Hot Air Balloon Rides - Balloon Flight Adventures

This afternoon we launched from Earlham Park Norwich with a steady breeze coming in from the southwest This would be our first city over fly so close liaison with Norwich air traffic control would be essential as we would passing directly over the airport Permission was granted and we launched just after 4 pm On of our balloon trip passengers Shelia confided in me and explained she was a little nervous and did not think she would like to go too high. Once radio contact was established with the airport they were quite busy and asked us to gain height After ten minutes we above the city at 5,000 feet I look across to Shelia whose face is beaming Oh Robert this is absolutely brilliant!! As we cross the centre line of the main runway we ask permission to descend and we fly over Horsford Hainford and Straton Strawless We are now in clear open countryside and land the balloon on a farm track in the parish of Coltishall We then pack away the equipment and celebrate our balloon ride over Norfolk with a glass of chilled champagne

Always a pleasure to drift over the historic city of Norwich and savour the sights of the Norfolk Broads Aloft just after 7 am we were to be greeted by a stunning morning with shallow mist bathing the Norfolk landscape we start to drift across the south of the city and watch the early morning traffic and people stir the balloon ride passes over Trowse Kirby Bedon eventually landed in a fallow field south of the village of Bramerton

Our balloon flight this afternoon was again from Earlham Park Norwich The weather remains good with clear skies The wind is still coming in from the Southeast so we are to enjoy a similar flight path We are airbourne just after 4 pm with 16 very excited and happy passengers The upper flow of wind had slowed a little from this morning and the direction had turned by 10 degrees taking us further south After an hour aloft we place the hot air balloon in a gentle decent and land close to the village of Swanton Morley

Hi,
We had our balloon trip yesterday (07.03.11), it was fantastic! Many thanks
to the pilot and his team – a very enjoyable afternoon.
Karan Grubb

A wonderful morning ballooning from Earlham Park Norwich airborne just after 7 am with a stunning spring morning sun shining and not a could in the sky. We climbed up to 3,000 feet to take in the view from the Norfolk Broads and the fine city of Norwich. The whole of the Norfolk coastline was visible from Kings Lynn to Lowestoft. Certainly worth making the effort for an early morning balloon ride over Norfolk. Our track was running just north of the village of North Elmham with a few minor direction changes as we adjusted our altitude. We remained high so not to disturb any livestock on the ground Passing over the villages of Bawburgh Marlingford and North Tuddenham. Once clear of we descend once we clear the village of Billingford. The issue this morning is to find a dry field as there has been quite a bit of rain over the past week. Eventually we land in a grass field in the village of Brisley

Our first flight of the season from the recreation ground in Stowmarket. The balloon launched just after 4.00 pm. We had a good crowd of family members to watch the balloon lift. It was a lovely afternoon with good visibility and a gentle wind coming from the east. Once above 1,000 feet the coast was in clear view with Ipswich and Harwich docks. We drifted away from the town over the villages of Great Finborough and Buxhall. We remained north of Wattisham eventually landing in the parish of Bideston after an hour in the air.

Hi,
Just to say that we are very satisfied with the way Mr Robert Keron made our balloon flight on 04/03/2011 a memorable and most enjoyable experience.
He could have cancelled our flight at Flynn Valley Ipswich; but he moved the flight to another site at Stowmarket.
That was very considerate especially we had had so many cancellations that past 12 months. He was most professional and dedicated to the groups’ safety and enjoyment.
He is definitely an excellent pilot and team leader. Please convey our compliments to him.
Best Regards,
Lena & Hendrik

From a pilots view this evenings balloon flight was quite a challenge attempting to find the ideal field to land in, in fact we covered pretty much two thirds of Norfolk in one hour and forty minutes. From a passenger prospective five stars with a cherry on top. Allow me to fully explain. The wind was coming from the south this afternoon with a reasonable flow at 2,000 at around 15 to 18 knots so we made the decision to launch from the New Eccles Hall School adjacent to the Snetterton race circuit. By launching from here we have an unrestricted run up to the north Norfolk coast to Bracaster and Wells. Our passengers were well briefed along with a good number of family members who were all very keen to follow our ground crew and watch the balloon land (where ever that would be.) Launching was a bit of a handful and the wind was a little gusty, we get the balloon fully inflated and hot pull the quick release, throttles on the stoppers and we clear the trees and the end of the playing field by a good 20 feet. We are now climbing at 600 feet a minute and level out at 1500 feet and enjoy the view. On over Great Ellingham and Watton. The Air cadets were gliding on the old airbase so a radio call on 129.975 MHz to let them know of our intentions. We are asked to climb up to 3,000 feet as they are winching gliders. We over fly and watch the activities beneath us. As we approach Holme Hale we descend with the intention to land, too many wires and livestock so burners on and we climb back to 1500 feet crossing the A47 at Sporle we are looking for that ideal field. Nothing yet crops still standing and more livestock. Castle Acre comes into view at we pass high over the ridge to the south of the village. A stubble field is spotted adjacent to the west acre road. After almost two hours we are down with a bump and a drag. Then to celebrate our landing with a class of chilled champagne.

