BALLOON FLIGHT

Floating over the fields, Gently lifting off the ground to follow ducks in flight across the sunset? To soar hundreds of feet in the air, floating peacefully above beautiful scenery in a quiet that allows you to hear the sounds of nature below.

As you float silently above the world, whole new vistas open up. Incredible scenery is brought to you from a completely different angle, and a spectacular model world opens up beneath the basket. Familiar landmarks – roads, villages, lakes – take on a completely new perspective from above. And what makes it special is that it’s a sight many people will never see...

Ballooning is unlike any other form of flight. It is an extraordinary nature experience as you become one with the breeze, feeling no sensation of movement. You have become the wind! A momentary gentle breeze on the cheek means that you have joined a new current of air heading off in a different direction. The flight feels uninhibited, and the 360-degree views are unlike anything you may have seen before.

Concealed treasures and secret places that cannot be seen from the ground are revealed. You will feel like you are sitting on top of the world, all from the comfort of a wicker basket. Our flight area is glorious Kent and Sussex – one of the most beautiful corners of the country.

That’s seven days a week, if possible. We have two flights each day, with the first one about an hour after sunrise and then again a couple of hours before sunset. These are the best times of day for hot air balloon flights. The main season runs from March to October, although we fly all year round in some parts of the country, subject to the ground conditions.

Of course, hot air ballooning is highly weather-dependent. We cannot fly if it is breezy, foggy or raining.

We have various launch sites located all over Kent and Sussex, and if your garden is big enough, we could even launch from that or may even land in it one day! The pilot and crew prepare the balloon for flight, and passengers are welcome to watch or even join in if they wish.

When ready, the inflation begins with cold air fans blowing fresh air into the envelope. After about 10 minutes, the pilot heats the air with the burners, and the balloons rise off the ground into an upright position. This is a surprisingly quick process. When everything is ready, the pilot will invite the passengers to board, and a few minutes later, the balloon rises into the sky! We’re airborne!

Once airborne, the flight duration is about an hour – and is sometimes almost an hour and a half! Allow 3 to 4 hours for the whole experience.

One of the attractions of ballooning is that we float along on the breeze with no means of steering! There’s no plan or route; we just fly along until we spot a suitable place to return to Earth. We might travel 2 miles or 22 miles – we just don’t know! Each balloon flight is a unique journey!

HOW DOES IT FEEL?

Passengers often expect the conditions to be cold or windy up in the balloon, but they are always pleasantly surprised by just how warm and comfortable the flight is. Of course, there’s no chill from the breeze because we’re moving with the wind, and the basket just hangs motionless like a pendulum! There’s no feeling of going up & down or turbulence, all adding up to a wonderful sensation of tranquillity while simultaneously exciting.

After landing, we pack the balloon away while the pilot serves Champagne and soft drinks. The ground crew will have tracked the balloon by road, collecting all of the equipment and then providing return transport to the launch site for all passengers.

As mentioned, we fly soon after sunrise and then again a few hours before sunset.

Of course, the days get longer or shorter as the seasons go by. This means that we have to adjust our take-off times accordingly. In summer months, when the days are the longest, we might meet at 5.30 am for a dawn flight and then not meet until 6.30 pm for an evening one. Conversely, it might be 8 am and 1.30 pm in winter due to the short days!

Hot air balloon flights simply cannot take place during the middle part of the day in summer due to the thermals. Whilst great for glider pilots, thermals are dangerous for balloons. The sun’s warmth generates thermals; hence balloons fly when the sun is lower in the sky!

TAKE-OFF & PREPARATION

We meet our passengers after sunrise and a few hours before sunset, when everyone has the opportunity to help prepare the hot air balloon for take-off. Your pilot will fully brief you, then fly for approximately an hour. On landing, you can take part in packing the balloon away and then enjoy a chilled glass of Champagne (or soft drink) with your balloon party, followed by the presentation of a signed flight certificate, before being driven back to the launch site by our ballooning retrieve crew. The whole experience lasts approximately 3-4 hours.

SPECIAL EVENTS

We can also tether balloons at special corporate events, weddings, parties and charity events and will be happy to speak with you about your event requirements. We may even have a few of our own ideas to add if you would like!

We have a wealth of experience in corporate hospitality for client entertainment and staff incentives and rewards. Take a look at our balloon gallery to see our hot air balloons.