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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

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By Jade, December 20, 2012 5:50 pm

January

Following their acquisition of Northern Rock, Virgin Money launched their brilliant new advert, ‘40 Years of Better’, marking the start of their ‘quest to make banking better.’ We featured alongside Virgin Records, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Trains as the commercial celebrates the rich history of the Virgin brand. Take a look back and view the TV ad on Youtube here.

February

Adam Fleetwood accepted the challenge to represent Virgin Balloon Flights and complete the Virgin Marathon, all in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Adam put together a short movie to win the Virgin votes, which you can watch on YouTube here.

Every year the British Heart Foundation has a National Wear Red Day and as always, staff here donned their best red clobber and ate beautiful heart covered cupcakes.

March

Our Virgin London Marathon runner Adam Fleetwood completed the ‘Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon’ as part of his training and his fundraising for Birmingham Children’s Hospital reached over the £2000 mark.

April

The villagers of Wray celebrated  their Silver Jubilee of their annual country fair. Visitors flocked from far and wide to wander round the picturesque Lancashire village of Wray and enjoy the scarecrows which take over each spring. We donated a champagne balloon flight for two as the winners prize for the best scarecrow competition which saw a range of traditional designs, topical creations, some ingenious moving masterpieces and with the Olympics on its way, Olympic-themed scarecrows.

May

We had the first proposal of 2012 when Karl Dalgarno popped the question to partner Lucy Jenkins, 3000ft up in the air.

June

With our 2012 flying season well under way, we officially introduced our new pilots Bart D’Hooge, Chris Oxby, Peter Philpot and Russell Collins.

July

Here at Virgin Balloon flights we teamed up with Daffodil Waves Photography to offer one loved-up couple the chance to win a photo shoot in skies on board one of our balloons. The photoshoot took place on a lovely June evening.

August

August was a time for some brilliant summer events. We celebrated the Great British summer at Bristol International Balloon Fiesta with our record breaking  tea party in the sky (highest open-air airborne tea party). We served sandwiches and cream cakes to our competition winners on china crockery and they enjoyed Twinings tea and English sparkling wine as they floated along, while classical string music played in the bunting-clad basket.

We also had first visit to V Festival at Hylands Park in Essex where we tethered a balloon at the weekend and what a scorcher it was! We provided some additional entertainment for the crowd who could see our balloon from the main stage, bobbing away to music from the likes of Tom Jones and Snow Patrol.

September

A huge achievement for our pilot Lindsay Muir who won the 2nd FAI European Women’s Hot Air Balloon Championship. Congratulations again Lindsay!

Meanwhile, at our Head Office, we took part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.

October

Operations technician, Roger Vint was selected as our ‘Star of the Year’ and celebrated in style at Holly and Sam Branson’s house, alongside Sir Richard himself! Meanwhile, back at Head Office, we all got pretty in pink as part of the Breast Cancer Campaign ‘wear it pink’ day.

November

Martin Chamberlain joined us for an airborne adventure from Wadhurst, Kent, and having won the hot air balloon ride over Kent through a photographic competition (sponsored by Canon), it’s no wonder he captured some amazing shots of the views below the basket.

December

Nicola from Daffodil Waves photography was the judge for our pilot and crew photo competition and our passenger photo competition.  Neil Marshall was chosen as the winner of our pilot and crew photo competition. Here is the winning snapshot:

The winner of our passenger competition was Kate Williams with this misty photo:

Thanks to all of our pilots, crew, staff, customers, launch sites and partners for a fantastic year.

Merry Christmas and we’re looking forward to a brilliant 2013!

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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, July 20, 2012 2:41 pm

Here at Virgin Balloon Flights we’re celebrating the Great British summer by hosting a unique tea party in the sky and are offering one lucky winner the chance to be a guest.

The special flight will take place at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2012 on August 10 at Ashton Court in Bristol – one of Virgin Balloon Flights’ 100+ UK locations for balloon rides.

