A hot air balloon flight is one of the best experiences you can have and is an ideal birthday present for a loved one. That is why Adventure Balloons now has two Happy Birthday balloons just for that special day.

There is a small Happy Birthday balloon for more intimate flights, which can carry between 2 and 4 people and our newest balloon, the huge 16 person happy birthday balloon; perfect for big groups. Adventure Balloons can cater for any needs you might have to make your day one to remember.

Giving a balloon voucher as a birthday present is a fantastic surprise, and if you book now you will save £20. All of Adventure Balloons vouchers are valid for 12 months so book now to take advantage of this great offer.

There is also a Balloon flight date availability page on the website, so you can choose the date, time and location you want to fly from. Simply use the drop down menus to see if there is space on the date in which you want to fly.

Make it a birthday to remember with Adventure Balloons.

Fancy doing something completely different this summer? Why not join one of our balloon crews, which fly from over 30 locations in the South East of England. Adventure Balloons operating bases are situated in Hartley Wintney and Hemel Hempstead and cover all of our passenger balloon flights in Surrey, Oxford, Berkshire and London.

To become a part of the balloon crew, you must be happy working outdoors, be physically fit and have good communication skills. Training is provided, but it would be helpful if you had competence with driving 4X4’s with trailers and Minibuses and have basic map reading skills; applicants must be over 25 and have 3 years clean license.

The balloon season generally runs from April to October depending on the weather, and there will be opportunities for employment throughout the balloon season. Applicant must be reliable and able to work on weekends and on occasions weekday evenings.

There will be a fixed weekly rate for balloon crew work plus a bonus scheme and there is also additional hurly paid work for promotional and support work. To apply for a role on one of our balloon crews, send you C.V. to: sales@adventureballoons.co.uk

A hot air balloon works on the principle that hot air rises and is made up of three main parts; the balloon envelope (the fabric Balloon that holds the hot air), the balloon burners (that push hot air into the envelope) and the balloon basket, which carries the pilot and passengers as well as the propane gas for the burners.

Piloting a hot air balloon is fairly simple; to make the balloon rise, the pilot will fire the balloons burners; this pushes hot air into the envelope and gives the balloon lift. The more hot air is pushed into the balloon envelope, the quicker the balloon rises.

To make the balloon descend, the pilot will use the balloons burners less, cooling the air inside the balloon and causing it to descend. Alternatively, if the pilot wants a quicker descent, they will use the Parachute Valve; this is situated at the top of the balloon, and is connected by a long cord to the balloons basket. Pulling the cord opens the valve, which lets the hot air out of the top and the balloon descends quicker.

Navigating a hot air balloon is a little more difficult, as the balloon is not steered directly by the pilot. The winds direction changes at different altitudes, so the pilot must ascend and descend to the right altitude and travel with the wind.

Whether you’re booking a hot air balloon flight for yourself, or treating a loved one for a special occasion, Adventure Balloons can make the whole experience one that will be remembered for years to come. Not surprisingly, nearly 50% of our customers come from personal recommendations from people who have already taken a hot air balloon flight.

When you book your hot air balloon flight, you will receive a 20 page map pack, which features information about taking your balloon flight as well as information on what to wear and the balloon launch locations.

The whole balloon flight experience will last approximately 3 to 4 hours; this includes launching and packing down of the balloon, approximately 1 hour of flight time and the champagne reception and certificate presentation.

All of Adventure Balloons vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase and the date, time and location of your flight can be chosen using our date availability page. On the flight day, a range of merchandise will be available, as well as in-flight photography souvenirs for you to purchase to remember your hot air balloon experience.

The 2009 balloon season is fast approaching, so you can be sure that there will be many happy birthdays and anniversaries, as people open their presents and receive their balloon flights.

It will not only be the people who will have the chance to fly in a balloon that will be happy, the balloon spotters will also be excited in the prospect of seeing all the different shapes and sizes of hot air balloon that will be rising into the skies in 2009.

Balloon spotting has long been a popular hobby, even as far back as the first manned flights, as thousands of spectators gathered to see a glimpse of these huge dome-like structures. The number of balloon spotters is increasing each year and there is now estimated to be well over 2000 balloon spotters in the UK alone.

