The weather recently has been rather confusing. At a time of year when people start to think about putting the heating on in their houses and digging out that winter blanket the UK has been basking in a true Indian summer. With beautifully clear blue skies and high pressure bringing light winds and perfect balloon …
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One of the most commonly asked questions you get as a balloon pilot is simply “How did you get into ballooning?”. I have an equally simple answer – my father, James, is also a pilot! I grew up going ballooning with my dad. Becoming more and more passionate and, to some extent, obsessed with each passing flight. …
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We’ve reached that time of year when the weather starts to take a turn for the worse and people begin to reach for the bobble hats and woolly jumpers. Hot air ballooning is a year-round activity but being weather dependent, the chances to fly become fewer and fewer as winter takes hold and our weather becomes …
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Each year in August, Bristol plays host to the UK’s largest hot air balloon meet. With over 100 balloons and 500,000 spectators, the largest free outdoor event in the UK, from a ballooning point of view it’s simply 4 long days entertaining clients and the public alike over the skies of Bristol. For the past …
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Every August balloonists from all over the Thames Valley descend on Streatley Recreation Ground to inflate their balloons at dusk when they glow like giant lightbulbs for the enjoyment of the local villagers. The nightglow was orginally started as a way for the local balloonist to say thank you to the village for allowing us …
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In the same way that there are many different types and sizes of car, there are as many diferent types and sizes of hot air balloons. For me, one of my absolutely favourites, are the small one man balloons known as cloudhoppers. Where the traditional wicker basket is replaced with a simple seat for the …
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Arguably one of the best jobs I’ve ever done at probably the most famous location I’ve tethered a balloon. My month of working exclusively on the Palletways balloons for Lindstrand Balloons comes to an end with an evening of tethering at Pinewood Studios. Palletways were holding a James Bond themed evening at Pinewood and so to …
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I’m used to appearing in the media thanks to flying sponsored balloons for Lindstrand Balloons and Airship & Balloon Company, where getting clients balloons into the press is part of the job. After all, the balloon is an advertising medium; but I got a pleasant surprise when the June issue of my local parish magazine arrived …
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One of the things I love the most about flying hot air balloons for companies is the wide variety of jobs that I get sent to do. Scotland, showed this better than any other job I’ve done this year. The plan was simple, spend 4 days in Scotland split 50/50 between Glasgow and Edinburgh. On …
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There are some events that you just want to do, and the Bath & West Show is one of them for me. Not only is it one of the best agricultural shows in the country, but you also have some stunning countryside to fly over including the Glastonbury Festival site – a few weeks before the festival when …
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