Anyone with an average ability can become a pilot of a Hot Air Balloon fulfilling the requirements for the PPL (B) which should not be considered as a task to be taken lightly. The Hot Air Balloon is a registered aircraft and the licence which you will ultimately hold will be issued by the Civil Aviation Authority specifically for ballooning.

We firstly suggest that you arrange with Balloons over Britain to take a Hot Air Balloon flight with a local operator and discuss with them the possibility of taking the necessary course to achieve your ambition, this checks that you will enjoy it before you commit time, energy and money to becoming a Pilot. Becoming a Licensed Pilot requires hours of commitment and theoretical training, but at the end of it you will become a qualified pilot. How’s that for a topic down at the pub?

Have you taken a flight in a Hot Air Balloon with one of the seventy local operators that come under the umbrella of Balloons over Britain, if so we would love to hear from you? The aim of Balloons over Britain UK operators is to offer a helpful, flexible and friendly service, naturally the main aim is to give you pleasure and enjoyment in what is regarded as one of the ten things most people want to do.

Passenger safety is the prime requirement in any aerial operation involving the general public and this is one of the cornerstones on which we, and the local operators throughout Britain, have built our operation. During your flight, if as we recommend, you took your camera, let us see your pictures so that your enjoyment can be shared with others. Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments. We’d love to hear from you.

The pre-flight setting up of the balloon is a spectacular a show for the passengers as they witness the spectacular sight of the mighty hot air balloon being inflated.

Firstly the huge envelope is laid out flat and initially a large fan is put into the neck of the balloon’s envelope which begins to fill. The basket is attached and securely fixed to the ground and the burner is fixed in place. The balloon, already half filled with air from the fan is soon filled by the hot air burner and the passengers can get into the basket ready for an experience that will be remembered for years to come.

Hot air balloon rides UK wide can be undertaken through Balloons over Britain, where you can either buy a gift voucher, or arrange a flight with one of the country wide operators that we are associated with.

Have you ever wondered what keeps a hot air balloon flying? It is really quite simple and it’s a very basic principle, hot air rises and cold air sinks, the hot air in a hot air balloon pushes up, keeping the balloon floating.

A hot air balloon has three major parts, the envelope, the burner, and the basket. The basket is where passengers’ ride this is usually made of wicker, which is lightweight and flexible and carries and protects the occupants. The burner is positioned above the passenger’s heads and produces a huge flame to heat the air inside the envelope, when the air inside the envelope is heated, the balloon rises. For the Hot Air Balloon to descend the pilot allows the air in the envelope to cool down and the balloon gradually falls. At all times the pilot has complete control of the up and down movements of the balloon.

What goes up must come down, very safely of course in the case of a hot air balloon, so what actually happens? The first thing to say is that your fully qualified pilot has done this hundreds of times, but the landing can be a bumpy affair. The pilot will bring the balloon down very slowly and the basket will be at an angle when you touch down, this is to help the basket lose speed and come to a quick safe halt. The basket is fitted with side rail supports and ropes to make sure you do not fall out!

After you have safely got out of the balloon basket, comes the time to deflate the envelope and pack it away. From this time you will all be transported back to the launch point or your agreed pick up point and it’s time for your champagne and to receive your flight certificate. The end of a perfect day!

Congratulations, you are going to take part in the thriller a lifetime and it something that we know you will remember and tell your friends about for a long time to come. Can we just say that your balloon flight is an experience that should not be rushed and you should prepare yourself for the big day in advance. Although the actual flight time will be around an hour in length, you will be invited to take part in pre flight preparation, inflating the balloon and deflating it at the end of the flight, this is all part of the experience of hot air ballooning and therefore, we suggest that you allow a minimum of four hours for the whole experience.

You should arrive at your arranged meeting point on time and importantly if you are flying with friends, make sure that they are well organised in advance of the day, the launch point may not be at the same place and we may have to transport you to an alternative launch site than the one arranged perhaps due to a change in weather conditions. At the end of your flight you and your friends will be transported back to the original arranged meeting point and we feel sure that you will want to celebrate and tell others of your wonderful day out.

At Balloons over Britain one of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) is, “are there age limits to anyone who would like to experience the thrill of a lifetime, and take a trip in a Hot Air Balloon”? Well we can tell you that the answer to this is an emphatic no, so let us look at some of the facts.

We are aware of one passenger who was just seven years old; there may have been others that were younger. Our records show that the majority of passengers were bought a flight as a birthday present for their 30th, 40th, 50th or 60^th birthday, what a lovely gift as well. Many of our passengers were over the age of seventy years and the oldest one that we took on a never to be forgotten Hot Air Balloon trip, was 100years and 4 days of age! No one should worry about their age as we will look after them however old or young they may be and they will enjoy an experience that they will talk about for a long time. Just about anyone can enjoy a flight, firstly contact us and we will take care of the arrangements and of course you.