Comments (0)

By Rob, May 2, 2013 2:49 pm

We’ve got plenty of sunshine at our Shropshire HQ at the moment and it seems our flyers have been enjoying the fine weather too.

On Saturday 20th April pilot Gavin Chadwick flew thirteen passengers from historic Berrington Hall in Herefordshire and lucky for us he got a few photographs from the flight.

If you can’t think of anything better than sipping Champagne after a balloon flight at Berrington Hall, Herefordshire or any of our other 100+ sites across the UK please visit us at www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 0844 844 8080

Comments (0)

By Rob, April 26, 2013 12:20 pm

Given the recent ‘Great’ British weather, it’s not everyday that holidaymakers at beautiful Offenham Holiday Park in the Vale of Evesham have something bright in the sky. However, last week those enjoying Evesham’s green surroundings had the pleasure of the shining sun and a bright red Virgin balloon above them.

Last Saturday Virgin Balloon Flights pilot Russell Collins flew north east from Evesham’s Crown Meadow taking in the sights of the River Avon including Offenham Park where holidaymakers got a close-up view of the balloon in flight; waves were exchanged and many a photo taken. We would like to thank Vernon Lloyd for sending in these fantastic photo’s.

“We had a beautiful flight out of Evesham, flying over the river Avon. We were waving and everyone was taking lots of photo’s. I even called down that they should send them in to Virgin Balloon flights and lo and behold they have, excellent!” – Pilot Russell Collins

To find out more about Virgin Balloon Flights from Evesham or any of our other sites across the UK please visit www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 0844 844 8080.

Comments (0)

By Kirsty, April 8, 2013 9:59 am

It’s not uncommon to celebrate a birthday with balloons, but Jessica Bill celebrated her 24^th aboard a 100 foot tall hot air balloon floating 3000 feet up in the sky.

Jess and boyfriend of two years, Nick Crosby, 29, from Gamston, took to the skies from Stoke Rochford Hall, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in an iconic red Virgin balloon last week.

The sunrise voyage marked the achievement of a lifetime ambition for the couple, who bought the balloon ride vouchers for their first anniversary.

“We’ve both always wanted to go on a balloon flight. Everyone was great and really looked after us and, even though we met up at 6am on a freezing cold morning, they we really upbeat and fun. When we told them it was Jess’ birthday they all started singing happy birthday to her, the rest of the passengers joined in too,” said Nick.

Jess added: “My favourite bit was the views, they were amazing and something I’ll never forget. The champagne toast after we landed was great too.”

Travelling around eight miles to the east during the hour-long flight, the balloon landed land near Belvoir Castle before experienced pilot Martin Collinson presented Jess and Nick with their personalised flight certificates.

Martin, 46 from Grantham said “It was great to have Jessica and Nick on board, there’s something special about singing happy birthday in the open air over the countryside, it’s magical! After the snow we’ve had, a beautiful clear balloon ride was a special way to celebrate her day; I’m delighted they enjoyed it.”

The couple, who are due to be married in August next year, said they were now keen to experience another balloon ride as part of their honeymoon.

Balloon flights are available from sites across the UK including Nottingham from £99pp via www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or on 0844 844 8080.

Comments (0)

By Kirsty, March 25, 2013 1:24 pm

Our lovely pilot Russell Collins took 12 passengers on a true airborne adventure from Shipston-on-Stour recently as they spotted a lost 15^th century village from the sky!

Taking off from our Shipston-On-Stour Sports Club launch site at around 4pm, our happy passengers were enjoying their flight over the rolling countryside when Russell drew their attention to a intriguing land formation below.

The outlines of the village, known as ‘Middle Ditchford’, near the Fosse Way, were so clear passengers could make out all manner of things including the outlines of streets, a village green and the medieval ridge and furrows from old farming techniques.  They were also able to make out the old church remains and village pond.

The village was abandoned in the 1500’s following a period of economic decline in cereal production when sheep farming became economically preferable to the landowners and required fewer people.

