Hot Air Ballooning UK

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Hot air balloons are the oldest form of flying machines; many would say that hot air ballooning was certainly the safest method of taking to the skyways. We have all seen promotional marketing balloons floating, such as jars of coffee, cans of lager and rolls of film. This aerial advertising obviously works successfully, then who wouldn't stare at a cartoon blimp floating in the sky and tell someone else to look ?. Hot air balloons grace our skies for many reasons; romantic proposals, birthday surprises, mothers day or fathers day treats, parties in the sky, Valentine surprises, wedding lists, or Christmas gifts!. It is not surprising that hot air balloon flights consistently remain in the top ten things people have always wanted to do. It is that "Once in a lifetime" experience that most people just have to do!... and it is surprisingly easy to turn a dream into reality.

A Potted history of the Hot Air Balloon

In 1782 Joseph and Etienne Mongolfier saw a paper bag floating from the flames of their kitchen fire, they called this 'levity'. At first they thought it was smoke that made the bags ascend and they tried to create different versions from different materials including silk, straw and wool. A clue to the real medium, heat - was the fact that most models caught fire!

A year later, in the market place of Annonay they inflated (with hot air) a silk bag of some 9 metres in diameter. It ascended to about a mile high but descended very quickly because of it's inability to maintain hot air.

Hot air ballooning has established itself as a terrific medium for corporate entertainment and incentives, particularly where one can land within the grounds of a conference venue and be greeted with chilled champagne. It is a must for a product launch because almost any shape can be modelled, whether it is a new car or a vacuum cleaner and even if the product launch itself is restricted to press and trade, the corporate image can be seen by thousands over a massive area.

Clearly hot air ballooning has a serious side, that of safety and codes of conduct. In 1991, six of the UK's largest and longest-established balloon flight operators created the nationwide flight network, BALLOONS OVER BRITAIN.

As the popularity of balloon flights has grown, so has their network with 12 member companies who cover most of the flyable areas of the Britain. From London to the Lake District, from Scotland to the South West of England, Wales to the Wash Balloons over Britain provide the only comprehensive national balloon flight network throughout the United Kingdom.

Few can resist the attraction of hot air ballooning as one hundred feet of wispy nylon majestically rises with the dragon-like roar of the burners. As we take off we are more aware of the ground dropping away than of any sensation of movement or rising. The feeling of peace and tranquillity is heightened by the apparent lack of wind - because we are moving with it.

These figures come from an analysis of hot ait balloon passengers by a member of Balloons over Britain

* The youngest passenger was just 7 years old.

* 50 % of their passengers were bought the flight as a 30th, 40th, 50th or 60th Birthday present.

* 17 % of their passengers were over 70 years old

* The oldest passenger was 100 years and 4 days old.

* 22 % of the business came from personal recommendation.

* Their most frequent passenger has flown with them 12 times!!

This goes to show that just about anyone, of any age, can have a flight in a Hot Air Balloon!

Hot air ballooning is completely weather-dependant at any time of the year and this is what makes a flight such a special adventure. You can enter into that adventure, throw off the shackles of convention, discover the thrill that exists when the weather conditions become right, experience that little flutter of anticipation as you realise that you're airborne. That's when you appreciate that one of the best experiences in life is better still because you've made a little effort to achieve it!

Hot Air Balloons float in the air much as boats float on water. They move solely with the movement of the air. The warmth of the sun creates thermals and turbulence, so, for the Pilot to have full and safe control, flights are usually made within an hour or two of dawn and dusk to take advantage of the lightest winds and the most stable air conditions. The actual time will vary throughout the year.

The Civil Aviation Authority sets limits on the wind and weather conditions in which companies can operate balloons and over the years of passenger flying experience has shown members of Balloons over Britain the type of conditions that they feel are reasonable and safe for you to fly in. Your safety and well being are your Pilot's responsibility and will be a major element when deciding on whether or not to fly.

Adventure Balloons
Winchfield Park
London Road
Hartley Wintney
Hampshire
RG27 HAY
Tel +44 (0) 1252 844222
Fax +44 (0) 1252 844252 sales@adventureballoons.co.uk

www.adventureballoons.co.uk

Aerosaurus Balloons
Southbrook House
Southbrook
Whimple
Exeter
Devon
EX5 2PG
Tel +44 (0) 1404 823102
Fax +44 (0) 1404 822297

sales@ballooning.co.uk

www.ballooning.co.uk

Bailey Balloons
44 Ham Green
Bristol
BS20 0HA
Tel +44 (0) 1275 375660
Fax +44 (0) 1275 375660 baileyballoons@cs.com

www.bailey-balloons.co.uk

Airborne Balloon Management
Buckhurst Farm
Sissinghurst Road
Sissinghurst
Kent
TN17 2AA
Tel/Fax +44 (0) 1580 715000 sales@airborneballoons.co.uk

www.airborneballoons.co.uk

Anglian Countryside Balloons
21 King Edward Avenue
Burnham on Crouch
Essex
CM0 8PB
Tel +44 (0) 1621 786777 sales@countryside-balloons.co.uk

www.countryside-balloons.co.uk

Heart of England Balloons
Cross Lanes Farm
Walcote
Alcester
Warwickshire
B49 6NA
Tel +44 (0) 1789 488219
Fax +44 (0) 1789 488336 hoebinfo@ukballoons.com

www.ukballoons.com

Global Ballooning Ltd
Arona
5 Grange Road
Uckfield
East Sussex
TN22 1QT
Tel +44 (0) 1825 766650 sales@globalballooning.com

www.globalballooning.com

High Adventure
c/o R.M. Travel
Ray Rigg Road
Bowness on Windemere
Cumbria
LA23 3DN
Tel +44 (0) 1539 446588
Fax +44 (0) 1539 445090 sales@high-adventure.co.uk

www.high-adventure.co.uk

The Ballooning Business
4 Back Lane
Hardingstone
Northampton
Northants
NN4 0BX
Tel +44 (0) 1604 768617
Fax +44 (0) 1604 761500 sales@ballooningbusiness.co.uk

www.ballooningbusiness.co.uk

Alba Ballooning
12 Gladstone Terrace
Edinburgh
EH19 1LT
Tel +44 (0) 131 667 4251
Fax +44 (0) 131 667 4251 info@albaballooning.co.uk

www.albaballooning.co.uk