As a hot air balloon can be seen from a distance and dominates its surrounding skyline, many companies are now turning to balloons as an advertising platform, where they can advertise their new and existing products and services. This is not a new concept; it has been around for many years and has been proven to have more longevity than traditional radio and newspaper advertisements.

Due to the technological advances in hot air balloon manufacture, a balloon can now be made to various different shapes and sizes, many of which can be seen at the numerous hot air balloon festivals held throughout the UK each year.

Balloons that are used for advertising are typically standard shaped balloons with the company’s logo or product on the side, but there is a growing trend to build special shaped balloons for a specific product, which are often larger and more extravagant than standard balloons and hold people’s attention for longer.

Some companies also feature hot air balloons in their TV advertisements including, Honda, Xbox and Land Rover, which adds a new dimension to their adverts and provides them with an alternative means of advertising, long after the TV advertising campaign has finished.

The Easter holiday period is coming and what better way to spend it than by booking a hot air balloon flight for you and a loved one. Adventure Balloons makes it easy to choose your balloon flight with their balloon availability page, where you can choose the date, location and time of your flight to suit you; all balloon vouchers are valid for 12 months from the purchase date.

Adventure Balloons own and operate over eight hot air balloons throughout the Home Counties and London, from its exclusive launch sites in Kent, Sussex, Essex, Surrey, Reading, Hampshire, Oxford and London and can provide you with a truly unforgettable day.

The whole balloon flight experience will last for approximately 3-4 hours, including 1 hour of flight time; this takes into account the inflation and packing away of the balloon as well as the champagne reception and certificate presentation.

A hot air balloon flight gives you an opportunity to capture some fantastic aerial photograph and in-flight photographs are available for £15 from our range of flight souvenirs.

Being part of a successful passenger balloon flight company is a joy and a privilege, but with the balloon season fast approaching, all of the balloon equipment must be checked and serviced as part of our safety program. Each balloon and its equipment is checked by trained inspectors, who check everything from the balloon envelope, burners and the balloon baskets to ensure that everything is in tip top shape.

As there was a new European legislation concerning balloon maintenance for 2009, we decided to call our old friend and technical partner Simon Forse to guide us through the changes. Simon is the managing director of Lindstrand Balloons, which make all of our hot air balloons and he helped us through the new legislation and safety checks.

All of the balloons passed with flying colours and are now ready to take passengers on their unforgettable hot air balloon flights throughout the South East of England.

The tenth anniversary of one of the most important aviation flights of all time took place last week. March the 21st 1999 saw the first people ever to circumnavigate the world non-stop in a balloon; these two adventurers were Britain Brain Jones and Swiss Bertrand Piccard.

The balloon, called the Breitling Orbiter 3 was a Rozier balloon and combined features of both a hot air balloon and a gas balloon; a helium core inside a hot air envelope. The two adventurers and the balloon travelled a distance of 45,633 km (28,355 miles) reaching speeds of up to 150mph and altitudes of nearly 37,000 feet.

The balloon took off from the Swiss village of Château-d’Oex on March the 1st 1999 and landed in the Egyptian dessert 19 days, 21 hours and 47 minutes later on March the 21st; during the flight the balloon and its crew broke seven world records including altitude, speed, duration and distance, some of which still stand today.

Choosing the right present for a loved one on a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary can be tricky, but with a hot air balloon flight from Adventure Balloons, you can buy an unforgettable experience for the one you love.

With balloon launch sites throughout the South East of England, Adventure Balloons can offer a fantastic day out for the whole family. Balloon flights are available in the Home Counties and London including flights over the exquisite county of Surrey.

Launch sites in Surrey are situated in Guildford, Godalming and Farnham and offer truly spectacular views of the Surrey countryside. Because Surrey is a small county, the pilot has the challenge of keeping out of restricted airspace around Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as making it an enjoyable flight for the passengers. The launch site will be chosen depending on the wind speed and direction on the flight day.

Sites that you might see on a hot air balloon flight over Surrey are: the ruins of Waverley Abbey, Guildford Cathedral and Farnham Castle, as well as small villages and towns like Churt and Puttenham and stately homes like Loseley House and Hampton Court Palace (Henry VIII’s royal residence).

Hot air balloon vouchers are available online and a date and time can be chosen through the date availability page. For more information visit the Adventure Balloons website.

Taking a hot air balloon ride on a hot summers day over the English countryside is an owe inspiring experience, and is the perfect gift for a loved one on a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary or wedding present.

Adventure Balloons has over 20 years experience of flying passenger hot air balloons and offer flights all over the South of England including the tranquil, yet beautiful county of Berkshire. With its launch sites in Reading and Padworth Village, with alternative sites at Prospect Park and Kings Meadow, Adventure Balloons can make it a day to remember.

Many of our customers are local to the area in which they are flying; this gives them a birdseye view of where they live and the surrounding area, which can also add to the experience. During a balloon flight over Berkshire, you can expect to see such aerial attractions as the Caversham Marina in Reading, boats on the river Thames and small towns and villages like Henley on Thames, Streatlet and Wokingham.

If you have purchased a hot air balloon voucher for a loved one, you can always wave them off by coming along to the launch site and watch as the huge, dome like structure slowly rises into the sky.

Nothing can beat the experience of a hot air balloon flight, and with over 20 years of passenger balloon experience, Adventure Balloons can make your day unforgettable. With various flight locations over the South East of England, Adventure Balloons is also one of the few balloon companies able to fly over London.

Because of the various airports and air traffic restrictions over London, a balloon flight can only take place on weekday mornings and if the weather and wind direction are suitable for flight. There must be sufficient wind that the balloon can land safely away from built up areas.

The hot air balloon launch site in London is a couple of miles away from the Tower of London and the Thames, and gives passengers the spectacular site that this famous city has to offer. During a balloon flight over London, you can expect to see historic buildings such as Buckingham Palace and St. Pauls Cathedral, as well as London’s modern attractions like the London Eye and the building work on the site for the 2012 London Olympics.

The official start to the ballooning season starts at the end of this month, and with the summer weather coming, it’s sure to be a great season. Adventure Balloons flights in the Home Counties will begin on the 29th of March, with some alternative areas starting in early April, and is a great experience for the whole family.

The balloons are already filling up with people who want to be one of the first to fly in the new balloon season, but with the our balloon flight availability page you can check to see if your preferred flight date is available before you order. The date availability page can also be used for choosing a flight location, the time of your flight (morning or evening) and how many people you want to fly, making it easy to choose the right balloon flight.

One of the most popular areas that Adventure Balloons fly in is Oxford, due to its historic spires and fantastic countryside. Adventure Balloons has been offering balloon flights in Oxford since 1995 from its launch sites at South Park and Cutteslowe Park, which both offer fantastic views of the Oxfordshire countryside and the historic city itself.

Experience the sights and sounds of a hot air balloon flight by ordering your balloon voucher today!

With Mothers Day fast approaching, what better way to treat your mum and show her how much you care by booking her a once in a lifetime experience of a hot air balloon flight. Choose from one of the Adventure Balloons launch sites situated throughout the Home Counties and London and watch as the balloon slowly rises into the sky.

Balloon flights are available in the morning or the evening and typically last for around 3-4 hours for the whole experience; this includes the launching and packing away of the balloon, champagne reception and approximately 1 hour of in-flight time. Spectators are welcomed to watch the balloon launch, as long as they do not interfere with the balloon crews activities and every balloon passenger will receive a certificate signed by the pilot at the champagne reception.

A hot air balloon ride is a fantastic experience and with the tranquil views and aerial photography, the memories and photographs will be treasured for many years. If you book your hot air balloon flight today you can choose the date and time of your flight with the date availability page.

Adventure Balloons was established in 1985 and first took to the skies in April, making it one of the few companies to offer passenger hot air balloon flights in the UK. As demand grew for our flights, the company added a second, four person balloon in 1988 followed by several more balloons over the next few years.

Adventure Balloons is now one of the biggest passenger balloon companies operating in the UK, with seven hot air balloons that are capable of carrying between 4 and 16 people and various launch sites in the Home Counties and London.

As our balloons got bigger and could carry more passengers, we began to work closely with balloon manufacturers to improve both the safety and the enjoyment to our customers and the pilot. This is why our balloon baskets have partitions; this not only separates the fuel and pilot from the passengers, it also strengthens the basket and adds another safety feature when coming in to land.

The experience of a hot air balloon flight is magical and romantic and will be remembered for many years. Whatever the occasion, Adventure Balloons can cater for any needs you might have and with over 20 year experience can ensure you have an unforgettable day.