OT: Tell us a bit about yourself…
Rudolf Richard Hofer: I am from Bavaria in South Germany.
OT: What was it like to fly at the Pushkar Fair?
Rudolf Richard Hofer: It was great. The colours, people, old temples, it is all very new to us.
OT: How did you begin flying hot air balloons in the first place?
Rudolf Richard Hofer: One day a parajumper friend of mine asked me if I’d like to go meet a prospective sponsor, who wanted to buy a hot air balloon. I refused at first. I was already a pilot by profession and flew gliders as a hobby. Why would I want another aero sport in my life? But he didn’t give up and after six weeks of persistence, I agreed to go with him for the meeting. The sponsor bought us the balloon right away. Now we had a balloon but no pilots — neither of us knew how to fly them! My friends decided that since I already had a few pilot licences, I should be the one to train.
OT: What was it like?
Rudolf Richard Hofer: The first flight was great and then there was no looking back. I wanted to keep flying them. Soon we got another sponsor for our second balloon, the third followed and now I run a hot air ballooning company with eight balloons. Initially, we travelled only in Europe for ballooning festivals in France, Italy, Norway…although we met people from countries like Japan, China, Russia, Canada, Thailand and USA. Eventually, we got an invitation for a festival in China, and we started travelling around the world.
OT: The most unforgettable flight…
Rudolf Richard Hofer: I got a chance to fly over the Great Wall of China 17 years ago. That was our first big trip away from home and also the most memorable. Hundreds of people gathered when we landed. We didn’t understand each other’s language, but it didn’t matter. Over the years, we’ve been inviting the Chinese pilots for our festivals too.
Another special flight was over Antigua. We could not land at a place that was easily accessible and were stuck there for three days until the rescue trucks paved their way to us. Also, flying over the mountains is always dramatic. In the winters we fly from Germany to Italy, a distance of 280km. The snow-covered landscape is breathtaking.
OT: How do you refuse requests for a free flight?
Rudolf Richard Hofer: Well, it’s expensive. So we can’t take the whole village/town [where we land] for a ride. But I am sure they do many interesting things I can’t be part of either.
OT: If you see a beautiful place or monument, do you return to it by road? Do you miss real contact with people and places?
Rudolf Richard Hofer: No, never. You see so many beautiful things. It is not possible to return to all. I feel you can see and experience more from the vantage point of a hot air balloon. And the best part about ballooning is that you can fly really low and deep. Sometimes you can even hear people talk on the street. I don’t think we miss much, really.
OT: Is it dangerous?
Rudolf Richard Hofer: No, ballooning is very safe unless you do something stupid. The danger is after you land and the passengers leave, especially the pretty women. I am heartbroken till I fly the next pretty passenger!
OT: Where do you go next?
Rudolf Richard Hofer: Dubai.
OT: Flying with the sheikhs?
Rudolf Richard Hofer: Well, a sheikh friend invited us. I told him to come along on the balloon. But he says no, he will watch over us from his helicopter!
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