The Royal Aeronautical Society honoured James Sadler as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations on the 4th October. The celebrations, at Oxford Town Hall, finally honoured the first Englishman to fly in a hot air balloon.

Many people believe that he has never been celebrated previously as he wasn’t an educated man. However, on 4th October 1784, Sadler set off in his balloon from Christ Church College. He flew to around 3,600ft before he landed safely in Woodeaton, six miles away.

The great- great- great grandson of James Sadler was present at the celebrations, travelling all the way from Shropshire. Roy Sadler said that he was extremely proud of his ancestor and the recognition that he is receiving. Roy recreated the very same flight in 1984, but hasn’t flown since. He stated that he felt he had lost that connection with him, which is why attending the celebration in recognition of his achievements was so important to him.

Sadler became known as the King of Balloons, flying the hot air balloon in Cheltenham, Bristol and Birmingham. He started to experiment with balloons while he was working as a laboratory assistant at Oxford University. A new facility in Oxford is being planned, which will feature a tethered balloon like the one that he flew, while also detailing his many achievements so that his memory is preserved.

The post King of Balloons honoured more than 200 years later appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.

Whether you live in Bath or elsewhere in the UK, it is undoubtedly the perfect destination for a hot air balloon trip, due to the fact that the city has such a rich history, much of which is still evident, as well as a lot of awe-inspiring natural scenery.

There are so many sights to enjoy while sailing serenely over the skies of Bath in a hot air balloon, but naturally, there are several stand-out landmarks to enjoy. Among these are:

• The Royal Crescent
• The Roman Baths
• Alexandra Park
• Cleveland House
• The River Avon

Buying a hot air balloon ride in Bath for Christmas

Obtaining a hot air balloon in Bath as a Christmas present could not be simpler. All you need to do is purchase a flight voucher, and then you can present it to your loved on either in a simple Christmas card, or perhaps in a box filled with a helium balloon and confetti, to really get them excited on Christmas morning.

They can then use the voucher to book a hot air balloon flight in Bath on the day that best suits them, so you do not have to worry about their availability before making your purchase.

Delayed gratification

One of the best things about purchasing a hot air balloon flight in Bath as a gift, apart from the fact that it is a much more unique and exciting gift than most people would be expecting to receive, is the that it gives delayed gratification, as well as immediate satisfaction upon opening. It has been shown that when gratification s delayed, and people have to wait a while for their experience, they tend to have a much better time. This means that they will have something to look forward to, long after the thrill of Christmas is over and done with.

The post Why is a balloon ride over Bath the most magical Christmas gift? appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.

Fedor Konyukhov, who is also an orthodox priest, set out on an adventure earlier this year, when he broke the record for travelling the world in a hot air balloon. He flew solo round the world, non-stop, in a new record time of 11 days, 5 hours and 32 minutes.

The intrepid explorer has now decided he would like to fly a hot air balloon into the stratosphere. However, to be able to achieve this, the balloon will have to be 30 times larger than a regular balloon, as the air at 70,000 feet is much thinner.

Cameron Balloons will be assisting Fedor in his adventure, hoping to craft the balloon which will transport him there. Fedor is planning the new adventure already, saying:

“I always dreamt of being an astronaut. I became a balloon pilot instead but I still hold the dream of seeing the curve of the planet beneath me and the black sky of the cosmos above.”

Organisers have to raise £700,000 to be able to cover the costs before the flight can take place. Fedor hopes that the expedition will take place next year. According to the owner of Cameron Balloons, the latest technology now makes it possible to set this new record. For Fedor, this is just the latest in his series of adventures.

The post Russian priest to build world’s largest hot air balloon appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.

Hot air balloon rides

Hot air balloon rides in Bristol are a common occurrence, during hot air balloon season, which typically runs from March to October. If you’re part of, or know an adventurous couple, who love Bristol and want to explore it on style, this is the best possible Christmas gift for you. Romantic, exciting and unique, a hot air balloon flight in Bristol is a gift that will never be forgotten.

Skydiving

When it comes to Christmas presents, it doesn’t get much more adventurous than giving the gift of a skydiving experience. Of course, it takes a certain kind of couple to appreciate such an adrenaline pumping experience, but if you know a couple of full-on daredevils, we’re betting they’ll be absolutely thrilled with a skydiving voucher on Christmas morning.

A Museum trip

If skydiving is a bit too much for the couple you’re buying for, perhaps a trip to one of the many great local museums in Bristol would be a better bet. More interesting than aftershave or a book, a trip to the Bristol Museum and Art gallery or Bristol Castle House Museum will inform, entertain and excite curious couples in the city.

Photography classes

Know an arty couple? Want to buy them a Christmas present they’ll truly appreciate? You can’t go wrong with booking them an evening photography city tour, where they will learn how to shoot Bristol’s most famous landmarks under cover of night, when everything is more magical, perfect shots are easier to come by, and romance as well as art is in the air.

Paintballing vouchers

This one most certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you know a couple who are competitive and enjoy being outdoors, a paintballing experience can be fun. We can almost guarantee that the recipients, will not be expecting such an exciting, fun Christmas present this year.

So there you have it: proof that Christmas presents in Bristol, for couples, don’t have to be boring!

The post The top 5 unique Christmas gifts for couples in Bristol appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.

The Mega Swing consists of a small seat which is suspended from a 500ft long rope, tethered between two hot air balloons soaring at 6,000 feet. The stunt was performed by Marco Waltenspiel, along with Georg Lettner, Dominic Roithmair and Marco Furst.

The skydivers had a parachute on their back, and left a trail of red smoke from their ankles as they performed the stunt. They sat on the swing and then pushed themselves off from the hot air balloon, falling hundreds of feet before finally ascending towards the second balloon. The stunt, performed by the Red Bull Skydive team, was inspired by their experiences as children, playing on the playground swings. The stunt ends when the skydivers leap off the swing and freefall until they open their parachutes.

According to Lettner, the stunt is everyone’s dream of being able to fly higher and higher, before jumping off and flying. The idea was thought up by Roithmair, who described the experience as being ‘unlike any other’. The group of skydivers end the stunt by landing safely on the ground, just as the sun begins to go down.

Although the experience may be unforgettable, many people would prefer to be within the safe confines of a hot air balloon, experiencing the spectacular sights high above the ground.

The post Skydivers recreate playground days 6,000ft in the air appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.

The perfect gift

If you are looking to give a gift that is truly unique, unexpected and cherished for years to come, it has to be a hot air balloon ride in Gloucestershire. You can bet on it that anyone who receives the gift of a hot air balloon ride voucher will not leave it languishing at the back of the drawer unused and ready to re-gift next year. On the contrary, they will be thrilled when they open their present on Christmas morning, simply because they will not be expecting such an exciting and unusual gift as a hot air balloon ride through one of the UK’s most beautiful counties.

Why Gloucestershire?

The answer is a simple one – Gloucestershire is one of the most beautiful and unique counties in the whole of the UK, with something to offer everyone, no matter what they’re into.

For example, Gloucestershire is home to some of the best areas of natural beauty in the whole of Britain, including the Cotswolds, the River Avon and the Forest of Dean, where you can spot wild boar, ancient trees and a whole host of other flora and fauna. This means that it is a great place for nature lovers and budding photographers to take a flight.

Gloucestershire also encompasses a lot of historically significant sites of interest from Chedworth Roman Villa to Prinknash Abbey, which will be of interest to history and architecture buffs alike.

It is also fair to say that the weather in Gloucestershire, during hot air balloon season, tends to be better for hot air balloon flights UK than a lot of other destinations in the UK. This means that it is much more likely that recipients of a hot air balloon gift voucher this Christmas will be able to pick their perfect time for a flight, avoiding any predicted bad weather and ensuring that they are able to enjoy soaring through the skies of Gloucestershire at a time that is most convenient for them.

The post Need a unique Christmas gift in Gloucestershire? Book a hot air balloon flight appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.

The event was scheduled on the Sunday and Monday of the weekend, with a variety of entertainment planned for guests, in addition to the balloons themselves. Although many of the attendees had paid for balloon flights, the balloon-maestro had to cancel them due to inclement weather. The guests who had paid for a balloon ride received a refund, while the operators set about organising plan B.

Although there was a ban on flights, the festival operators organised a night glow, which involved all the balloons being lit up with the fire which keeps them afloat. As the balloons were tethered and secured using cars and weights, attendees at the festival were able to get up close to the balloons, experiencing the intense heat from the burners. Some of the balloons were set up so that visitors could see the 20-foot-high flames which erupted from the heat emitters once protection had been put in place.

