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.

Here at Adventure Balloons we get asked a lot of questions, so we thought we would answer a few of them.

What do I wear? – This is the most common question. You should wear sensible outdoor clothing and wear no loose jewellery, with either hiking boots or wellingtons as the fields may be damp. Also a hat would be handy to protect you from the heat of the burners.

Is there an age limit? – No, but riding in a Hot Air Balloon is a type of outdoor sport, so requires some degree of fitness. You must be able to climb in and out of the basket and will be required to stand for about an hour. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and it is recommended that their height be over 4’6” to be able to see over the side of the basket.

What time of day do we meet? – Adventure Balloons fly in the early mornings or evenings and times vary due to the sunrise and sunset. Normally throughout May, meeting times are 6am for morning rides and 6pm for evening rides.

What is good ballooning weather? – For a successful balloon ride the weather must have light winds, no rain and good visibility. If a balloon flight is cancelled due to bad weather, it will be rescheduled to suit your timetable.

How do I book my balloon flight? – If you own a credit or debit card you can order your flight online, but we also take bookings by fax and telephone. If you would prefer to pay for it by cheque, you can print out a booking form and send it to us. Gift vouches can be purchased at anytime through the Adventure Balloons website.