Are you looking for a new adventure, a challenge, some way of taking your love of the outdoors to a new extreme? Maybe you’re on your travels and are looking for something to keep you busy over the summer holidays or alternatively you’ve just come out of full time education, have finally completed your degree and are now on a quest for new opportunities? Perhaps you just love being outdoors and find all the fresh air helps you sleep at night (not to mention you enjoy the bronze glow it gives you at this time of year). Well what would you say if I told you that we can offer you exactly what you’re looking for and pay you for it?! Sound good? Then read on…

Her at Adventure Balloons we take great pride in offering the best hot air ballooning service across locations Oxfordshire, York, Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, London, Essex, Kent, Sussex, South Hampshire, North Hampshire and Surrey and are always looking to recruit suitable candidates to fulfil our summer ground crew requirements. It is thanks to the seasonal nature of ballooning that we require both full and part time staff to work at our launch sites as ground crew. If you’re available in locations Hartley Wintney, North Hampshire, Hemel Hempstead and Hertfordshire, then this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

We’re looking for the outdoor type, candidates who are physically fit, sociable and well mannered. Ideally new recruits will be competent with minibuses, 4 x 4’s and trailers, plus navigational skills will be advantageous! It is essential that all applicants have 3 years clean licence and are over the age of 25. Plus along with a full UK driving license you will also need to have Categories B+E on your driving license (shown alongside the pictures on the reverse of your photo id license) to enable you to tow our balloon trailers which are generally over 750kg.

So, if you’re available during our season from April to October and are looking for employment, we have vacancies throughout the entire season. Flexibility is a must as we will require you to work weekends and weekday evenings. Our full time recruits can expect a fixed weekly rate plus bonuses and also enjoy the opportunity to take on extra hours for additional pay.

To apply for employment at Adventure Balloons, send your CV to sales@adventureballoons.co.uk.

Have you ever been travelling along a country lane, gazing out of the car window at all the beautiful rolling hills and stunning sights, idyllic villages and grazing animals, when your eyes locked upon a glorious hot air balloon? Drifting in the sky, just low enough to see the flame which keeps it up, the stunning sight urges you to wind down your window and you can hear the roar of the burner. Close your eyes and you can imagine that it’s you up there in the balloon, blowing gracefully over rivers and castles, the patchwork quilt of farmlands and tranquil countryside. What better way to relax and unwind than in a hot air balloon.

At many fairs and fates, carnivals and outdoor events, you will see tethered balloon rides, with queues that reach all around the entire events fields and for a price that you didn’t think to draw out at the cash point before you packed the family into the car! Another opportunity missed. Many people spend their lives dreaming about having a hot air balloon experience only never actually get the opportunity to put the idea into reality. Well maybe it’s time to stop dreaming and make this wonderful thought into reality for a loved one or for you!

At Adventure Balloons we specialise in creating the perfect hot air balloon ride for all kinds of different demands. Maybe you have a party of people who are looking for an adventure, some exhilarating fun? Or maybe you’re a couple who are celebrating years of marriage or togetherness and would like a romantic flight to mark the occasion? Alternatively your son or daughter, friend or relative is celebrating their 16^th, 18^th, 21^st, 30^th, whatever ‘th’ and you’d like to surprise them with the most awesome birthday gift…a hot air balloon ride in one of our birthday balloons?

Whatever the event we can tailor the ride to suite your needs. With champagne toasts, friendly pilots and opportunities to really get involved in the preparation and days events, plus balloons for two to balloons for 16 and a whole bushel of different locations to choose from, Adventure Balloons offers the whole kit and caboodle! You can book online, check out available dates, or simply call us on 01252 844222 where one of our team will be very happy to hear from you.

Hot Air Ballooning is a sport that started with man’s very first flight in 1783, and we have been operating since 1985. Most of Adventure Balloons customers come from personal recommendation so we have been doing it right since then and we still are. Flying aboard a hot air balloon is a magical experience, just drifting gently with the breeze. With all hot air balloons, there are three main components; the basket, which is usually made of wicker or cane; the burners, these ignite the gas and produce the heat source and the envelope.

