| The original way to fly from the first known | | | | So if you book a balloon trip and its early in the |
| flights of the Montgolfier brothers to more recent | | | | morning don't forget it can very cold at altitude |
| pioneers like Sir Richard Branson's record breaking | | | | sensible clothing and a woolly hat are |
| flights Hot air Ballooning is one of the most | | | | recommended items. Listen carefully to the |
| fascinating sports to participate in. | | | | safety brief from the balloon centre paying |
| Hot air ballooning is probably the slowest way to | | | | attention often makes for a safe landing. |
| fly and probably not the safest but as far as | | | | Knowing what to expect does not prepare you |
| being the most spectacular it's hard to beat. | | | | for the feeling seeing the burner heating the |
| Booking a hot air balloon ride is fairly easy and | | | | balloon and standing in the basket waiting for the |
| common there are lots of Hot Air Balloon | | | | lift off which is carefully controlled by the pilot to |
| company's providing excellent flying experience. | | | | be smooth as not to rise too rapidly. |
| Before taking the plunge and booking a flight | | | | Once in the air the you see the world from a |
| check out the company and it's pilots experience | | | | totally unexpected way as you glide almost |
| as making sure the company has been certified | | | | silently across the land. Some countries that have |
| by the CAA and the pilots are qualified and have | | | | wild animals this is one the greatest ways of |
| a good safety record. | | | | seeing wildlife in the natural stat without disturbing |
| I started off going to Hot Air Balloon festivals | | | | them. |
| there are some great shows around UK, Europe | | | | Having been on many balloon rides in the UK and |
| and the States the biggest being the Albuquerque | | | | Europe as well as Africa I can recommend that |
| International Balloon Fiesta which is held in October | | | | this is an experience that you will never forget. |
| every year. In Britain we have 2 good Hot Air | | | | However on the one in Africa I was a little pre |
| Balloon festivals the biggest being the Bristol | | | | occupied with not coming down in a heard of lions |
| Balloon Festival and it was great lots to do and | | | | or something else. Fortunately as you will find out |
| see as well multiple Balloon launches over two | | | | the balloons are tracked with GPS so that the |
| hundred balloons took part. | | | | support vehicle so that they can quickly pack up |
| Hot Air Balloons come in a lot of different shapes | | | | the Hot Air Balloon when it lands. |
| and sizes depending on the usage the really large | | | | A hot air balloon is steered by the pilot |
| ones are used to carry more people and | | | | understanding that air at different heights moves |
| sometimes you can see these saw for miles as | | | | in different directions and the pilots skill is to |
| they must contain the ability to carry more | | | | interpret the weather for the day and adjust the |
| weight and more fuel on board. | | | | height of the balloon to go in the correct direction |
| Hot Air Balloons are difficult to pilot and must be | | | | for the day's planned flight. |
| flown in the early morning or in the evening as | | | | Riding the skies at dusk and dawn is a real thrill |
| these are the times that the air is most still and | | | | and looking down at our busy way of life while |
| manageable for the pilot. During the day there can | | | | drifting across the sky makes for a real fun day |
| be too much interference from thermals lots of | | | | out. I urge you to put this on one of your to do |
| hot air rising that can cause the hot air balloon to | | | | before you die lists and get out there and cloud |
| be unstable. | | | | hop across sky. |