As you might expect we will not be flying any hot air balloons on Christmas day but there are lots of new and exciting events planned for 2010. All the usual hot air balloon festivals will be attended by members of the Balloons over Britain organisation and we and all the pilots, ground crew and administration staff are getting prepared for the new season.

Traditionally there are some meetings at the coldest time of year and two of them are taking place shortly after Christmas. The first is the famous “Icicle” meet and is at Marlborough in  Wiltshire on the 9th and 10th of January 2010 the other is the traditional “Brass Monkey” meet organised by the Pennine Regional Balloon Association at Harrogate on the 6th and 7th February 2010. We look forward to seeing you there, or at one of the many others meeting in the coming year.

It’s Christmas and the snow is lying deep and crisp and even, as the Christmas carol tells us, what better time is there then than to think about the spring and those wonderful summer days ahead? As you know the snow will not last forever and we can sit in the comfort of our cosy homes and start to plan that long promised trip in a Hot Air Balloon.

Log on to the Balloons over Britain web pages and see the range of options that are available to you to fly in your hot air balloon from a locality that is close to you and at a time that suits you. Buying one of the balloon voucher deals means that you do not have to book a specific time or date for your balloon flight, you can fly when the time suits your or the friend that you have bought the treat for or are flying with, it won’t last forever and now is the time to start planning that trip.

At this time of year we are naturally thinking about gifts for Christmas, rushing about to buy one for a friend or loved one, or wondering what surprises may be in store for us. Riding in a hot air balloon is one of the ten things most people wish to do in their lifetime and Balloons over Britain can make that dream come true. Ask anyone who has experienced a Hot Air Balloon flight and they will tell you that it will leave you in awe.

The normal time when hot air balloon flights take place is sunrise or sunset, which is truly breathtaking; here you will see the light changes and the landscape, which may be familiar to you, landscape take on a completely different aura. The most popular choice is a voucher which will allow you the flexibility of choosing a time that suits both you and your family. There is time to buy a voucher as a Christmas present, as well as for any other special event.

More and more hot air balloon races are popular throughout the world, especially during summer months, but how you may ask, do hot air balloons race? The term racing is probably not the best way to describe the competition because balloons don’t race in the normal sense of the word, it isn’t a ‘first across the finish line’. In normal circumstances and in its simplest form, the pilot’s challenge is to be the closest to the target using weighted markers, but unlike all other forms of flying, with the balloon drifting with the wind, balloon pilots do not have direct control of their direction of flight.

When you buy a hot air balloon flight, either as a present for a loved one, or for yourself, you will not take part in racing or any other form of competition. You will though, be treated to a wonderful experience, one of the top ten most things people which to do in their lifetime. Call 0845 071 6388, or go online to find out the many range of options that are available for you hot air balloon flight.

All parts of the hot air balloon are important none more so than the basket which carries the pilot, without whom you will be going nowhere, the propane cylinders for supplying fuel to the burner, but importantly your good self.  There have been a variety of baskets coming in all shapes and sizes, but traditionally this will be a square or rectangular in shape.

They can be made from aluminium or plastics, but traditionally they are constructed from cane for a number of very good reasons. Cane is sturdy and will flex, particularly important when the balloon lands, absorbing the impact. Because the balloon and the basket have to be transported from place to place, light and hard wearing materials are important and cane has proved itself over a period of a hundred years.

To clear up what may be a possible misunderstanding, buying a balloon ride from a launch site close to you as a Christmas present for a loved one does not mean that they have to use it at, or around, the festive period. The gift of a hot air balloon ride can be given as an easy to use voucher which can be used at any time to suit the lucky person receiving it, at a location that is close to them.

Balloons over Britain have a number of packages that would be suitable as a treasured gift for the special day, and we should emphasise that there is no age limit to those wanting to fly in a hot air balloon. Just as long as they can negotiate the basket there are no other restrictions. If you contact them online or by calling 0845 071 6388 you will be able to choose from the options available.