Ballooning first timer? Most of our customers are, so we thought to save you the suspense and answer all those questions on your mind, we’d tell you a little more about what to expect. Many of our customers are ordering balloon flights for Christmas presents at the moment and there are also a great deal thinking ahead and organising their Valentines surprise with plenty of notice to make it perfect; ballooning is known as the most romantic way to fly, after all. So what questions are we being overwhelmed with at the moment.

Firstly, most enquires are with regards to what to expect from their flight. Many are fearful of the takeoff and other of the landing, however there is no need for concern.

When you take off you will notice the ground dropping away, however you will not really notice a sensation of movement or rising. Many have described a feeling of peace and tranquillity once up in the air; this is heightened by the apparent lack of wind.  The balloon moves with the wind and so you will not experience windiness at all when you’re up! You can expect to climb to heights of approximately 3’000 foot; let your mind imagine what the world would look like from heights such as that, and nothing to obstruct your view!

Flights last for about an hour, and yes, you will enjoy a champagne toast, along with a certificate to commemorate your day! What’s more we encourage all of our passengers to help set up the balloon and dismantle it afterwards so that they can get a real feel for ballooning and enjoy a day of it, rather than just the flight.

You can expect your flight to take place either at sunset or sunrise as this is when the weather is at its calmest. Typically flights run from March to October, however some Balloons Over Britain operators will run flights outside of the typical ballooning season. Bear in mind, if the weather is not suitable for flying, then your flight will be cancelled. Simply phone to re-schedule in this case where we will make every possible step to ensure you fly at a date that is convenient for you.

Remember to wear clothing which is appropriate for country walks and the time of year, ideal clothes made of natural fibres. Another advisable item would be a hat or cap to protect your head from the heat of the burners. And please, ladies, you will be clambering through fields and over the balloon basket, so do wear trousers. We recommended sensible walking shoes or boots, preferably ones that are waterproof, as most flights take off from, and land in, a field. Finally bear in mind the limited space in the basket, so try to avoid bringing large rucksacks or bags.

The most common type of query we have is with regards to the safety of hot our ballooning. What we advise is that ballooning activities intrinsically involve the possibility of physical risks greater than those encountered in daily life, even though they are conducted under the supervision of commercial pilots who exercise all due precautions to ensure safety. By taking part in such ballooning activities passengers are understood to be fully aware of these risks. All Balloons Over Britain Operators are certified and regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and all the pilots hold full Commercial Pilot Licences. All operators carry combined single limit insurance to current European standards.

For more details, call us on 0845 071 6388.

Balloon Rides Ltd are a Balloons Over Britain members company who offer passenger balloon rides in locations around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. To be specific, in Yorkshire we fly from York Racecourse or from the banks of the River Ouse at Naburn Lock and in Lincolnshire we have sites near Grantham, Rutland Water and Stamford, however the site we fly from on the day depends entirely on wind direction.

Wind direction isn’t the only factor which must be taken into consideration on the day; for a successful flight not only must the winds be light, but the forecast should be clear of rain and the visibility good. For this reason we recommend that passengers call us at the time specified in your map pack to confirm if the weather permits us to fly. If the weather is bad, don’t panic; simply call to reschedule your flight as soon as possible at a time that suits you.

Depending on the flying conditions, we fly early morning and early evening when the wind is generally calmer and our flying season is from April to October. The time of your flight will depend on the time of year as it will always be in accordance with sunrise and sunset. Typically in May we meet you at 6am for morning flights and 6pm for evening flights, however in later months you will find that the morning flights will be a little later and the evening flights a little earlier.

Many passengers ask us how far we’ll fly, however as we travel at the same speed as the wind, it’s difficult to give an accurate answer. Having said this, if you consider that the balloon can only safely be flown in winds up to 10 mph, we normally cover approximately 7-10 miles. You will experience views from up to 1000 feet up, but we sometimes climb to 5000 feet (around a mile high) in order to find the right wind speed at which to travel.

We are often asked whether there are any age restrictions in terms of ballooning, but what’s more important is the passenger’s health and agility. All passengers must be medically fit to fly, and as our balloon baskets are about 1.1 metres (42 inches) high, passengers will need to be able to climb into the basket. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on the flight and must be over 8 years old, and their height must exceed 1.4 metres (4′6″). In the interests of safety and operational requirements we cannot undertake the carriage of passengers whose declared weight exceeds 18 stone (114kg).

If you’d like to book a hot air ballooning date with Balloon Rides Ltd, simply log into our date page on the web site where you can see date availability and follow our quick ordering process, or call our office during weekday office hours on 01757 288 888.

Hot air ballooning began as a crazy hobby entertained by the wealthy (or the slightly insane) and for many years ballooning over certain distances and oceans became an ambition of many. It has now established itself as a highly beneficial medium for advertising, as a popular corporate entertainment activity or incentive, and at the top of many people’s ‘Top Ten Things to Do Before They Die’.

In terms of corporate entertainment, what better way to treat potential clients and respected clients than a hot air balloon ride, particularly a ride which ends where the balloons lands within the grounds of a conference venue and is summed up with chilled champagne! When launching new products and campaigns hot air ballooning has taken its crowd by storm launching balloons of almost any shape into the sky. The company brand or product can be seen by thousands over a massive area.

