Prescott Valley Balloon Festival is This Weekend: What Do You Know About Hot Air Balloons?

FooteWork is proud to be a sponsor of the Prescott Valley Annual Balloon Festival happening this weekend, June 16th and 17th.  If you are looking for something fun to do this Saturday and Sunday, this is it!  A great way to celebrate Father's Day too!

Did you know that hot air ballons and the pilots who fly them are regulated by the FAA just like other aircraft?  Do you know what 'glow' refers to?  Here are some interesting facts about hot air balloons from the Prescott Valley Balloon Festival website:

When do hot air balloons fly? Hot air balloons generally fly during the morning and late afternoon. Balloons rely on air currents for speed and direction and require stable (calm to 7 knots in a predictable direction) to maintain safe operations. The Phoenix area usually has 300 days of good weather for flying.

Where do hot air balloons fly? Hot air balloons can fly practically anywhere. Balloons are registered aircraft and are under the authority of the FAA, who also owns the airspace above buildings and events.

How tall and wide are hot air balloons? Standard shape balloons are approximately 85 feet tall and 65 feet wide.

What are hot air balloons made from? The fabric part of the balloon, called the envelope, is constructed of coated rip-stop nylon, similar to the material that parachutes are made from. The basket is constructed of primarily of wicker. Wicker is light, strong, and resilient to incidental damage.

What type of fuel is used? Liquid propane is used to heat the inside of the balloon.

How long have balloons been around? Hot air balloons are the oldest type of flying, having been invented in France in 1782. Not until the late 1960s did the new era of ballooning arise with the new materials and designs.

Are balloons regulated? Hot air balloons are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), just like airplanes. Like other aircraft, balloons require yearly safety inspections by an FAA authorized repair station.

Are balloon pilots regulated? Balloon pilots are licensed and regulated by the FAA.

What is a balloon glow? Heating the air inside the balloon with propane-fueled fire causes the balloon to glow brightly. During a daytime flight, this effect is usually not seen, but during evening glows, the effect is stunning.

What is a balloon tether? A tether is when the balloon does not fly freely, but is tied to the ground with a number of 100 to 150-foot ropes. While being tied off, the balloon can take passengers up into the air without flying away from the designated spot.

Among the many events, there is 'Balloon Glow' Saturday night and helicopter rides both Saturday and Sunday given by Guidance Aviation. There will also be a car show, carnival, beer garden, and arts & crafts. Go to the Prescott Valley Balloon Festival website for a schedule and map of the events. Hope you can join us for the 2012 Prescott Valley Balloon Festival!  It will be uplifting! 

Come see us at our FooteWork Prescott Valley or FooteWork Prescott office for any of your vehicle needs!

Get Ready For Summer: Vehicle Safety and Maintenance Check List

Summer is almost here!  It's a good time to do some routine checks of your vehicle before taking a trip and it's easy to do it yourself. About.com's Auto Repair section has some very useful how-to links:

Radiator Flush: The coolant in your radiator doesn't last forever. Over time it can break down and start to corrode the inside of your radiator. This can lead to cooling problems and radiator repair. A radiator flush once a year is cheap insurance against radiator repairs.

Replace Your Air Filter: You should replace your air filter twice a year, so now's a good time to get that 5-minute job out of the way.

Tire Checks: Summer traveling could mean driving in the rain. The tread on your tires must be adequate for rainy weather or you could end up in a ditch, or worse. Checking the tread depth on your tires take one minute. While you're at it, you should check your tire pressure, too.

Replace Your Windshield Wipers: Winter weather can be brutal to your windshield wipers, making them almost useless if you get caught in a summer rain shower. Replace them at the beginning of the summer and you won't have to worry.

Inspect Your Brakes: It's a good idea to inspect your brakes twice a year just to be sure everything is up to snuff. Car safety should always be a top priority. Go ahead and check your brake fluid while you're at it.

Check Your Battery: Corrosion is very likely to build up during winter weather driving. Check your battery posts and cables to ensure you'll have no starting problems.

Check Your Headlights: Sometimes you don't notice that you have a bulb out. Now's a good time to take a look to see if you need to replace a headlight bulb. Not only is it unsafe to drive with one headlight, you can get a ticket!

Source: http://autorepair.about.com/od/seasonal/a/summerize.htm

Also important is checking your oil every 3000 to 5000 miles. Keeping the oil from getting too low preserves the life of your engine. Checking the fuel filter is also recommended but might be better done by professionals.  Changing a clogged fuel filter can increase your vehicle's fuel economy and performance which is wise before heading out on a long road trip!

It's essential to bring lots of water when traveling, especially when driving through the desert. Also, it's a good idea to travel with an roadside emergency kit.  Check out this checklist from Consumer Reports:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/03/roadside-emergency-kit-what-to-carry-with-you/index.htm

We hope you have a safe and fun Summer!  Come see us at one of our FooteWork offices, located in Prescott, Prescott Valley, and Williams, Arizona for any of your auto, RV, motocycle, OHV, boat, or aircraft title and registration needs.  We also do Level 1 Inspections to check vehicle ownership both on and off site and abandoned vehicle, towing and salvage yard inspections as well as many more motor vehicle services.  

Happy Summer!

The Difference Between A Moped and A Motor-Driven Cycle

A question we often get at FooteWork: What is the difference between a moped and a motor-driven cycle and what are the licensing requirements?

Moped - A bicycle -human-powered vehicle (with pedals)

• Has a 50 cc or less helper motor 
• 1.5 hp or less braking power 
• Rated at maximum top speed of 25 mph (on a flat surface with less than a one per cent grade)
• Any class of driver license can be used to operate a moped
• A moped must be registered, but a vehicle title is not issued
• Emissions testing is not required 
• Vehicle liability insurance is required

Motor-driven Cycle - A motor scooter and motorcycle

• Has a 50 cc or higher motor
• Manufactured to exceed 20 mph
• Rated at 5 hp or less
• Not more than three wheels in contact with the ground
• Includes motor scooters rated at 5 hp or less
• A motorcycle license or endorsement is needed to operate any motor-driven cycle
• A motor-driven cycle must be both titled and registered 
• Emissions testing is not required 
• Vehicle liability insurance is required

Whether you own a moped, scooter, motorcycle, car, OHV, airplane, boat, commercial vehicle, or RV,  FooteWork provides complete full service vehicle registration and title services. Footework is your one stop vehicle registration office!  Licensed and bonded, FooteWork processes your title work while you wait.  For a nominal service fee, you'll leave our office with a new title, registration or license plate in as little as 10 minutes.  Come see us!

The Best Campgrounds in Arizona...

Grand Canyon South Rim Near Mather Campground

Arizona is known worldwide for it's amazing geographical beauty.  It also has wonderful campsites to enjoy the beautiful outdoors now that Spring is here!  Whether you have an RV or enjoy sleeping in a tent, there are many great sites in Arizona to consider.  Here are the top 25 campgrounds according to Tripleblaze.com:

1.	Beaver Creek	Coconino National Forest, Arizona
2.	Kaibab Lake Campground	Williams, Arizona
3.	Grand Canyon National Park	Grand Canyon, Arizona
4.	Navajo National Monument	Black Mesa, Arizona
5.	Lockett Meadow	Flagstaff, Arizona
6.	Rock Crossing	Clints Well, Arizona
7.	Burro Creek	Nothing, Arizona
8.	Cunningham Campground	Safford, Arizona
9.	Bright Angel Campground	Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
10.	Riggs Flat Campground	Safford, Arizona
11.	Shannon Campground	Safford, Arizona
12.	White Horse Lake Campground	Williams, Arizona
13.	Clints Well	Clints Well, Arizona
14.	Knoll Lake	Clints Well, Arizona
15.	Potato Patch	Camp Verde, Arizona
16.	White Spar	Prescott, Arizona
17.	Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area	Safford, Arizona
18.	Cholla Campround	Tonto Basin, Roosevelt Lake, Arizona
19.	Hannagan Campground	Alpine, Arizona
20.	Glen Canyon National Recreation Area	Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
21.	Mogui Group	Clints Well, Arizona
22.	Arcadia Campground	Safford, Arizona
23.	Hospital Flat Campground	Safford, Arizona
24.	Soldier Creek Campground	Safford, Arizona
25.	Mather Campground	Tusayan, Arizona

To access more info on each campsite and to see all 100 top Arizona campsites go to:

http://www.tripleblaze.com/best/?c=57

For a camping checklist of what to bring see:

http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/checklists.htm

Whether traveling near or far, it is important to keep all your vehicle paperwork current. We can quickly and easily help you with registration and renewal, transfer of title, lost licence plates, vehicle / driver records, level 1 inspections, temporary permits and much more.  We handle RVs, Boats, and OHVs (Off-Highway Vehicle) too!  Come see us at one of our three FooteWork offices today!
Happy camping!