With decades of experience behind him, pilot Chris Sanger-Davies starts flying full time with Virgin Balloon Flights in the East Midlands, including the Peak District, in 2020.

“It is a lovely countryside to fly over in the Peak District, including the people and the farmers there. It’s one of the best parts of the world “ said Chris.

And it certainly means something, when it comes from a pilot who has flown from all over the globe. He fondly remembers his hot air balloon flights in Mexico, Chile, Myanmar, and the Alps.

A stand in pilot for Virgin Balloon Flights for a few years, Chris flew for us on different occasions, such as York Balloon Fiesta. The opportunity has recently arisen for Chris to fly his own Virgin hot air balloon.

“It should be really fun, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve flown in the Peaks a couple of times before, and it should be really nice this year”, added Chris.

His lifelong passion for hot air balloon rides started in the 1980s. Chris became a retrieval driver for a local balloonist, and it wasn't long until he was encouraged to learn to fly the hot air balloon himself.

He then got his Private Pilot Licence in 1987, and five years later he successfully obtained his commercial licence. But Chris did not stop here. In the years to follow, he became an inspector, instructor and examiner for hot air balloons.

Can anybody fit any more hot air ballooning in their life than pilot Chris Sanger-Davies has?

Join Chris in a flight over stunning Peak District landscape for an unforgettable hot air ballooning adventure.

If you fly with Chris, why not ask him about his stories from all his decades of hot air ballooning?