Today is Blue Monday which is said to be the most depressing day of the year. A concoction of a number of factors such as cold weather conditions, debt (thanks to Christmas), time elapsed since the happy time that is Christmas, the failing of New Year’s resolutions and generally low motivational levels all adds up to create this typically sorrowful day.  So why not break this gloomy cycle and make it the happiest day of the year yet?! Create your own National Hugging Day, we all know a hug releases endorphins which can make us happy, so why not spread the joy? Don’t fancy that, well you would always make sure that each 3^rd Monday of January you treat yourself to a nice big takeaway and a bottle of wine to put a smile on your face, or better still throw a party!

Here at Balloons Over Britain we have an even better idea; how about you book yourself an adventure to look forward to? You could be one click away from Hot Air Ballooning the New Year in; now there’s something to shout about. So when all your friends are confirming that yes indeed, their feeling the ‘blues’, you can show them your ballooning vouchers and exclaim that this has been the best day yet. Cheer up these long dark nights with the comfort of better things to come, with the knowledge that you have an experience of a lifetime to look forward to!

At Balloons Over Britain you can book a flight over a range of different locations from with our member companies, simply select the company who covers the area of your choice!

• Adventure Balloons – Berkshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, South Oxfordshire, London & Surrey.
• Aerosaurus Balloons – Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, South Somerset & Wiltshire
• Airborne Balloon Flights – Kent & Sussex
• Alba Ballooning – Edinburgh, Kinross, Scottish Borders & Northumberland
• Anglian Countryside Balloons – Essex
• Balloon Rides - Yorkshire & Lincolnshire
• Bailey Balloons - Bath, Bristol, North Somerset & South Wales
• The Ballooning Business - Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire & Northamptonshire
• Broadland Balloons - Norfolk & Suffolk
• Wickers World - Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire & Staffordshire

Or you can simply call us on 0845 071 6388 for more information and bookings.

Do you dream of flying in a hot air balloon, travelling with the gentle winds through the magnificent big blue sky? Being the safest way to fly, you could admire the breathtaking scenery, enjoy the romance of the moment and lock the memory of its peacefulness away for safekeeping, all with the knowledge that you are in safe hands. When ballooning you will experience heights between 1,000 and 5,000 feet, and be treated like a VIP for at least an hour summarised with a lovely glass of champagne!

Have you considered buying a hot air balloon ride as a Christmas or birthday present? At Balloons Over Britain we have a large selection of different locations and member companies who will put the magic into any birthday celebration. One thing’s for sure, a hot air balloon ride would certainly make for a birthday to remember! Why not take a look at the various offers we have at Balloons Over Britain, browse our locations and research your dream flight. Book online or call us for more information – 0845 071 6388.

Interesting facts

• The World Record for altitude in a hot air balloon was set by Vijaypat Singhania on November 26, 2005, reaching 68,986 feet breaking the previous record of 64,997 feet set back in 1988 by Per Lindstrand (born in Sweden, living in the UK) in Plano, Texas.
• The Longest distance hot air balloon flight was piloted by Per Lindstrand & Richard Branson and flew 4,767 miles from Japan to Northern Canada on January 15, 1991 in the Virgin Pacific Flyer balloon.
• The longest duration hot air balloon ride was 50 hours and 38 minutes made by Michio Kanda and Hirosuke Tekezawa of Japan on January 2, 1997.
• The largest manufacturer of hot air balloons is Cameron Balloons of Bristol, England, who also own Lindstrand Balloons of Oswestry, England.

On the Sunday 11^th September this year at 7:40pm, the British ballooning team consisting of David Hempleman-Adams and Simon Care landed their balloon after taking part in the Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race 2011. The pair landed after 20 hours of flying in their Lady Luck balloon, finding themselves in Worgl, Austria, when a thunderstorm became a threat.

