If you’re reading this then I’m guessing you’re toying with the idea of hot air ballooning. Many people purchase a hot air ballooning trip for themselves as a sort ‘life ambition gift’. Most of us dream of hot air ballooning one day and sadly a great deal of those will never actually fulfil the goal; it gets put off and put off until frankly, it’s just too late. Those of us who take the leap and join the world of ballooning then realise just why so many of us Brits dream of taking to the skies in this way. It is an experience like no other, exhilarating, breathtaking, relaxing, inspirational, euphoric, tranquil and emotional even. Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?

Ballooning is also a gift given to others. This could be as a birthday present, anniversary surprise, congratulations or reward gift, a romantic gesture, a Christmas present; for many their doesn’t have to be a reason! To receive those ‘golden’ tickets that will allow you the life time chance of taking to the skies in a hot air balloon, is in itself an exciting thing. Just picture the look on their face when they realise what’s in store for them!

At Adventure Balloons we cover various flight locations across Britain, for example Oxford, Reading, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Watford, Tring, London, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Guildford, Farnham, Godalming, West Meon, Alton, Winchester, Kent, Sussex and Essex.

Our south Hampshire area is one of our most popular spots. Flying from Anstey Park in Alton, from West Meon, from Micheldever near the railway station and from the City of Winchester, there’s plenty of ‘flight paths’ to choose from. However do bear in mind, the exact course you end up taking is completely wind dependent! Our customers commonly see the impressive Winchester Cathedral and are in awe of its staggering beauty from above! Be seduced by the rolling Hampshire countryside, the River Test, the pretty little villages such as Laverstoke, Whitchurch, and the Candovers. You can often see the large estates of Leckford on the River Test where Waitrose produce a lot of their food, the Mid Hants Steam Railway that runs from Alton to Alresford, and many a time we’ve had the rather unusual experience of seeing a glider circling around Lasham airfield, or microlights flying from Popham airfield.

Book your chance to fly in a hot air balloon with Adventure Balloons and you will receieve a 12 month voucher which will entitle you to select your date from anytime (depending on which voucher you buy) over the 12 months following purchase! Book online or call us on 01252 844222.

Hot air balloons really are marvellous pieces of equipment aren’t they?  But did you know, the material that makes up the balloon is actually called the envelope. 

The envelope itself is constructed from long nylon sections called gores, which extend from the base of the balloon envelope to the crown (the top) and are made up of many smaller panels. The bottom two thirds of the envelope is normally made from a combination of nylon or polyester, the same material that parachutes are made of.  It is very tightly woven and is coated with a material that makes it extremely air tight and durable.  Nylon works very well in balloons because it is lightweight, but it is also fairly sturdy and has a high melting temperature.

The bottom part of the envelope is called the “skirt” and is made from a material called Nomex, which is an industry standard flame resistant material used in other industries such as Formula 1 Racing.  It is used near the mouth (base) of the balloon envelope as this is area prone to the most heat from the burner.

The top of the balloon envelope is made from a material known as Hyperlast which has been around for many years and is generally used in the top third of the balloon envelope.  It is very strong material as the nylon base fabric is woven from a heavier yarn, and therefore it is a more desirable material to use. Also Hyperlast has a silicone coating added to both sides of the fabric which helps to protect the envelope from the growth of mould or fungi.

So now you know a bit about the balloon envelope, why not see it for yourself?  Adventure Balloons offer flights in their fantastic hot air balloons and they are currently offering excellent discounts on many flight vouchers so make sure to snap them up quickly!

Are you one of those people who like to understand how something works before placing your trust into it?  I am one of those people and when it comes to flying in a hot air balloon, I would like to understand the concepts of how a balloon actually works before getting into one and taking off.  Balloon flying is based on the simple scientific principle of warm air rising and cooler air sinking.  Hot air balloons are incredibly large and need an awful lot of hot air to make them rise.  For example, to lift 450kg worth of weight you would need almost 65,000 cubic feet of heated air! 

Hot air balloons are made up of three parts;  the envelope (which is the balloon fabric), the burner (which propels the heat up inside the envelope) and the basket to hold the pilot and passengers in.  When the burner is used, propane gas heats up the air inside the balloon which causes it to rise.  In order to make the balloon descend, hot air is allowed to escape the balloon through a valve on the top of the envelope.  This valve is attached to a cord which the pilot will tug on to allow the air to escape.  Balloons move in the direction of the wind but as you travel higher through the atmosphere, air currents and wind direction changes.  If the pilot wishes to move the balloon in a particular direction, the pilot will ascend or descend the balloon to the appropriate level and then ride with the wind.  This is however limited to the variation in wind direction on the day which may only be 10 degrees and may not be consistent.

Now that you know how a balloon works, why not book your dream flight today so you can experience the wonders of flying for yourself?  Adventure Balloons have several fantastic locations to choose from and with limited discounts on their flight vouchers, you’d be mad to miss it!

Being a hot air balloon pilot needs skill and knowledge of weather and wind conditions. Before the balloons launch, the pilot will be in contact with the local weather station getting relevant information on wind speeds and climate changes in the surrounding area; this ensures that the weather conditions are ideal for ballooning and the balloon can be launched.

Because a hot air balloon works on the principle that hot air rises, to make to balloon ascend the pilot fires the balloons burners to fill the envelope with hot air; the longer the pilot fires the burners the higher the balloon rises into the air.

To make the balloon descend the pilot lets out some of the hot air; this is done in two ways, either by using the burners less frequently or by pulling the parachute valve. The parachute valve is a circle of fabric that overlaps a cut out at the top of the balloon envelope, when the valve is opened it lets out some of the hot air making the balloon descend towards the ground.

Because a hot air balloon is not manually steered by the pilot, but travels with the wind, the pilot must use their knowledge of the wind to their advantage. Wind blows in different directions at different altitudes, so to manoeuvre the balloon to different locations the pilot will ascend and descend to the right altitude and ride with the wind.

The main body of a hot air balloon is often referred to as the Balloon Envelope and is made from hundreds of different panels called gores. Although comprising of hundreds of gores, the balloon envelope has three distinct sections, the bottom or skirt, the middle, and the top which is also known as the Hyperlast.

The bottom of the envelope or skirt is the closest to the balloons burners and is made from a heat resistant fabric called Nomex. This fabric is the standard used in most hot air balloon envelopes and is flame and heat resistant. Nomex is also used in a range of high-temperature applications such as NASCAR racing and for firefighters clothing.

The biggest part of the envelope, which consists of the bottom two thirds, is made up of a combination of polyester and nylon. The fabric is tightly woven and is virtually air tight; this allows the balloon to fill with air to provide lift. Polyester and nylon are used because they are very light and durable and both have a high melting temperature, making it ideal for the envelopes structure.

The top third of the hot air balloon is called the Hyperlast and is made from a heavier nylon yarn. This makes the Hyperlast extremely strong. Added to this section is a special silicone coating that protects the balloon from mould and fungi growth.