Are you looking for a unique and different present for a partner or loved one? Make a distinctive gesture with one of our eVouchers or balloon flights. With 10 sites around London and the Home Counties, this gives you a varied choice of the unbelievable countryside on offer.

Most of the launch sites are town parks that are exclusive to Adventure Balloons, and are ideal for friends and family to come and wave you off. Each site gives passengers both town and countryside views during the flight and offer numerous opportunities to get some great aerial photographs.

Don’t delay book your flight for someone special today.

Hot air balloons have been used to advertise and promote thousands of products and services over the years, and are becoming an excellent addition to existing marketing campaigns. A hot air balloon not only attracts interest it also holds the attention of spectators. In addition to the six million people attending various ballooning events nationwide, the balloon will also carry the advert over the surrounding population, increasing the exposure even more.

With the introduction of computer aided design it has become easier and to create complex balloon shapes. These one-of-a-kind balloons are very cost effective and often have an impact that conventional advertising methods lack.

Ballooning is becoming more and more popular for corporate weekends and hospitality. Adventure Balloons are experts in this field, and combined with their 16 passenger basket offer a great day out for your employees or potential customers. For further information on exclusive flights or balloon sponsorship to raise your company’s profile click here.

Before a successful hot air balloon flight can begin, the pilot must first check the weather and find a suitable take-off point. The weather must have sufficient visibility for the pilot to see and wind speeds should not exceed 10mph to allow for safe take-off and landings. To check wind speeds at a given location the pilot will send up a balloon called a Met-balloon or Pibal, this gives instant information about what the wind is actually doing.

Next the balloon is unpacked and the burner and basket attached. The envelope (balloon) is then filled with cold air that partially inflates the balloon and gives it, its basic shape. Once the shape of the balloon has been established the burner is used to heat the air inside. When the balloon is upright, the pilot and passengers climb into the basket and the flight can begin by directing more heat into the envelope.

Its spring and the 2008 ballooning season has started for us here at Adventure Balloons. Flights from the Home Counties normally start at the end of March or the beginning of April. The season runs till early November and sometimes longer if ground conditions permit. Season times for London are slightly different and start on the 22nd April and run until the 14th August.

You can book your balloon flight up to 60 days in advance on the date availability page or by phoning the office and gift vouches can be bought at any time.

Balloon races are popular all over the world, particularly during the summer months. Many people often ask how hot air balloons race. Balloons don’t ‘race’ in the normal sense of the word and it is not a case of first across the finish line wins.

Hot air balloon racing usually entails a range of strategic and complex tasks that the pilots must accomplish, normally consisting of dropping weights on pre-determined targets. Since the balloon simply drifts in the wind and balloon pilots do not have direct control over the direction that they fly in, many competition pilots have become very skilled in reading the winds to get them close to the targets.

A large fabric X about 50 foot in diameter is placed a few miles away from the launch site and the balloons take it in turns to take off, get as close to the target as possible and drop their marker. The closest marker achieves the highest score. The competition consists of numerous drops during the meet with the highest overall score declared the winner.

The latest addition to the fleet is a 16 passenger balloon basket. Adventure Balloons have worked tirelessly with the Lidstrand factory to produce not only a fantastically functional basket, but also takes into account the safety of both the passengers and pilots.

Adventure Balloons has been fitting seats to their baskets since 1993 and it’s only now that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recognise this major contribution to safety and recommend that other operators follow suit to avoid injuries due to bumpy landings.

So why not get a group of friends together and experience the delights of hot air ballooning.

Balloons have been used by the military for hundreds of years and were mainly used for reconnaissance and battlefield map making. It wasn’t until 1941 that the British used balloons as weapons to fight the Germans during World War II.

Operation Outward was given the go ahead in September 1941 and consisted of free-flying balloons with two different types of weapon. The first was a steel trailing wire, intended to damage high voltage line by producing a short circuit. The second was a set of flexible socks filled with flammable material designed to start fires in forests and fields.

The first launches took place on the 20th March 1942 and within days the British were receiving reports of fires near Berlin and Tilsit. Interception of German radio soon showed that German planes were trying to shoot the balloons down, this encouraged the British as it cost the Germans more to shoot a balloon down than it cost the British to make.

On the 12th July a wire carrying balloon struck a high voltage power line near Liepzig and the resulting fire destroyed Bohlen power station. In the lead up to D-day balloon launches became more sporadic, as there were fears that Allied bombers might get damaged. The last balloons were launched on 4th September 1944.

At least today when you take your Hot air balloon ride you can rest assured that there is no chance of being shot down by a German plane, it’s just you, the tranquil countryside and the peaceful sound of the wind gently lifting you away.

Thinking of visiting London? There are many wonderful sights to see from Buckingham Palace to the London Eye and everything in between. But don’t be a regular tourist; take your sightseeing to another level with a hot air balloon ride over london.

Experience the romance of ballooning whilst enjoying London’s fabulous landmarks from a different perspective. Whether you’re treating a loved one or maybe just treating yourself this is an excellent opportunity to see London from a unique point of view.

Why not bring your camcorder or camera so you can take pictures of the breathtaking sights and share your experience with friends and family for years to come.

Flights are available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings and normally last for an hour but will depend on operational and weather factors. After the flight you will be returned to a suitable rail or underground station for an easy return to London, so you can continue your sightseeing as a regular tourist.

For more information or to book your flight go to Adventure Balloons.

Hot air balloons work on the simple principal that warm air rises. Warm air is lighter than cooler air and when contained in the balloon or the envelope as it’s known in the business, it produces lift and thus propelling the balloon upwards. To ensure the balloon stays in the air it must be continuously heated using gas burners.

To move the balloon upwards the pilot uses the burners to deliver regular burst of fire to maintain a stable flight. As hot air rises very little of it is lost through the bottom of the envelope.

To bring the balloon downwards there is a valve at the top of the envelope called the parachute valve. The valve is a round piece of fabric connected to a chord which is runs down the centre of the balloon to the pilot. If the pilot wishes to decent they simply pull the chord to open the valve, letting the hot air escape and bringing the balloon downwards as the hot air cools. The balloon can also be brought back down by using the burners less frequently this has a similar effect to the parachute valve bringing the balloon to a gentle decent.

For more information about ballooning check out Adventure Balloons website.

Now is the ideal time to book a balloon flight with us. Adventure Balloons offer wonderful flight experiences with champagne toasts. What better way to explore the unique British countryside than from the higher perspective of a hot air balloon?
Adventure Balloons provide hot air balloon flights over Berkshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Oxford, Surrey and London so there are plenty of flight locations for you to choose from.

With many years of flying experience you can be confident that all of our hot air balloon flights are not only safe but highly enjoyable. You may be celebrating a Birthday or that extra special anniversary. Why not book a flight with Adventure Balloons for that truly memorable experience?