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By Alex, August 17, 2012 9:19 am

An iconic Virgin hot air balloon is appearing at the Virgin Media V Festival for the first time this weekend, 25years after Sir Richard Branson’s record-breaking transatlantic flight.

Virgin has been synonymous with ballooning since founder Sir Richard Branson and co-pilot Per Lindstrand were the first to fly across the Atlantic in a balloon in July 1987. Their huge balloon travelled 3,000 miles from Maine, USA, to Ireland in 32 hours, reaching speeds of 130 miles per hour.

Two and a half decades on and Virgin Balloon Flights is the UK’s leading balloon rides provider and will be tethering a balloon at the festival’s Essex site in Hylands Park, Chelmsford, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons (August 18 and 19).

It will be the debut display of a Virgin balloon at the festival which started in 1996 and this year features performances from the Killers, the Stone Roses and Snow Patrol.

Weather permitting, VIP guests from Virgin Media’s Louder Lounge will be offered complimentary rides in the 75ft tall balloon giving them a unique experience and an alternative perspective of the site.

Kevin Meehan, Virgin Balloon Flights’ pilot for VFestival, is one of the UK’s most experienced balloonists and assisted with Sir Richard’s later global record attempts.

He said: “Sir Richard and Per Lindstrand’s transatlantic flight was incredible and forged the way for a number of ballooning records including their Pacific crossing in 1991. We’re delighted to be at VFestival for the first time 25 years on. Both music and ballooning are at the heart of Virgin’s rich heritage, so we love bringing them together and have hosted several gigs in balloons over the years.

 

“A tethered balloon ride is a good taster for what an actual flight is like and we’re looking forward to welcoming special guests aboard, providing the weather is on our side,” he added.

Virgin Balloon Flights fly from over 100 locations across mainland Britain. For more information visit www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or for latest news, offers and competitions like us at www.facebook.com/virginballoonflights

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By Alex, October 18, 2011 3:11 pm

One of our top hot air balloon pilots is walking on air after winning an award for his airborne achievements and being personally congratulated by Sir Richard Branson.

Mark Shemilt, from Henley-on-Thames, was named as our Virgin Balloon Flights Star of the Year for providing exceptional customer service for passengers on his balloon rides and breaking two world records for ballooning.

The 46-year-old received the award and met Richard at a glitzy party at Kensington Roof Gardens in London last month where Stars from across the Virgin Group were rewarded for their fantastic efforts.

Mark swapped stories with Richard who became synonymous with hot air ballooning in 1987 when he was the first to fly across the Atlantic.

Mark has been ballooning since 1988 and takes people on Champagne balloon rides in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire.

He broke his first world record for duration by hovering over the French Alps in a special small balloon for over eight hours and another for distance when he flew 120 miles from Leicestershire to the Suffolk coast.

Mark said: “It was an honour to meet Sir Richard and talk about my ballooning world records with him as he knows more than anyone what’s involved and how challenging endurance flying is.

“He gave me a lot of praise and really encouraged me. He also said how much he loved hot air ballooning and that he wished he had time to do more.”

For more information about hot air ballooning experiences across the UK visit us at www.virginballoonflights.co.uk.

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By Alex, July 28, 2011 1:45 pm

Teenaged aviator Chloe Hallett, daughter of Virgin balloonist Lindsay Muir, has become the youngest balloon pilot in the country.

The budding ballooning star, from Bishops Castle, picked up her licence on her 17th birthday to claim the accolade, having started learning at just 15.

Lindsay, who pilots balloon rides in Shropshire and Cheshire, is a former British national hot air balloon champion and has been teaching Chloe everything she knows.

Lindsay said: “It came quite naturally to Chloe and she was very, very relaxed about it. A lot of students coming into it are very tense most of the way through.

“Chloe would chat away, look over the side of the basket, burn, talk about something else… and then tell her mother to shut up because she needed to concentrate on the landing.”