As the balloon operators were preparing their balloons for the festival, food trucks, vendors and entertainers were busy keeping the guests happy with music, food and games, including a velociraptor who liked posing for photos.

As Balloons Around the World Day was on 5th October, there may be more festivals taking place around the world, to celebrate the increasing popularity of the hot air balloon. Taking a balloon flight is a great way to see the world from a new perspective.

The post Labor Day weekend full of hot air balloons appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.

This was the first occasion that a hot air balloon has taken off from a parkland location in a city. The balloon flight was conducted by Nottingham and Derby Hot Air Balloon Club members, from Bass’s Recreation Ground in Derby, on Saturday, October 1.

Speaking prior to the event, the publicity officer of the balloon club, Robin Macey, said that hot air balloons rarely take off from a city centre location. He added that about 17 years earlier, a balloon had lifted off from the Market Place, which is outside the Assembly Rooms. He had managed to capture some amazing photographs from that experience and was hoping to do the same this time, including some aerial views of Derby.

Prior to the event, permission had to be granted from officials of Derby City Council, so that the balloons could take off from the recreation ground. In addition, the pilots had to inform East Midlands Airport to ensure that they were aware of the event. As the location for take-off was so close to the flight corridor, there was a danger of being blown towards the EMA flight path, so the pilots had to ensure that the weather conditions were safe and that there was a northerly breeze.

Nottingham and Derby Hot Air Balloon Club does not offer commercial balloon rides, but members of the public are permitted to apply for membership. The organisation is nonprofit and has two balloons, set up in 1978.

The post Hot air balloons make Derby history appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.

Evelyn Jansma turned 100 years old on 23rd October last year. Her grandson, Terry Visser, said that he had arranged a balloon flight for her, although it only took place recently, 10 months after her birthday.

Visser contacted a hot air balloon company, Michigan Balloon Adventures, explaining that the ride was to celebrate his grandmother’s 100th birthday. On hearing this news, the balloon company offered the balloon ride free of charge.

Although Jansma is now approaching the age of 101, it proved to be better late than never. Just recently, Jansma and her friends and family gathered in a field where the balloon was lowered. Prior to boarding the balloon, Jansma said that she was so excited as she had been looking forward to the balloon ride for a long time. Her grandson contacted her the Saturday before the flight to let her know that it was scheduled for the following week.

The centenarian was lifted into the balloon basket, where a seat had been placed for her to sit on during the ride. The pilot of the balloon, Tom Burgeon, took the balloon up into the air for around 40 minutes before landing again.

According to Visser, the birthday balloon flight was the ultimate gift, and seeing his grandmother look so happy was priceless. The pilot told her that the next free balloon ride would be offered when she turns 110.

The post Grand Rapids resident celebrates century in a hot air balloon appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.

Hot air balloon trips

There is no denying that the countryside in and around Hampshire is amongst the most beautiful in the whole of the UK, which possibly why hot air balloon trips in the county are so popular. Typically, hot air balloon flights in Hampshire are available from March until the last days of October, so it is perfectly possible to get up in the air and explore the beautiful county, and its treasures, during the Halloween month, and doing so can be extremely atmospheric.

New Forest Walking Festival

Once you’re back down to earth following your hot air balloon ride, you may want to get yourself along to the New Forest Walking Festival, where you can explore some of the most beautiful land in the country on foot.

The festival takes place on the 15th-30th October, and consists on no less than 80 walks, all led by experts, who will be able to point out some of the most interesting sights in the forest. Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover, or you simply want to enjoy a pleasant family stroll, there will be at least one guided walk in the New Forest to meet your needs.

New Forest Food and Drink Festival

If fine food and great wine are more your thing, then you absolutely must make the time to visit the New Forest Food and Drink Festival, which takes place on 30th October until 6th November. Not only will you be able to sample some of the finest delicacies the British Isles have to offer, but you will get to do so in the stunning surroundings of the New Forest.

As well as there being plenty of good food and drink to sample, the festival will also feature skills workshops, and a farmers market showcasing the best produce the county has to offer.

The post Three things to do in Hampshire in October appeared first on Balloons Over Britain.