passengers, people of all nationalities and the one's we are aiming to please by doing the prayer/toast. I've even had people ask during a flight if we do the prayer and champagne toast afterwards as they want to experience everything a typical balloon flight has to offer. I have yet to meet anyone that didn't want it or got upset about it. It might be old school, but at least in my experience, people are still totally into it as well as the history behind it.

Now, you have seen that we in the Black Sheep Squadron have put our own little spin on it. I can tell you that people enjoy our version as much as the traditional one. Whatever the case, I don't think people care about the exact wording so much as that their special flight gets the traditional after flight celebration, a prayer and champagne toast.
Having said that, if it is the religious aspect that is bugging some of you, like Eric said earlier and like the Black Sheep, put your own little spin on it. I'm sure 99% of your passengers are going to enjoy it no matter what, and that's what really counts in the end!

[Gary Mortimer]

As soon as you start flying big enough balloons with enough pax you will drop this nonsense!!

[Nate Dogg]

What's Not to Like!! Its a Long Tradition handed down from generation to generation, Celebrating your successful Flight and at the end you get to DRINK!!