“I had read about it and seen a picture in a book called ‘England –The Mini Book of Aerial Views’, but I had never previously seen it for myself even though I have conducted many flights in the area,” said Russell.

“Everybody was interested in it, pointing out the features we could see, taking pictures and we knew we had seen a something special. It was as if our balloon flight had gifted us with this privileged view and the light at that moment set it off beautifully,” he added.

How about it, a spot of archaeology on a Virgin Balloon Flight! Fancy flying from Shipston-on-Stour too? Balloon flights in Warwickshire are available from £79pp via the website at www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or on 0844 844 8080.

Comments (0)

By Kirsty, March 22, 2013 4:25 pm

Our hot air balloon flights over the Kentish countryside are extremely popular and ballooning over Kent gives you a totally unique perspective of the beautiful southern landscape from the sky. We’re proud to present yet another new launch site for the 2013 flying season here at Virgin Balloon Flights; Oakwood House, Maidstone.

Oakwood House, a beautiful 19^th Century Victorian mansion is directly adjacent to the launch site and sets the scene for those wanting to escape to the skies on an airborne adventure in one of our iconic red hot air balloons in the south east of England.

As you rise from the grounds of Oakwood Park, pilot Damon Bridger will point out your surroundings while you glide above the landscape taking in the greenery, villages and towns below.

Sue Rackliffe, Sales Manager at Oakwood House said “We are thrilled that Virgin Balloons have chosen the parkland here as their latest launch site and we look forward to welcoming those who will be enjoying this amazing experience”

 

What’s more, post flight you can re-call your ballooning exploration over lunch, afternoon tea or a delicious dinner in the conservatory style Courtyard Bar – perfect!

If you’d like to join us on a Virgin Balloon Flight in Kent from just £79pp simply visit our website or give us a call on 0844 8448070.

See you in the sky.

Comments (0)

By Kirsty, March 21, 2013 1:18 pm

The residents of Wrexham will be treated to the sight of a beautiful big red balloon on their skyline from April, with Virgin Balloon Flights launching from The Plassey Leisure Park in Eyton.

The huge 247 acre park and woodland is the picture perfect spot to start a north Wales airborne adventure and our lovely hot air balloon pilot Des Bimson will be taking passengers to the skies in his 16 man Virgin balloon.

Seeing the rolling hills of north Wales and the beautiful Cheshire plains of England is pretty spectacular from up to 5000ft above and we can’t wait to show our passengers the Dee Valley from this unique perspective.

Sarah Brookshaw, Director of the Plassey Leisure Park, said: “It’s great to be working with all the team at Virgin Balloon Flights and offering visitors a truly unique way to experience the fantastic views of the Dee Valley and beautiful surrounding countryside.”

Cameras at the ready for hot air balloon rides in Wrexham!

You too can experience the magic of ballooning from Wrexham, north Wales, from as little as £79pp, simply give us a call on 0844 8448070 or visit our website and we’ll be happy to help.

Comments (0)

By Kirsty, March 19, 2013 2:15 pm

Spring has sprung and we hereby announce another lovely launch site in the ‘Garden of England’ for Virgin Balloon Flights!

Pilot Damon Bridger will soon be whisking passengers away from the the city of Canterbury at St John’s Church of England Primary School, Northgate.

Added to our impressive list of Kent launch sites just this morning, Canterbury boast sights which are just as special as the rest. There’s so much to enjoy below the basket of your hot air balloon over this gorgeous Cathedral City, but what would you most like to see; the city walls and gates, St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury Castle, the River Stour or Kings School?

Whatever you spot from the basket, be sure to take your camera and capture this totally unique perspective of the Kentish countryside. You’ll experience around an hour’s flight, a Champagne toast and receive a certificate endorsed by Sir Richard Branson to mark the occasion. The perfect Spring day out.

What’s more, to take a balloon ride over Kent, prices start from just £79pp with regional sunrise flights (weekday morning). Fancy giving the gift of flight? Simply call 0844 8448070 or visit our main website to see all our balloon flight options.

See you in the sky over Canterbury!