Chloe followed in the footsteps of Milli Karlstrom, daughter of Virgin Balloon Flights chief pilot and CEO Kenneth Karlstrom, who became youngest pilot when she gained her licence in October last year.

Chloe said: “It’s good that I’m a girl. There haven’t been many female pilots and it’s good to be a record breaker,” she said,

“I think I’ll get my commercial licence which means I can fly passengers, but I don’t think I really want it as a job, just as a part-time thing really.”

Chloe is hoping to take part in competitions for pilots under 25 starting next year.

Congratulations to Chloe from everyone at Virgin Balloon Flights!

To book a balloon ride in Shropshire with Lindsay visit the Virgin Balloon Flights website.

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By Alex, October 19, 2010 9:35 am

The 17-year-old daughter of Virgin Balloon Flights’ chief flyer has become the UK’s youngest female qualified hot air balloon pilot.

Newly qualified balloon pilot Milli with dad Kenneth

Milli Karlstrom, of Northwood, Middlesex, picked up her licence on her 17th birthday from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) offices at Gatwick Airport, having just completed the final stages of her training. She was taught to fly by her father, Kenneth Karlstrom, who is Director and Chief Pilot of Virgin Balloon Flights.

Milli, who experienced her first balloon flight aged just two, learned to fly in a small Virgin hot air balloon in Italy. She is only the second woman ever to collect her Private Pilot’s Licence on her 17th birthday, and, for the time being, is also the youngest qualified hot air balloon pilot in the country.

 “It almost doesn’t feel real. I can’t really get my head around the idea if I’m honest,” she said.

“Being a pilot is so different to being a passenger of a hot air balloon; whilst you can still enjoy the amazing views, I love the excitement of not knowing where the wind might take me and making decisions on the best way to react. My solo flight was my favourite so far. It was liberating to be completely in control!”

The high flying A-level student now plans to continue ballooning as a hobby in the future.

Ian Chadwick, Balloon Inspector at the CAA, said: “Milli has worked very hard to obtain her licence and it is a testament to her commitment that she has qualified at such a young age. It is great to see young people taking up hot air ballooning and we wish her all the best for the future.”

To qualify as a balloon pilot, an applicant has to complete a minimum of six flights including a final test flight with an examiner, as well as passing a written examination in aviation law, navigation, meteorology, balloon systems and human performance.

Congratulations to Milli from everyone here at Virgin Balloon Flights!

You can find out more about Virgin Balloon Flights here

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By Kirsty, August 20, 2010 9:01 am

One of our wonderful pilots Mark Shemilt , 46, wowed the listeners of BBC Radio Berkshire yesterday afternoon with tales of world records, big red balloons and cloud hopping above Berkshire and the surrounding counties.

Susanne Courtney known on the show as ‘Suze’, interviewed Virgin Balloon Flights pilot Mark for around 40 minutes allowing him to choose the records they played between talk time. True to the nickname Suze gave Mark as ‘Balloon Obsessive’, his choices of songs were of course ballooning related.

The first of Mark’s picks was non-other than ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ by The Rolling Stones blaring out it’s ‘Gas, Gas, Gas’ reference mid chorus, next on his playlist was Crowded House track ‘Weather With You’ signifying the plea pilots have for good ballooning weather each day.

Recognised by listeners in the Berkshire area, father-of-three Mark was pleased to hear a lady called Sylvia had phoned in mid interview to say she had had an amazing flight with Mark in her home county.

To listen to Mark’s interview simply follow link to BBC iPlayer or visit www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer and select Phil Gayle’s show on Thursday 19th August .

Although he was nervous before his interview, we’re pleased Mark did a great job educating listeners about ballooning and hot air balloon rides with Virgin in the area.

Impressing the show host too, Mark has been invited to go back to BBC Radio Berkshire and share his experiences of his up and coming world record break set to happen in February 2011 with fellow Virgin Balloon Flights pilot Kenneth Karlstrom.

You too can fly with Mark in Berkshire , Hampshire , Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire , more information is available here.