The summer is all but over and the nights will soon be closing in and it is at this time that everyone’s thoughts begin to turn to Christmas and what we can buy for our loved ones. A great idea for a gift for a special person is a ride in a hot air balloon. This gift can be taken at any time of the year, it does not have to be Christmas and better still it can be arranged from a location that is close to you or the person receiving this wonderful gift.

At Balloons over Britain, who since 1991 have been the UK’s largest and longest established balloon flight operators, you can chose from over 70 launch sites and this can be at a time of your choosing. Balloons over Britain offer a number of hot air balloon ride vouchers and buying one is easy. Simply log on to the web pages or call them on 0845 071 6388 for full details.

You will have all seen him on the famous TV advertisements for energiser batteries, you know the “bunny” drummer that keeps going long after all the other batteries have run down. Well he has another claim to fame; he is the biggest hot air balloon in the world, yes in the shape of the famous hare.

Some of his statistics are that he is 166 feet tall, which is the height of a sixteen-story building and 15-feet taller than the Statue of Liberty that is some big bunny! What about those feet of his? They are gigantic but at least you will be sure of a happy landing. Unfortunately you will not get to see the energiser hot air balloon in the UK, but Balloons over Britain will guarantee you a smooth ride in a hot air balloon launched from a site close to you.

British explorer David Hempleman-Adams has broken two endurance world records in a tiny hot air balloon over the US. The 52-year-old spent 14 hours and 15 minutes in a capsule the size of a laundry basket as he flew more than 200m from Butler, in Missouri, to Cherokee, in Oklahoma. Describing the scenery as beautiful and the event scary but a test of skill he was thrilled at breaking a record that had stood for 26 years.

When you book your hot air balloon flight through Balloons over Britain, you will not be in the air for 14 hours and 15 minutes like Hempleman-Adams, but you will also consider that the scenery unfolding below you is beautiful and with the large basket and skill of your pilot not in any way scary. Check with Balloons over Britain on 0845 071 6388 for a flight that is local to you.

Reports are coming in that thieves have stolen a hot air balloon from a barn in Chelmsford, Essex, where it was stored between flights. The hot air balloon which is used for pleasure flights and pilot training, belongs to Sussex-based, the British School of Ballooning. The balloon went missing sometime between September 1 and September 7 and the Sussex-based company is offering a £1,000 reward for information about the burgundy and cream coloured balloon which leads to its safe return.

A hot air balloon is a registered aircraft which can only be flown by a fully trained pilot just in the same way that the Balloons over Britain associates, who fly from launch sites which situated throughout the country, operate on most days. So you do not have to steal a hot air balloon if you want a flight from your area, simply call Balloons over Britain on 0845 071 6388 and enjoy the thrill of a lifetime.

There are some fundamentals that you should be looking for when you are considering a hot air balloon flight. You will want an experienced operator with fully trained and experienced pilots, the flight should be in an area that is convenient and close to you and you should be able to take the hot air balloon flight when it suits you.

The easiest way to ensure all your requirements are met is to visit the online site of Balloons over Britain, who have operators using local launch sites and have been flying hot air balloons for many years.  Since 1991 Balloons over Britain are the UK’s largest and longest established balloon flight operators with a wealth of operational experience that is shared across the network to ensure the highest operating standards. Contact them now on 0845 071 6388 for information about their voucher scheme.

 One of the largest balloon festivals in the world kicked off in Warstein, a small town in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, last weekend, which is regarded as Europe’s biggest gathering of hot air balloons. With the usual collection of shapes and colours that are now associated with hot air balloons, around 323 pilots from 13 nations took part in the festival which ran until September 13th.

With hot air balloon events and festivals, the success is dependent on the weather being kind, but meteorologists are forecasting decent hot air ballooning weather for the next couple of days. Hot air balloon flights are planned twice each day during the entire festival week, with teams from Germany, Netherlands, UK, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, including some of Balloons over Britain operators.

Whether it is a surprise gift, a thank you, or a performance related reward, a balloon ride gift certificate is a popular year-round choice. This unique gift is easy to give, unique, appreciated and allows the recipient to schedule their flight at their convenience, more importantly through Balloons over Britain from a launch site that is local to the recipient. Most balloon flight vouchers are also transferable, so if your recipient has a deep-seated fear of flying that you didn’t know about, the certificate can most likely be transferred to someone else.

Balloons over Britain is the leading provider of hot air balloon flights in the UK and by visiting their web pages you can choose from a range of voucher options, many of which are currently discounted. The web pages are easy to navigate but if you prefer you can speak to an advisor by telephoning 0845 071 6388.

Millions of people see hot air balloons each year and they are one of the best forms of advertising a company can employ, particularly if they want to target an area or specific group. Festivals are enjoyed by spectators throughout the country, more than most other outdoor events. They can target cricket and football games, often getting TV exposure as well.

The advantage to the advertiser is that these events become their private marketing audience. If wanted, the balloon can also make impact appearances at other major events as well, taking advantage of these assemblies when they consist of the advertiser’s target market. A balloon advertising campaign is also easily managed.  Balloons over Britain will be happy to discuss the options and events possibilities. As a professional hot air balloon operator, Balloons over Britain local operators cover the UK so you can target your campaign on a regional basis.

Hot air balloons are based on the very basic scientific principle that warmer air rises in cooler air.  With the traditional hot air balloons, such as those that the leading provider of balloon rides Balloons over Britain uses, a burner fuelled by propane gas is positioned under an open balloon envelope to heat the air and make the balloon rise. The height is controlled by this as well as a valve at the top of the balloon.

The balloon envelope which holds the hot air is very colourful and can take the form of many shapes which can be bottles, castles, cartoon characters as well as the traditional hot air balloon shape, or teardrop. This envelope is usually made from nylon or polyester, the same type of cloth that parachutes are made of. This fabric is much tougher than it might appear. If a bird were to fly into it would almost certainly bounce off. Contact Balloons over Britain on 0845 071 6388 to arrange your hot air balloon ride.

A flight in a Hot Air Balloon is a unique experience. Maybe you want to plan a romantic surprise, celebrate a special anniversary or launch a product. Whatever the occasion, the actual flight lasts for around an hour but the memories will last you for your lifetime. However a lot more work is required, before end after so that you can enjoy your hour in the air.

The majority of the work in Hot Air Ballooning comes at the beginning and the end of the flight, when the crew inflates and deflates the balloon. For the spectator, this is can be more spectacular than the actual balloon flight, not if you are a passenger of course! Passengers are traditionally asked to help with the setup and inflation of the balloon, also with the deflation of the balloon after landing. Balloons over Britain will arrange a Hot Air Balloon ride for you, from a location close to you and you can be part of the process too.