Comments (2)

By Kirsty, February 13, 2013 5:01 pm

The 2013 flying season sees seven new pilots welcomed into the Virgin Balloon Flights team. With over 100 launch sites across England, Scotland and Wales, we have a large network of wonderful pilots taking passengers to the skies all around the country.

Each and every pilot is hand-picked for their expertise and experience and we’re extremely proud to have some of the world’s very best hot air balloonists working with us.

Meet the new high-flyers….

Celia Morley
Flying over southern Scotland
Most memorable flight: “There have been so many memorable flights: I’ve done two channel hops, the first in 2005, and the second in 2011 had a Spitfire doing circuits around the balloon. I flew a lady on her 98th birthday, flew in the Italian Alps and did a splash and dash in the Rio Grande.”

Steve Richards
Flying over Surrey
Most memorable flight: “After nearly 30 years of flying, there are so many memories of fantastic flights. Flying over the Alps, landing at the very peak of one highest mountains in the area and getting out one by one to leave footprints in the snow and the fun of landing between the gigantic vineyards in South America are the best.”

Tim Parker
Flying over Essex
Most memorable flight: “Being a balloon pilot is the best job in the world. There is nothing better than a perfect flight with great landscapes, good weather, happy passengers and people waving up at the balloon, my most memorable flight was seeing a non-domestic big cat on an early morning flight over Somerset!”

Lawrie Ellis
Flying over north Scotland
Most memorable flight: “One of my most memorable flights was a channel hop to the Isle of Wight from Southampton. Quite a different way to get to the Island from my days before ballooning when I frequently sailed to the Island and circumnavigated it in a number of Round the Island Races.”

Piers Glydon
Flying over Derbyshire
Most memorable flight: “Flying in the Himalayan mountain kingdom of Bhutan, taking off in remote villages 10,000 feet above sea level and soaring on the wind over the mountains has got to be my favourite flight, but i love the British countryside and the views of the Peak District are stunning from the air. The area around Bakewell is a beautiful one in which to fly.”

Gavin Chadwick
Flying over West Midlands
Most memorable flight: “I enjoyed many balloon flights during my younger years and by the age of 10 I’d decided I wanted to be a balloon pilot. At school, the careers officers weren’t sure how to react when I informed them of the unusual career that I’d picked. I have also partaken in several competition events in the UK, Italy, and France – where I was selected as the UK entrant for the European Cup for Young Balloon Pilots.”

Martin Cowling
Flying over Mid Scotland
Most memorable flight: “One of my favourite flights was flying over the Valley of the Kings. We took off from Luxor and as we rose up in the air, the ground below us was green for a couple of kilometres then just faded into desert. You get a complete different perspective when you’re up in a balloon. To float above the river Nile and the Valley of the Kings really is something else.”

To fly with one of our new hot balloon pilots from just £79 per person simply visit virginballoonflights.co.uk or give us a call on 0844 844 8070

Comments (0)

By Kirsty, February 5, 2013 2:30 pm

Each year Virgin Balloon Flights takes a team of pilots, crew and guests out to Mondovi in Piemonte, Italy, for a stable and balloon friendly climate to carry out annual check flights and training for pilots.

This year a group of 38 balloon enthusiasts enjoyed a ten day trip to the centre for ballooning in Italy, which included Chief Pilot and CEO Kenneth Karlstrom and 16 of our Virgin hot air balloon pilots from across the country.

A total of nine flights went ahead over the ten day period where required tests and checks were carried out on the Virgin balloon as well as completing group conversions where experienced pilots are certified to fly bigger hot air balloons.

Kenneth said: “The trip was hard work but we achieved everything that needed to be achieved. Another successful event which meant the opportunity for socialising, eating pizza and drinking good wine!”

Here’s a selection of photographs taken by balloon crew member and annual staff photography competition winner Neil Marshall and a video put together by pilot Richard Prowse.

Mondovi January 2013 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The start of the UK ballooning season will commence in March and we’ll be taking to the skies from over 100 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. Be part of it by calling 0844 8448080 or visiting virginballoonflights.co.uk