Hot Air Balloon Rides - Balloon Flight Adventures

When Mark and Grace Glasiter contacted us and explained that they were coming to Norfolk for their honeymoon and a flight in one of our hot air balloons would be the ‘Icing on the cake’ we were more than happy to oblige.

We meet at Eccles Hall School just off the A11 adjacent to the snetterton race circuit. It was a stunning evening; however the wind was pretty brisk coming in from the south. Inflating the balloon was a little tricky due to the surface wind speed, but once airborne the balloon is perfectly stable in flight. We climbed out to 2500’ and the global positioning system told us we were travelling at 25 m.p.h. Not much you may think but travelling in a linear line you can cover some distance. The visibility was very good all of Norfolk was in view from coast to coast. With a bump and a drag we landed in the parish of Bradenham in an oilseed rape stubble field owned by a friendly farmer who was pleased to see us. Thank you Mr Chris Alhusen of Bradenham Hall Farms.

Dear Robert – Mark and I felt compelled to email you to thank you for all your efforts in getting us airborne during the week of our honeymoon; you really did go out of your way to make it happen and we were very impressed with both your professionalism and experience and were very glad that we chose Breckland Balloon Flights.We thoroughly enjoyed both the setting up/taking down and the flight itself which dare we say ‘flew by’!! It really was the highlight of our honeymoon and we are so looking forward to receiving our official photo which we plan to frame and hang in our ‘gallery’ at home.Once again we thank you and hope the business continues to go from strength to strength – you deserve it! Kindest regards
Grace & Mark Glaister

All of our passengers assembled at Wensum valley golf club at Taverham in preparation for the safety brief and prearation at 6.15 p.m All were looking forward to thier Balloon Flight over Norfolk. There was a very gentle onshore brezze flowing in from the coast and it was obvious that we were going to have excellent conditions for our balloon flight.

As the crew prepared the balloon for flight a number of passengers and their family were keen to help prepare the balloon for flight. A phone call to air traffic control at Norwich airport confirmed we had clearance to take off.

We were airbourn at 7.15 p.m. and were soon gently drifting up the wensum valley river course. The speed remainded a constant 10m.p.h. even up to 3000’ Our landing was a very gentle affair drifting into a barley stubble field in the parish of Billingford. The balloon was then packed away and everyone enjoyed toasting the fight with champagne watching a beautiful mid summer sunset

What a stunning evening for another Balloon Flight over Norfolk. We launched from Mattishall Golf Club, and with a gentle breeze coming from the south west with a steady and gentle climb we were cruising at 5,000’ above Norfolk. We crossed Norwich just to the north. The city was clearly in view with the cathedral a castle taking pride of place. Up over Norwich airport watching the aircraft depart and enter circuit was quite interesting too.

All of the Norfolk broads were in clear view from the Hot Air Balloon with the wind turbines just of Great Yarmouth making a modern landmark. Once clear of Norwich airport we requested thier permission to descend to 1000. So over Horsford we started a steady descent. The wind was very light on the surface, crossing over the old airbase at Coltishall and finally landing in the parish of Tunstead.

Once on the ground the flight was celebrated in the usual manner with clinking glasses and good cheer with enthusiastic conversation about the flight.

Mr Brandon Chapman who flew with us that evening complemented us on the conduct of the flight and how much he enjoyed it. Coming from one of Heathrow’s air traffic controllers that was a real complement!!

The weather remains good throughout the month of April allowing another balloon ride over Norfolk this evening We launch south of Norwich into clear un broken skies and excellent visibility We cross over the A11 between Hethersett and Wymondham watching the traffic below always looks a little surreal from a hot air balloon at 2,000 feet once over open arable fields we descend and able to skim over the tree tops of a remote wood eventually landing at Mattishall Golf club The owner Basil Todd came out and had a good chat and was pleased to see us So if you a keen golfer the nine hole facility at Mattishall is an excellent course also bearing in mind the main course at Wensum Valley will provide a high quality day with excellent bar and food available at highly competitive prices So we pack up the balloon break out the champagne and look forward to our next ballooning adventure