15 replies to this topic

[Paul_S]

Some of you may know that I was given a hot air balloon trip for my recent birthday. Sarah (Mrs. Paul_S) is coming along too - after she has always said would never, ever do it.

Anyway, we've got a provisional date for the ride and the other night I asked her what she was scared of - the taking off? the landing?

She replied "pylons"

[Badger]

Paul_S, on 31 Aug 2011, 21:54, said:

Some of you may know that I was given a hot air balloon trip for my recent birthday. Sarah (Mrs. Paul_S) is coming along too - after she has always said would never, ever do it.

Anyway, we've got a provisional date for the ride and the other night I asked her what she was scared of - the taking off? the landing?

She replied "pylons"

Haha, brilliant!

So, guess she won't mind trees then

-B

[Chilli Red]

I think she is very brave, she was very obviously nervous when you opened the envelope and looked at her and said 'are you coming with me' She laughed and said 'yes, I am so scared' You have one in a million there. I would have said 'no, but I'll wave you off'

[Stuart_J]

You will both love it, Ive been ballooning for years, its pretty safe & especially so with rides operations who only operate in light winds & due to the size of the balloons they almost always have near perfect landings, rarely tipping over & theres even less chance of a drag landing. With the sporting balloons we use it can be a bit more hairy at times

A few simple tips

Dont wear anything too posh as fields will be involved at some point & they can be muddy or worse have animal droppings in them. On the same vain wear sensible foot wear, especially the ladies. Make sure anything loose & Im thinking of glasses & cameras are tucked in a pocket before you land, you need both hands free to hang on. Ive lost glasses landing but that was at high speed. Wear something that can cover your arms, if & again its extreemly unlikely its a bumpy landing arms can get grazed. Try & wear clothes that are made from natural material, especially anything against the skin. I dont know of any fires in balloons in years but if you do get one nylon melts to the skin.

AGAIN I will reiterate balloons are incredibly safe & you will have a great experience.

Sarah's comment re pylons was actually quite wise, probably the worst thing you could hit, thankfully they are huge so easy to spot, the pilot flying you will know the area so you wont bump into any.

You will have a great time im sure & be warned, it can be adictive

[Paul_S]

Thanks for the advice

We're starting off from Leeds Castle so it should be a good view!

[Stuart_J]

Paul_S, on 1 Sep 2011, 18:36, said:

Thanks for the advice

We're starting off from Leeds Castle so it should be a good view!

Nice location, we did a meet there about 10 years ago.

If you get hooked ask if they need any crew, many operators need help & its a great way to spend summer evenings & always seems to end up at a pub somewhere, you may also get paid, not a lot but it will cover your fuel & beer for the evening

Edited by Stuart_J, 02 September 2011 - 05:48 AM.

[Paul_S]

Can you imagine the grief I'm going to get when all the pictures are of the 370Z in the car park and not the castle?!

[Paul_S]

We survived!

It was brilliant!!! I'll post up some pics and things soon

[Stuart_J]

Paul_S, on 15 Sep 2011, 16:36, said:

We survived!

It was brilliant!!! I'll post up some pics and things soon

Glad you enjoyed it, hard to describe to those who havent flown how amazing it is

[Chilli Red]

and how's Sarah ?

[Paul_S]

Stuart_J, on 15 Sep 2011, 20:08, said:

Glad you enjoyed it, hard to describe to those who havent flown how amazing it is

It's like nothing else! It's odd in that I'm not afraid of heights but I know what people mean when they say they don't like looking down from the top of a tall building. However, for some reason looking down from the balloon didn't feel the same at all - really mellow and no anxiety at all!

Chilli Red, on 15 Sep 2011, 20:10, said:

and how's Sarah ?

She loved it! We had a brilliant morning and there is talk of doing another one (but somewhere else in the country as I think we've seen Kent now!)

[Paul_S]

[andymc]

Did the Balloon look anything like this?

[Paul_S]

Puppies! I love puppies! What a balloon they'd make too

[Stuart_J]

Paul_S, on 15 Sep 2011, 20:20, said:

It's like nothing else! It's odd in that I'm not afraid of heights but I know what people mean when they say they don't like looking down from the top of a tall building. However, for some reason looking down from the balloon didn't feel the same at all - really mellow and no anxiety at all!


She loved it! We had a brilliant morning and there is talk of doing another one (but somewhere else in the country as I think we've seen Kent now!)

See if you can find on operator offering rides at one of the fiestas, flying with other balloons is a great experience.

Its also a different experience in a smaller balloon, costs more but they are so much more reactive the pilots can do more with them, downside can be a more "interesting" landing

Some pilots used to offer instrutor flights as tasters where you actually get some hands on

If you are really hooked start crewing & then you occasionally get the odd free flight

[Paul_S]

Yep, we had a good chat to our pilot. He spent the last 6 years travelling the world following the summer and taking people on balloon flights. What a life!

Here are some pics: