Having had over 20 years experience of being a passenger hot air balloon company, we at Adventure Balloons receive many questions about ballooning from eager customers who want to know what they should do before their flight. Here are the most common questions we are asked:

What should I wear for my balloon flight? – For your flight you should wear outdoor clothing, as if you were going for an afternoon walk in the countryside. It is advised that you refrain from wearing shorts and skirts as well as synthetic fibres and take off any loose jewellery. Hiking boots and wellingtons and recommended as fields may be damp and muddy.

Is there a limit on age and weight? – There is no higher age limit on who can fly, but we ask that passengers are able to get in and out of the basket and can stand for around an hour. Children must be over 8 years old and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum height of a passenger should be 1.4 meters, so they can see over the balloon basket and due to safety regulations passenger’s weight cannot exceed 18 stone.

What time of day does my balloon flight get under way? – This depends on what time you booked your flight for. There are usually two flights a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. The times depend on the sunrise and sunset, but generally take place at 6am and 6pm in the summer months.

What is good hot air balloon flight weather? – For a safe and successful balloon flight, there must be little or no wind, no rain and clear visibility. If we should have to cancel your balloon flight due to bad weather, a new flight date will be given to you to suit your timetable.

A hot air balloon flight voucher is an ideal gift for any occasion including birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas and really shows someone you care. Each balloon flight will last approximately 3 to 4 hours, with preparation, landing and champagne reception as well as an hour in the air.

When you order your balloon voucher you will receive a colour gift voucher to present as a gift, a 20 page map book and useful information about hot air balloon flights. The balloon voucher will be valid for 12 months after the purchase date, so you can choose exactly when you want to fly and on the flight day every passenger will receive a signed certificate from the pilot.

In-flight photography is also available for £15 and a range of balloon souvenirs can be purchased at the time of booking or on the day of the flight.

The way a hot air balloon flies is based on a very simple principal; warm air rises and cold air falls, so in order to get the balloon off the ground, heated air is pushed into the balloon until it is lighter than the cold air surrounding it creating lift.

A hot air balloon is made up of three essential parts; the balloon envelope, balloon burners and the balloon basket. Because a large amount of hot air is needed to provide enough lift so the balloon can rise and carry passengers, the balloons envelope is often very big and can hold up to 65,000 cubic feet of hot air.

The balloon envelope is made out of long nylon sections called gores, which are extremely strong and able to withstand the pressure of the heated air. The balloon envelope is often brightly coloured and displays the balloon company’s logo or advertising branding.

The burners act like the engine of the balloon, delivering hot air to the envelope when needed. To keep the hot air balloon in the sky, the balloon burners must constantly be heated to provide lift, but if the pilot wishes to land they will switch off the burners and open the parachute valve to cool the air, in turn descending the balloon.

The balloon basket is used for carrying the pilot, passengers and fuel for the balloons journey. The basket is usually made from Kooboo and Palambang, which is woven to make it extremely strong. These woven canes also absorb much of the impact when the balloon comes in to land.

Hot air ballooning has become very popular over the past three decades, and is now not only reserved for commercial use, but are accessible to hobbyists and companies looking for unique advertising platforms too.

This new found popularity is not just down to the truly remarkable experience of floating high above the ground, it is also due to the price dramatically falling, as the introduction of new technologies such as computer aided design and new materials cut manufacturing costs.

There are various sizes and shapes of hot air balloon from one man and hopper balloons, to commercial passenger balloons and even specially shaped balloons for advertising. The process of making a hot air balloon starts with the initial design.

The design is first created on a computer with special software, printed out and sent to the customer for approval. Once approved, the design is transferred to the computer controlled cutting table, where the design is cut out of special non-rip material.

The cut-out design is then sewn together using specially designed sewing machines that use unique stitches, which provide strength and durability as well as stability to the structure. The balloon or envelope as it is known in the business is then sent for final assembly, where the envelope is rigorously tested.

Once the balloon envelope has passed all of the safety and strength tests, it is sent to the customer and ready to take its maiden flight.

Hot air ballooning is the oldest form of flying and has always caused a sense of ore and inspiration as these huge structures take to the sky.

The first official hot air balloon flight was launched on the 19th September 1783, by a French scientist called Pilatre De Rozier. The first flight was unmanned, but onboard was a duck, a rooster and a sheep; the balloon flew for around 15 minutes before coming back to the ground.

It wasn’t till two months later, November 1783 that the first successful manned balloon flight took place. This time the balloon held two French brothers, Etienne and Joseph Montgolfier who flew for 20 minutes over Paris.

It is due to the endeavours of these early aeronauts that we can enjoy the delights and splendour of a modern hot air balloon flight. Why not book your balloon flight today, or treat a loved one to the unforgettable experience of a balloon ride.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of flying in a hot air balloon, or has seen them floating on the horizon will know that their large dome like structures are both spectacular and magical. The hot air balloon works on the theory that hot air rises, so when the balloon is filled with hot air it produces less mass, lifting it high up into the sky.

There are three basic parts to a hot air balloon, the actual balloon (which is referred to as the envelope), the balloon burners and the balloon basket.

The envelope is the biggest part of the balloon and has to be so large so that it can generate enough lift to carry both the pilot and the passengers.

The balloon burners produce the warm air to heat the inside of the envelope. The burners use propane gas as it is a lot safer and more fuel efficient than alternative gases.

The basket carries the pilot, gas canisters and the passengers and is usually woven from a strong and durable cane. The balloon basket is available in many different sizes, from small and intimate 3 passenger baskets up to larger 20 people baskets for communal flights.

Our customers are an inquisitive lot and always ask us a lot of questions, which is only a good thing. Here are the most common questions and answers that are asked before taking a balloon flight.

What clothes should I wear? – It is recommended that you wear sensible outdoor clothing for your balloon ride. It may be warm on the ground, but when the balloon rises up in the air it is often colder and you’ll be glad you brought your coat. The balloon will take off and land in fields that may be wet, so footwear is important; a pair of hiking boots or wellingtons will be fine.

Is there an age limit? – Children wishing to take a hot air balloon ride must be over 8 years old, and their height must be greater than 4 foot 6 inches; this is so that they can see over the side of the basket. All children under the age of 16 must also be accompanied by an adult. There is no upper age limit, but we do ask that passengers should be capable of climbing in and out of the balloon basket and to be able to stand for about an hour.

What time does the flight take place? – A hot air balloon flight takes place in the early morning or evening. This is because the weather is cooler and this helps the balloon to rise up into the air. Time depend on the sunrise and sunset, but in May you can expect the flight to take place at 6am in the morning and 6pm at night.

What is good weather for ballooning? – To have a successful balloon flight the weather must have light winds, no rain and clear visibility. As you may well know the UK is not renowned for its good weather, but if we have to cancel your flight because of the weather conditions, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible to suit you.