Enjoying a scenic flight over the luscious French Alps, the Swiss Alps, and the Austrian Alps, Hempleman-Adams and Carey initially launched their balloon from Gap in France at 10:40pm on the Saturday. Reaching a distance of 580.9 km, the pair weren’t far off the German Team 2 winners who reached 645.6 km, landing just outside Saltzburg. The German team 1 came in at second place. Our very own Flight Director Clive Bailey (of Bailey Balloons) and Luc Trullemans, maintained communications with the British team at regular intervals throughout the flight, from the HQ in Bristol at the Bristol Hotel.

Clive commented;

“We are especially proud of David and Simon given the competition they faced. They have had an exciting and stunning flight which was much shorter than last year’s flight due to the high altitudes that they had to fly at and bad weather but it was a flight that was hard work but ended with a perfect stand up landing.”

Upon landing Hempleman-Adams phoned to say;

“We had to land as there were thunder storms all around. We had a truly spectacular flight with amazing views over the Alps, Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn…incredible. Nige and Bob, the retrieve crew turned up within a few minutes of us landing and we all then had to sort out the balloon after which they celebrated with some whisky and then retired to a local restaurant to savour some hot food.”

One of the first guidelines in hot air ballooning and top of the list to meet the criteria as a potential flyer is that your are fit and able enough to climb inside and outside of the ballooning basket. This sad fact meant that anyone who was wheelchair bound would be unable to board a hot air balloon and so their dream of taking to the skies in this most romantic way would be shattered. However times are changing and so is ballooning; thanks to the innovation of a foundation based in San Diego, California, the future of ballooning is set to drastically alter.

With the guidance of Mr Pat Murphy, the founder of ‘Reach for the Stars Foundation’, they have  eveloped a custom made, wheelchair-accessible basket which has been adapted and approved for flight under strict Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines! So far the design will accommodate one passenger in a wheelchair along with two standing passengers, however as the concept catches on, the design is sure to advance to allow for larger parties! The unique design incorporates a fold down side to the basket which cleverly then doubles up as a ramp; it all seems to be so simple leaving the question, why has it taken so long? They go further in their design to add a clear partition on another side of the basket which of course is designed so that anyone seated in a wheelchair is also able to see the rolling countryside and breathtaking views.

The Reach for the Stars Foundation is a non-profit organisation who strive to give people with limited mobility, no limitations focussing on giving them the chance to experience the magic of hot air ballooning. There may only be a few examples of these balloons in flight, and they may only be in America, however now the concept is out there, we feel positive that this is a sign of the direction in which hot air ballooning will go.

Maybe it’s about time you saw the world from a different perspective. At Balloons Over Britain we specialise at giving you just that! Since 1991 we have been the UK’s largest and longest established balloon flight operators and have provided a nationwide ballooning network covering areas across Scotland, England and Wales. In fact, we have over 70 different launch site locations across the UK! With over 40 balloons spread out across our member companies, we are able to offer a continuous service right across the season which is normally from March to the end of October. However some companies offer flights over extended periods. With dawn and dusk flights, seven days a week, Balloons Over Britain proudly fly over one-third of all balloon flight passengers across the United Kingdom.

All of our member companies offer a breathtaking experience and each holds Civil Aviation Authority licensing. Our member companies include the following:

Adventure Balloons – Adventure balloons covers areas across Berkshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, South Oxfordshire, London and Surrey and have been operating since 1985! Adventure Balloons even offer a dedicated birthday balloon service which is complemented with its own ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ birthday!

Aerosaurus Balloons – Aerosaurus Balloons offer flights across locations Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, South Somerset and Wiltshire. The company have been operating for 23 years!

Airborne Balloon Flights – Airborne Balloon Flights cover the Kent and Sussex areas and have been in flight for 18 years.

Alba Ballooning – Alba Ballooning covers Edinburgh, Kinross, the Scottish Borders and Northumberland and have been flying since 2000.

Anglian Countryside Balloons – Anglian Countryside Balloons proudly covers the Essex area and began ballooning in the early 1990’s.