The Pilot will inflate the balloon with the use of a fan and warm the cold air gently by igniting the burners. When the balloon is inflated and the passengers are aboard the balloon is ready to fly. To ascend, the Pilot will heat the air in the balloon envelope and to descend, he will allow it to cool and gently float down to earth. You are on your way to the thrill of a lifetime, sit back and enjoy it!

A hot air balloon flight is the most romantic way to fly, especially if you’re with a loved one and will give you a magical experience that will be remembered for many years. Ballooning has its own unique feeling, of rising majestically into the sky and the sense of the ground simply dropping away, which is very different to what the passengers expect.

As you look up into the balloon from the safety of the wicker balloon basket, the bright and vibrant panels, coupled with the huge dome like structure is truly breathtaking.

The hot air balloon flight lasts around an hour and the balloon can travel up to 20 miles, depending on the wind and ascend up to 30,000 feet up in the air. This gives superb views of the countryside, towns and villages and local landmarks, which also provides an ample chance to capture some great aerial photographs.

If you should so wish, you can also help the balloon crew prepare for the flight and pack the balloon away, before relaxing with a glass of champagne at the certificate ceremony.

Safari’s in Africa have always been popular with tourists, but becoming more and more popular is the hot air balloon safari, which not only gives the tourists an astonishing view of the African landscape, it also gives a unique perspective of the wildlife in and around the national game parks.

During the English wintertime when it is not possible to fly a hot air balloon in the UK, many pilots go to work on hot air balloons in Kenya. This not only provides them an understanding of various weather conditions, it also gives them the experience of flying somewhere new.

Balloon flights in Kenya are predominately made during the morning, as afternoon and evening flights are not possible because of high winds. It also gets dark quickly and this can cause problems when trying to land.

There can be up to 4 balloons taking off at the same time and each balloon can carry 12 passengers or more. The launching of the balloon is the same as in the UK; first the weather is checked to see if it is suitable to fly, the balloon crew prepares the balloon, final checks are made and the balloon is launched.

The balloon flight will typically last for about an hour, depending on the weather and gives the passengers an unforgettable view of the African landscape and of course the wildlife and gives ample opportunities to photograph the stunning scenery to treasure for years to come.

Before a hot air balloon can take to the skies, the Adventure Balloons team has various safety checks to perform. Whilst the balloon crew are preparing the balloon the passengers have a safety briefing, where they can ask questions about any worries or concerns they have.

The balloon pilot will examine the weather, to ensure optimum flying conditions and will also select the best launch site. Visibility and wind speeds are key issues for a successful balloon flight and the launch site must have enough space to lay the balloon out and inflate it without any obstructions, like poles, power-lines or trees.

Every aspect of the hot air balloon is safe. The fabric used for the balloon envelope is a mixture of nylon and polyester and is very strong, and Nomex is used near the burners as it is flame resistant. The amount of fuel onboard is also taken into account, taking care not to overload the balloon as this could be hazardous.

The balloon basket that carries the pilot and passengers is also extremely safe. Woven from Kooboo and Palambang, these baskets are sturdy and lightweight, and are capable of absorbing the impact of a landing without sustaining any damage.

Adventure Balloons are committed to the safety and enjoyment for all of their hot air balloon passengers, and believes that flight safety comes first.

Before you are taken high above the English countryside on you’re hot air balloon ride, you will be invited to take part in the pre-flight preparation of the balloon. Although nothing can beat the experience of majestically flying above the beautiful landscape, the balloons preparation can be an impressive show for both passengers and spectators.

You can watch as the balloons envelope is taken out of its relatively small bag, laid out at the launch site and inflated into its massive dome like structure, which happens quicker than you can imagine. Once the balloon is inflated enough the basket is attached and the burners fitted. It is then only a matter of minutes until you are experiencing the unique and spectacular activity of ballooning.

The preparation of the hot air balloon takes about an hour, with a similar time to pack it away after flight. The balloon flight usually lasts for about an hour, so you should allow 3 to 4 hours for the whole experience.