This growing popularity is due to the increased numbers of balloon festivals that are held all over the UK; which is one of the best ways to see a hot air balloon close up. Balloon spotter may also visit their local balloon launch site to take pictures and see the balloon up close; many balloon operators encourage spectators to watch the launching of a balloon, as long as they do not obstruct the balloon crew.

Since 2008, Adventure Balloons has been offering their hot air balloon flights over the idyllic counties of Essex, Kent and Sussex, from its exclusive launch sites. Come and enjoy the sights of one of these counties by viewing them from the heights of the balloons basket.

The balloon launch sites in Essex are situated in Chelmsford, Kelvedon, Colchester and Brentwood and offer spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, town and villages, whilst keeping out of Stansted Airport airspace.

Kent, also affectionately known as the “Garden of England” offers sweeping countryside views and a peak into the local ale industry, with Bird’s Eye views of the vast vineyards and Oast Houses that populate the area. Launch sites in Kent include Hop Farm County Park close to Tunbridge wells, Bewl Water and Lamberhurst Vineyard.

Balloon flights in Sussex are launched from the tranquil grounds of Buxted Park, and offer views of the South Coast as well as the countryside, town and villages of Sussex.

Whether you choose Essex, Kent or Sussex for your balloon flight, you will experience some of the most stunning countryside the UK has to offer, and have amble opportunities to capture some extraordinary aerial photography.

Ballooning competitions have become more and more popular over the past few years, with many of the top hot air balloon pilots flying for the top prize. A balloon competition usually consists of various tasks, which require the pilots to display their ability to fly accurately.

The hot air balloon pilots will use the wind to guide them, as the wind direction and speed can change depending on different heights. A skilled pilot will ascend and descend, according to the wind conditions to guide them to their goal.

Many of the tasks during a balloon competition will consist of dropping weights onto pre-determined markers, this can be either one or multiple markers set out over a wide area; the closer the weight is to the marker, the more points are scored. The pilot with the most points after all of the events will be the winner.

Ballooning is one of the most exciting and romantic experiences you can have, and coupled with the fantastic views of the city of London, it will be a day you’ll remember forever. Re-enact the experience of the first balloonists who flew over London nearly 200 years ago.

Although the principles of ballooning has changed little since its invention and many of London’s landmarks would have been seen by the first balloonists, there is also many modern sights to see as you float over this great city.

Due to London’s airports, there are various air traffic restrictions which mean that a hot air balloon flight in London can only take place on weekday mornings between April and August. The launch site will depend on the wind direction on the flight day and the meet up times are approximately half an hour earlier than the times shown in the map pack.

Why not do something special for a loved one today, and book a balloon flight!

Adventure Balloons runs and operates their passenger balloon flights from all over the Home Counties and London, including the fantastic countryside of South Hampshire. The balloon launch sites are situated in Alton, Winchester, Micheldever and Kingsworthy and all offer fantastic views of South Hampshire.

Care must be taken to keep the balloon away from Southampton Airport and the major shipping routes of the Solent, and the most southerly launch site will be chosen on the day of the flight, depending on the winds speed and direction.

During your flight over South Hampshire, you may be able to see sites such as small towns and villages like Whitchurch and Laverstoke, Winchester Cathedral, the Mid Hants Steam Railway and Lasham Airfield, as well as the South Coast and the Isle of Wight.

On the day of your hot air balloon flight, you will normally meet just after sunrise for a morning flight and around 4 hours before sunset for an evening flight. The wind is much calmer and cooler at these times, giving the balloon extra lift.

During your experience, you will not only get to fly in the balloon for around an hour, you will also be able to watch the preparation and packing down of the balloon, which in itself is a spectacular sight. Watch as the huge structure is inflated and the balloons burners and basket are attached before boarding and setting off on your balloon flight.

During the balloon flight, the balloon can reach up to 3,000 feet high and travel between 2 and 20 miles; depending on the wind speed and direction. Being so high, gives you the perfect opportunity to see the truly fantastic views of the surrounding area, as well as capture some spectacular aerial photographs.

After the flight, the balloon will land in the nearest field and the balloon crew will pack the balloon away. The passengers are then treated to a champagne reception and certificate presentation.