This evening our balloon flight over Norfolk was from Wensum Valley Golf club another sunny evening with not a cloud in the sky. It is fair to say that 2010 has proved to be a season for our balloon rides. Due to the proximity of Norwich airport we contact air traffic control for permission to launch we were soon aloft and ascended to 2,500 feet and what a view. The whole of the city of Norwich was well defined all of the Norfolk Broads were there to be savored the wind turbines off Great Yarmouth turning slowly in the gentle easterly breeze. To the north the coast was visible all the way to Hunstanton. Our track is now north of Lenwade however the sea breeze has now increased. Now in open countryside clear of any livestock we descend to see what the surface speed is, in a word fast. We now have 13knots at 100 feet this changed the dynamic of the flight, excellent for our hot air balloon passengers because we now really start to cover some ground, but becomes very challenging for the pilot, as landing at this speed requires care and focus. As we approach Bawdeswell there is a fallow field however the vehicle access looks difficult so we leave that one alone. We make an approach to land on a track north of Foxley water tower but the speed is just to quick to put the balloon down gently, so onwards and upwards. We now have fifteen minutes to sunset the clock so to speak is ticking. Then out to our front there is a large field to our front that has been cultivated and fallow in the parish of Gateley. The crews are radioed of our intention and we make our approach we land after one hour forty minutes in the air. We are on the Cook estates so a quick call to the Farm Manager Mr Adrian who gives us permission to retrieve the balloon. We quickly pack the balloon onto the trailer break out the champagne and celebrate one of our longer balloon flights-Rides conducted on the longest day of the year.
Hello Robert Paul and Rob
Just a quick line to thank you all so much for yesterday evenings balloon flight, very professional and well executed. I really enjoyed the whole ballooning experience. Thank You
Bob Miles