Balloon Rides – Balloon Rides fly over the beautiful Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, their founder having over 30 years experience in flying and manufacturing balloons.

Bailey Balloons – Bailey Balloons has locations across Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South Wales and offer a wealth of experience, untouchable safety record and clear passion for ballooning.

The Ballooning Business – The Ballooning Business has launch sites in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and began flying in 1989.

Broadland Balloons – Broadland Balloons cover Norfolk and Suffolk and have nearly 20 years experience in passenger ballooning.

Wickers World – Wickers World have sites in Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire and have been a passenger balloons flights company for 22 years!

To book a flight with one of the above balloon flights operators, simply call on 0845 071 6388 or book online.

Balloon Rides are a reputable member of the Balloons Over Britain Corporation and boast a reputation for being York’s longest running balloon flight operator! In fact the very founder of Balloon Rides has an exceptional 30 years experience in not only flying balloons, but in their manufacturing too, so we quite literally have a wealth of experience in ballooning inside and out!

Our passengers are always happy to hear about the background of our pilots and find themselves comforted by their obvious expertise! Having won national, international and world ballooning awards, flown television and film celebrities, secured several national flight records, and made a number of ‘adventure’ flights crossing the English Channel, the Irish Sea and the Alps, we certainly have a lot to be proud of!

This September saw much excitement for Balloon Rides and some lucky passengers as we took part in the Naburn Lock Balloon Festival for flights on the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th of the month. We flew from the Festival, just south of the city of York, a lovely site adjacent to the Ouse. But who better to fly with than the host of other hot air balloons; local balloonists from the Pennine Region Balloon Association organised the get together many years in advance and with the Vale of York’s harvest cut there were plenty of different fields to land in!

If you’re interested in booking your own hot air balloon adventure then you can either get in touch by phone 01757 288888 or you can simply visit the site where ordering vouchers online is fast and simple.

Balloons Over Britain are the UK’s leading balloon flights co-ordinator managing balloon operators right across the UK. Most of our members companies have been operating passenger balloon rides for over ten years and some hold experience for twice as long as that! It’s no wonder that Balloons Over Britain are the UK’s number one choice for passenger balloon rides!

Considering our extensive list of member companies along with the many years experience held by all, Balloons Over Britain hold an unparalleled wealth of operational experience combined with the highest operating standards. However more impressively, from our endless experience has come many of the procedures that have now been incorporated into the industries standards via our regulatory body, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)! And to clarify, all Balloons Over Britain members hold Air Operators Certificates issued by the CAA. Please note that this certification is only granted to fare-paying-passenger carrying companies who satisfy the organisational and safety requirements required by the CAA.

You can experience an intimate balloon ride for two or even make a booking for a party of 16, that’s the beauty of Balloons Over Britain, with all our member companies, we have a choice of so many balloons! Take a look at our map of the UK for an idea of the areas we cover, or alternatively view our list of balloon ride operators.

However many of our customers are not looking for a standard passenger balloon ride, instead they turn to us for help with Corporate entertainment as incentives for their customers and clients or even their staff and often people come to us regarding Commercial opportunities for balloon operation and advertising. Whatever it is you’re looking for, simply visit our site or call us on 0845 071 6388 for more information.

When it comes to running a successful business the key is to keep your customers and your clients happy. Express to them in whichever way you can that you value them, appreciate their business and that you are dedicated to them. Now this all sounds well and good, but sometimes it’s just not that easy. One of the most effective proven methods of retaining your customers and your clients is organise event that include them. Organise a corporate do, a giant BBQ, a day out at a theme park, a dinner dance, or even better, a day out in a hot air balloon!

A balloon is a powerful corporate entertaining tool with many companies participating for the entertainment of their clients, competition prize winners, customers, company staff, and even journalists for positive company marketing!

Hot air ballooning is a great incentive to staff; if the figures are down and morale low, it can be fixed simply by providing an incentive which will give your staff something to aim towards, something to work hard for. You could offer the reward to your office staff should they meet a certain target, or alternatively for larger companies who have various ‘teams’ within the office, you could offer the reward to the most deserving team at the end of the quarter.

Imagine how impressed your clients would be should you entertain them for the day in a hot air balloon. Certainly offering the ‘wow’ factor, hot air ballooning is on every ones ‘to do’ list and is sure never to be forgotten by those lucky clients of yours. Gestures such as this can only maintain a healthy relationship and are sure to leave your business in good standing. I doubt very much that your clients would look elsewhere when they realise that they’d miss out of your businesses yearly epic events!

If you’d like to learn more about how you could incorporate hot air ballooning into your business events, then please feel free to call us here at Balloons Over Britain on 0845 071 6388. Alternatively you can go right ahead and book online with our fast and simple voucher ordering process.

Did You Know?

• The ‘Atlantic Crossing’ was one of the most sought after ballooning achievements of all time, and it wasn’t until 1978 when the Atlantic Challenge was finally conquered! This was achieved by 3 pilots; Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman, all of which flew the distance in 137 hours, covering 3,120 miles in the Double Eagle II.
• The very first recorded ‘Around the World’ hot air balloon flight was achieved in 1999 when Swiss Betrand Piccard and British Brian Jones teamed up and broke the record! They took off from Chateau d’Oex in the Swiss Alps and after 19 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes, they successfully landed over Mauritania in North Africa. The succeeded in their mission to become the first balloonists to circumnavigate the globe without any stops for re-fuelling, and travelled a total distance of 42,810 KM!
• The first ‘Solo Around the World Flight’ was accomplished by a man named Steve Fossett who actually attempted to the journey a previous 6 times before he succeeded! He managed to achieve his goal on Tuesday 2nd July 2002, becoming the first and still only person to have managed to travel around the world solo in a hot air balloon.

Have you ever considered making history of your own? Maybe it’s high time *eh hem* you took your own hot air balloon ride and became the first of your friends, or family to take to the skies in this way. Or maybe you’ve dreamed of this moment forever and have decided now’s the time? Well luckily for you Balloons Over Britain cover the whole of the UK, so wherever you want to go, we’ll get your there. Take a look at our member companies on our site, book your flight or even check out our locations, or alternatively, just call us on 0845 071 6388 for more information.

Only at Alba Ballooning can you look forward to a flight this September with a £20 discount PER PERSON! In celebration of 11 years in operation, here at Alba Ballooning we’ve decided to show our customers the gratitude we feel for their consistent loyalty and custom. We offer balloon rides near Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh and the surrounding and truly stunning Lothian and Peeblesshire countryside. You can even book flights over the scenic region of Perth, Kinrosshire and Fife, and our newly acquired flight location of the Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders along with Northumberland from near Morpeth.

If you’re thinking about getting involved remember, we schedule daily flights during early morning and evening slots, this way we’re able to capture the most beautiful parts of the day. Our flights run from mid March to late October and you’ll find that we fly during the winter period on occasion. With a fleet of three balloons each with baskets to accommodate between 6 and 12 passengers, we have the choice to tailor the flight to your individual requirements. Each balloon basket is sectioned into comfortably padded 2 or 3 person compartments which have safe high sides. But what pleases our customer the most is our friendly and personal touch combined with our professional service.

We relish the fact that our balloons take no more than 12 passengers, that’s quite enough! There are many companies who have balloons that will take 16 passengers and treat their customers like they’re buying tickets for a bus journey. With us we like to make our customers feel special and we consistently strive to make your day individual, magical.

We do not oversell more places than we are able to fly, this way we know that everyone will have plenty of opportunity to fly with us without the extensive waiting lists! In fact we even go as far as to display our Flight Schedules online so that you can see for yourselves when you’re likely to be in the air. Still, it always helps to talk to a person when booking an adventure such as this, so if you have any questions at all, or would simply rather book over the phone, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01875 830709.