Passengers will be served finger sandwiches and cream cakes on china crockery as they float over Bristol in a spectacular mass assent with scores of other balloons. Twinings tea, English sparkling wine and traditional lemonade will also be poured instead of the usual champagne.

Weather permitting, the balloon will soar up to at least 1000ft in the air and the event is thought to be one of the highest open-air tea parties ever organised.

Virgin Balloon Flights’ pilot Mark Simmons, from Atworth near Bath, will fly the 100ft tall balloon for the unusual tea party. Mr Simmons, who has been flying for 23 years and holds the world record for the highest concert in a hot air balloon, said it promised to be an unforgettable occasion.

Mark said: “There is so much positive patriotic energy around at the moment and, as our balloon rides give people a unique way of seeing beautiful Britain, we wanted to do something fun to capture that feeling. What better way than with a tea party in a hot air balloon, following in the fine Victorian traditions where an impressive venue was just as important as the china, doilies, scones and cream teas. I think we’ve got that covered!”

Twelve passengers will be on board the flight and Virgin Balloon Flights are running a prize draw offering one winner and a guest the chance to take part, including a hotel stay the night before. They will also receive a Tea Hamper, courtesy of Twinings, and a copy of the new ‘Great British Bake Off – How to turn everyday bakes into showstoppers’ book by Linda Collister, out on August 2, published by BBC Books.

To enter visit the Tea Party in the Sky competition page on Facebook and where you will find more details and full terms and conditions.

There are still limited places available on flights at Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2012 between August 9th – 12th. Call 0844 844 8080 for more information or to book. To buy a flight voucher or view our other locations visit the official Virgin Balloon Flight website.

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By Kirsty, June 9, 2012 11:30 am

Twelve months ago Byron Highfield arrived at our Belton Woods launch site in Grantham, Lincolnshire, with a ring box in his pocket and his girlfriend Nikki in tow. A balloon flight later Nikki became his fiancée, one year on and she’s now his wife.

On the eve of the all-important flight, Byron had done the honourable thing and asked Nikki’s father for his daughter’s hand in marriage in preparation for the sky-high proposal. With his future father-in-law onside, Byron (and Nikki) made their way to Grantham from their home in Newark and headed skywards.

“We flew over Belton House and the golf course and then over lots of countryside. I was a little nervous and don’t think I took too much in from the flight. My favourite part of the flight had to be halfway through when I proposed, but we both also enjoyed the take-off and having to climb into the basket,” said Byron.

Of course delighted by Byron’s question, Nikki said yes and exactly a year later they tied the knot at their local church St Giles Balderton and then partied with friends and family at Rufford Mill, Rufford Park.

Byron added: “We would definitely be looking to fly again in the future, I’m sure it will make a nice present for an anniversary.”

Virgin Balloon Flights offer hot air balloon rides from over 100 launch sites in England, Scotland & Wales from as little as £89 per person. Make someone’s day with a ticket to the sky. Call 0844 844 8080 or visit the Virgin Balloon Flights website.

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By Kirsty, June 8, 2012 11:36 am

This year’s Wray Scarecrow festival winners weren’t sure witch way it was to Pendle, but had no problem flying their way to first prize. As the official sponsors for the festival’s creative competition, Virgin Balloon Flights we’re delighted to see so many fantastic makeshift scarecrow scenes in the Lune Valley’s famous Wray village.

The 25^th (Silver Jubilee) anniversary of the festival coincided wonderfully with the run up to Her Majesty’s Diamond celebrations and with some new editions to this year’s festivities, including a Vintage and Collectables Market and a Classic Bike Night, visitors poured into the Lancashire village despite the intemperate weather.

On behalf of the Wray Scarecrow Festival & Fair Committee, Ian Simpson said: “Winning scarecrows “Witch Way to Pendle?” by Sylvia Edmondson and Malcolm Woodhouse was quite a simple design but in a beautiful location, with the “bin bag witches” fluttering in the wind, it somehow just worked and was really quite spooky!”

“It will still be some time before we know precisely how much we raised but we have a provisional figure clearing £13,000. This is a fantastic achievement and does not include funds raised by other local groups throughout the festivities which all benefit the community in different ways e.g. the village school and local churches.”

Why not see the scarecrows from the sky and jump on-board a Virgin hot air balloon above Wray from as little as £95pp. Simply call 0844 8448080 or visit our website.

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By Kirsty, April 12, 2012 10:07 am

It’s not only Her Majesty the Queen who has a jubilee in 2012 – some wacky scarecrows will be helping the jubilant villagers of Wray celebrate the Silver Jubilee of their annual country fair this year. And with the Olympics on the way, they’ll all be competing for their places on the winners’ rostrum…

Wray Fair is now an integral part of the ever-popular Wray Scarecrow Festival, one of the ‘cultural’ highlights of the Lune Valley’s calendar. Visitors (but not crows!) flock from far and wide to wander round the picturesque Lancashire village of Wray and enjoy the scarecrows which take over each spring. This year’s festival will start on Saturday 28th April and run through to Wray Fair on Monday 7th May. The first Wray Fair of the modern era was in 1986 (two were cancelled), so this year’s event will be the 25^th – it’s a wonderful achievement, which they’re eager to share. The scarecrows first started to appear in 1994 to help promote the fair, were an immediate hit, and have now become a major attraction in their own right.

To mark the occasion of Wray Fair’s Silver Jubilee, one of this year’s themes for the scarecrows will be ‘Anniversaries’. There are plenty to choose from – 2012 marks 200 years since the birth of Charles Dickens, 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic and, of course, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. There’s also a rather significant sporting event taking place in 2012, and so another theme will be ‘Sports and leisure’. Olympic-themed scarecrows will no doubt be jostling for position in the hunt for medals… along with more traditional offerings, topical creations and ingenious moving masterpieces. Virgin Balloon Flights have again generously donated a fabulous champagne balloon flight for two to the lucky overall winner.

For your chance to see the Scarecrows from the sky, you can fly from our Lancashire launch sites Wray, Crook O’Lune or Burton in Lonsdale from as little as £99 per person.

For the full timetable of events and information on the the village of Wray visit www.wrayvillage.co.uk

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By Kirsty, March 27, 2012 5:17 pm

Our Virgin London Marathon runner Adam Fleetwood joined another 10,000 people at Silverstone Grand Prix circuit earlier this month for the annual ‘Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon’ as part of his training. Glorious sunshine, new trainers, some leg supports and plenty of carbs allowed Adam to finish the 13.1 mile slog in 1 hour and 46 minutes!

“Training is going well and the Silverstone half really helped me concentrate on pace and distance, it was great for getting in some extra miles too. We even got a shout out on Heart FM for Virgin Balloon Flights! I was pleased with my finish time and am hoping to keep a similar pace at the marathon which is just three and a half weeks away.”

Sponsorship is on the up and Adam has now sold all three spots on his running vest to local businesses Willows Dental, Team Support and Telling Architects bringing his current fundraising for Birmingham Children’s Hospital over the £2000 mark – yippee!

Of course there is still time to sponsor Adam on his Virgin Money Giving Page before the big day on April 22^nd.

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By Kirsty, February 27, 2012 12:40 pm

Virgin London Marathon together with Virgin Money Giving have teamed up to create a bit of fun for Marathon runners in the form of Marathon News TV.

Last week runners of the marathon were sent a link to create a news piece simply by filling in their details, such fun! Being a good sport, Virgin Balloon Flights marathon runner, freelance designer Adam Fleetwood got his three minutes of fame, which you can watch by following this link:

http://www.marathonnewstv.com/?f=Adam%20&l=Fleetwood&v=AdamFleetwood&ch=Virgin%20Unite&n=1

You can help support our chosen charity Birmingham Children’s Hospital by sponsoring Adam on his Virgin Money Giving Page, every penny counts! You can also keep up to date with his training and fundraising on our blog.

Virgin Balloon Flights fly from over 100 launch sites in England, Scotland and Wales from as little as £89 per person, for further information, please call 0844 8448080 or visit virginballoonflights.co.uk