In 1991, 6 of the UK’s largest and longest running balloon flight operators created the nationwide flight network which today we know as Balloons Over Britain. However the popularity of hot air ballooning only grew, as did their network; Balloons Over Britain now has 12 member companies who cover pretty much every flyable area in the UK. With locations dotted around London, the Lake District, Scotland, the South West of England, Wales and more, Balloons over Britain are proud of their achievement as the only comprehensive national balloon flight network throughout Britain.

Ballooning itself is a treat for anyone of any age who seeks any kind of thrill. A weather dependant activity it can often be a case of third time lucky, which just adds to the adventure! When the conditions are right, you’ll get that call and before you know it you’ll have helped set up the balloon and will be waiting with anticipation in the basket itself – that’s right – you, in the basket of a hot air balloon, your dream being realised. Imagine the butterflies in your tummy when it dawns on you that you’ve actually started rising, when you realise the basket is no longer on the ground, your airborne!

This could be you with just one phone call, or a couple of clicks. You can book online, read more about Balloons Over Britain and our member companies on our site, call us for a chat, or even book it with us over the phone; it’s simple, just call 0845 071 6388 or visit us at www.balloonsoverbritain.co.uk.

To experience a hot air balloon flight is an opportunity not to be missed!  The thrill of gently drifting hundreds of feet above spectacular cities and beautiful countrysides is like no other.  When experiencing a balloon flight, most of us want to experience the flight with loved ones to share the thrill of a lifetime.  At Balloons over Britain, we can make your dreams become reality as we can offer intimate flights for two or family experiences for up to sixteen passengers.  Our baskets vary in size depending on how many people are flying on the day so if you are wanting an intimate flight for two, make sure to request this when booking.

We know that in order to experience a successful hot air balloon flight, the basket needs to be safe, strong and sturdy.  Baskets are made from weaving Kooboo and Palambang cane together and these two types of cane are strong yet lightweight and flexible enough to absorb the energy from impact when the balloon lands.  Occasionally, when the balloon lands the basket may tip over which simply creates an amusing landing to add to your flight experience.  If you are flying in a T-partition basket, this is less likely to occur due to the even distibution of weight.  But what is a T-Partition basket?

The strongest type of basket is a T-Partition basket due to its extra struts.  A T-Partition basket has multiple compartments to hold passengers, the pilot and the gas cylinders which are used to heat air to make the balloon rise.  There are also open baskets which consist of one large compartment to contain the pilot, passengers and gas cylinders during the hot air balloon flight.

Some hot air balloon baskets will allow passengers to be seated but in order to fly, you must be able to stand for at least an hour.  Also, due to the nature of climbing in and out of the baskets, and for the safety of all passengers, unfortunately persons confined to a wheelchair are unable to fly. 

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.

A warm welcome awaits you when you take your first hot air balloon flight from the moment when you arrive at the launch site which will be local to you, or near where you are staying if you are on holiday, from all members of the crew. On a standard flight you will be joining a group of other people. The balloon baskets are divided into compartments for your safety, and there will not be more than six passengers in any one compartment. You may book just one person, or as many as you wish, depending on availability of passenger space.

Soon you will be up and away and looking down on the patchwork of fields, houses churches etc all form a n entirely different aspect. The actual time in the air is approx. one hour. Passengers and spectators are invited to participate in the pre and post flight preparation and dismantling of the balloon and this is all part of the experience. Book your balloon flight online now.

One of the most important parts of a hot air balloon, after the balloon itself of course, is the basket which is used to carry the pilot, the propane gas cylinders, but of course you, the all important passenger. There are many sizes of Hot Air Balloon basket designed for as few as 2 to 3 people, up to large ones designed for as many as 20 passengers.

There has been a tradition of making the baskets from cane or wicker, which has proved itself to be both light but extremely durable. The basket has to stand up to being transported from place to place for launching and recovery. It also needs to be flexible and importantly have some give when it is subjected to the landing and subsequent trailing along the ground. Many materials have been tried such as aluminium and plastic, but the favourite is still the tried and tested cane. When you take your Hot Air Balloon flight with one of the Balloons over Britain operators flying close to where you live, you will be safe and comfortable in a traditional wicker basket.

The basket of a hot air balloon is one of the most important parts of a balloon it carries the pilot and the passengers after all. This basket also houses the important propane gas cylinders which are required to heat the air in the balloon envelope, without which it would not fly.

Traditionally the hot air balloon basket has been made of wicker the material that was used for a variety of purposes in the nineteenth century when balloons first started to fly. Modern baskets are made from cane which is extremely strong sturdy, lightweight and durable. The basket needs to be extremely strong as it is constantly on the move, and when landing it needs to be able to take up some of the shock, cane baskets are ideal for this and they are extremely hard wearing.

The basket is the part of the Hot Air Balloon which carries the passengers, the propane gas, but importantly the qualified pilot. The basket can come in a variety of forms and sizes which can be suitable for individuals or couples up to larger sizes of up to 20 people.

Traditionally Hot Air Balloon baskets have been made from cane which has proved to be extremely sturdy, flexible and relatively lightweight and cane has proved to be the most hardwearing and durable material, even more so than aluminium or some composite plastics. Because the basket is constantly transported from place to place, also when the Hot Air Balloon lands, this material flexes and absorbs some of the energy. Many of our Hot Air Balloon Ride UK operators have their baskets tailor made often with a partition to separate the passengers from the pilot, whatever shape it is we are confident you will treasure your Hot Air Balloon ride us.