Hello Breckland Balloons
Great Evening enjoyed everyones company will look forward to seeing you all again next year !!!
Pam Raynes

This afternoon we launched from Crow Hall Farm Gooderstone. September is a lovely time to fly. The weather is generally more stable at this time of the year as the sun has lost a little of its strength so our local climate starts to settle down a little. Also at this time of year there is richness of colour from the golden fields of stubble and wide variations of green, in short a wonderful opportunity to grab some stunning photographs. Our balloon flight climbed up to 2,000 feet. The wash was in clear view along with the Lincolnshire coast. Looking out to our southwest Ely cathedral stands proudly in the horizon. Passing over Oxborough Hall is always a treat with its unique mooted architecture and ornate gardens, now over seen by the National Trust. It is well worth a family visit. On and upwards we go now passing over the A143 and over the aqueduct south of the village of Stoke Ferry. As we descend the wind changes and we turn a little more to the east passing north of the vast sugar beet factory at whissington, eventually landing in a stubble field in the parish of Hilgay adjacent to the A10. We enjoy our champagne enjoying the most beautiful harvest sunset.

Fantastic evening you are a very professional and friendly team. Your pilot really did make the flight so interesting with his local knowledge. I will spread to word!!!
Colin Johnson.

We launched from Wensum Valley Golf club into clear blue skies and un restricted visibility. From our balloon basket the city of Norwich was in full view with the Forum and Norwich cathedral highlighted in the early evening sun. The entire coast was clearly defined from Kings Lynn to Lowestoft. At 3,000 feet we had a steady 17 mph as we crossed over the A47 above the village of Easton and the Agricultural College. Once clear of any livestock we descended to 1,000 feet and headed north of Barham Broom. Every one was very chatty as our passengers savoured such an ideal opportunity to take as many photos as possible. So if you are about to partake in one of our balloon trips remember to fully charge your camera and have a good size memory card. As we passed the village of Hardingham we started to look for a suitable field to land in. Hard to believe that an hour had already passed. At this time of year the harvest is generally in leaving plenty of fields without any crops. As we approached Southburgh are crew were already chatting with a farmer who had just finished baling his straw and agreed with our crew that our balloon could land there. Passengers briefed and we made a gentle approach and landed after one hour and fifteen minutes in the air.

Dear Robert, Paul and Rob,
A very big thank you for yesterday evening certainly was worth the wait. My husband thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish
Mags Claxton

We are seeking Hot Air Balloon ground crew for our Balloon Flights over Norfolk and Suffolk for our 2011 ballooning season. We already have a busy balloon flight diary now already fully booked for the start of March 2011. This unique job could suit people who are very practical and have the ability to communicate well. We have a very friendly team who have been together for several years, all with a good sense of humour and positive team players. If you are from a agricultural or military background this is an advantage, although not a prerequisite. If you are interested we are but a phone call away, please feel free to call our office for an informal chat. Our general requirements are Over 25 with a clean driving license. Able to drive Land Rover defenders and Trailers Communicate well at all levels and above all polite and personable
If you are interested just give Robert or Claire a call on 01362 687006
Full training would be given uniform supplied and competitive rates of pay

This evening our balloon flight over Norfolk would take place from Mattishall golf club. The conditions were good with a very gentle sea breeze coming in from the northeast. The decision to go to site was slightly tricky this evening as the met office was forecasting the posibilty of light and variable winds. This is were in the centre of a high pressure system there can be little to no flow, so the last thing you want to be doing is hovering over the launch site and going no where. However due to the close proximity of the coast on many occasions you can get a convection flow as the hot inland air draws in the cool air from the sea, but we would only know this once we were on site, no pressure then especially as we had some passengers who had had a number of attempts to get airborne already, yup that’s you Chris S. We had a chat with Norwich airport and air traffic control confirmed the condition were indeed perfect. Thirty plus miles visibility and a gentle 6-knot flow coming from 060 degrees. The inflation was gentle affair and was soon aloft to cheers and waives from our passengers family and friends who would be following our hot air balloon over the Norfolk landscape. At 1,000 feet we had a good view of the city and the north Norfolk coast and our overall track was taking us gently above Thruxton. As we climbed pass 1300 feet we stopped this was the height of the ‘sea breeze profile’ Descend under 1,200 feet off we go again, in fact the lower we go the faster we get. As we approach Reymerston an ideal stubble field is spotted the crew have already got permission from the farmer to land as the field has almost been harvested. The landing was very gentle affair touching down in the village of Shipdam.

Dear Robert & Team
A wonderful well organised evening, well worth waiting for the perfect day
Pam and Goff Mayhew