On 17th March 2008 Philadelphia Zoo made way for a bold fun new look for its Channel 6 Zooballoon ride. Channel 6 Zooballoon is the HiFlyer renamed after its sponsor – a major TV channel of the Delaware Valley. After six and a half years of operations it was time to change the hand painted giraffe envelope, so Lindstrand Technologies produced a new tiger balloon for the bright start of the new season.
The Philadelphia Zoo is not only America’s first zoo – it’s the only zoo in the world offering this exciting and true family attraction since 2002. The balloon carries over 55 000 passengers per annum, enjoying a safari high above the treetops, overlooking the zoo’s inhabitants and a spectacular ever-growing Philadelphia skyline.
The new exciting bold “Big Cat” look of the Channel 6 Zooballoon is part of the countdown activities for the zoo’s 150-year anniversary taking place on 21st March, 2009.
Taking this opportunity, we have interviewed balloon operations manager, Matt Monfredi, the key person of the balloon smooth operations over all these years. Matt has over 10 years of experience with the HiFlyers: besides overlooking the Philadelphia Channel 6 Zooballoon, Matt supervised and operated the HiFlyers in Tenerife and Barcelona.