This hot air balloon trip over Norfolk took place from Mattishall golf club. With clear skies and glorious sunshine we knew this evening would be ideal for our flight. I big thank you to Carol who looks after the course and is so obliging to our needs. The fairway on the seventh has been closed down for our launch and we soon start to attract a great deal of attention from golfers and local residents alike. We launch gracefully at 7.00 p.m. to the cheers and waves of excited family members and children.

We ascended up to 4,000 feet riding a very gentle wind coming from the North West. The whole of the county was in view from the wash all the way to Sizewell on the Suffolk coastline. We slowly passed over barnham broom and Kimberly then started to descend once in open countryside. As with all balloon norfolk flights a camera is an essential to be able to capture these unique views. The pilot is always able to explain in detail where towns and villages are situated also having extensive local knowledge always adds to an interesting and informed flight. We were now drifting across the tree canopies and open fields. The balloon landed adjacent to the town of Wymondham in a fallow field

We were aloft at 7.00 p.m. from wensum valley golf club in Taverham and climbed out to 3,000 feet. It was a beautiful evening with clear views across the city of Norwich and the broads beyond. It was fascinating watching the aircraft and helicopters coming and going from the airport. We had our air band radio tuned into Norwich approach frequency and were able to listen to the various pilots entering and leaving the airport. Under the skillful guidance of Norwich airports air traffic controllers

Our balloon flight over Norfolk took us over Horsford and onto Coltishall. From here the Norfolk broads were laid out before us. Wroxham and Ranworth to our south and Hicking, Horsey and Barton broads shimmered in the evening sunshine to our front. The balloon started its descent as we passed Coltishall and at 900 feet we encountered a sea breeze flowing in from the coast this changed our heading some 100 degrees to the left. We were now heading towards Buxton. This area is not idea to land around due to the density of livestock, so we climbed back up to 3,000 feet and resumed our original heading towards Tunstead. We now knew that on desending again we would turn left at lower altitude. Now here comes the clever bit!! The balloon was now flying parallel to RAF Coltishall which was a perfect place to land. We radioed our ground to ask base security for permission to land. Two minutes later the balloon radio sparked into life ‘You have permission to land on base'

The hot air balloon descended picked up the new wind direction turning gently but surely to the left now we had RAF Coltishall to our front. From the basket we could see base security escorting our ground retrieve team towards us. The pilot instructed all passengers to stow cameras and prepare for landing. The balloon gently touched down on the northern sector of the runway after1 hour30 minutes in the air.

Our hot air balloon flight over west Norfolk launched from Thetford rugby club at 7.40 p.m. The wind had eased and a call to RAF Lakenheath gave us the go ahead to fly. The inflation was a little difficult as the wind was still quite gusty. Once aloft we climbed out quickly to 1,000 feet and the GPS told us that we were travelling at 20 Knots heading towards Swaffham.
We had a stunning view over Stanford battle area to our west and the rolling heath land of traditional breckland. We were now approaching the grand mansion of Lindford Hall, constructed in 1857 frequented by many of the senior royal family during that century. During the early 1900's most of the estates land some 6,000 acres was sold to Thetford forestry commission and planted the forest; of which we are familiar with today.

Leaving the forest to our south we pass over Ickburgh and on towards Cockley Cley. Due to the density of outdoor livestock units we climb up to 2,500 feet to prevent the burners disturbing the animals on the ground. Once past the village of Gooderstone are now past all the livestock and to our front our ground crew and passengers family are waiting on a road west of Beachamwell with a perfect stubble field adjacent. The pilot instructs the passengers to safely stow their camera equipment and adopt the briefed landing positions. We are now descending at 600 feet per minute- 2 metres per second. Due to our height we need to make a steep approach into the field some two miles to our front. One interesting point to make that in a balloon you have not sensation of climbing or falling, it's so gentle. We arrest the desent with a good blast of the burners and we gently touch down at 9 knots. A perfect end to the day.

Today the weather was a bit ‘touch n go' although the visibility was good and the air stable we had a brisk wind from the south west. Our forecasters eventually decided that the wind would be decreasing about an hour or so to sunset and would be suitable for our balloon ride over Norfolk. We had ten very keen passengers so the decision was ‘let's go and give it a look'. We met everyone on the ken stimpon playing field behind werrington sports centre at 6.30 p.m. We quickly prepared the balloon, however our first attempt at inflating was stopped as the wind was still a little to quick; making the hot air balloon a bit too playful. We waited for fifteen minutes the wind had eased so we inflate again. Success - the passengers climb in and we start to pressurise the canopy with hot air. It takes nearly twenty seconds to bring the canopy up to operating temperature at round about 92 degrees Celsius. At 7.40 p.m. we are aloft. Climbing out to 1,000 feet we now travelling 20 m.p.h. heading north east.

The air was unusually crisp and stable and we could see out to around forty miles, in fact you could see the Norfolk coast from Peterborough. We headed out over Newborough and towards Crowland and its majestic medieval abbey. The flight took us on to Postland and Sutton St James. The surface wind had now started to ease markedly so it was time to look for that ideal field to land. Drifting past Fenland airfield the A17 was in view and the coast. As we passed the village of Holbeach St Catherine a small fallow field was spotted. We landed at 8.45 p.m. amongst ragwort and thistles! The sunset was spectacular as they mostly are out in the Fens. What a wonderful end to the day.

Dear Breckland Balloons

I can't thank you enough for the balloon trip from Peterborough yesterday evening. I had absolutely no idea just how involved the whole thing was going to be. I must admit the launch got my heart racing, yours too I imagine !!!! The flight was breathtaking the landing was nicely done too. You have a professional and friendly team well done

Regards
Eve Fuller

The weather had remained stable throughout the day and the forecast was good for our hot air balloon flight over Norfolk. Today we would launch from Eccles hall school, which is located between Attleborough and Snetterton race circuit. One of our passengers a Mr Len Horrox arrived with a large number of family members wearing his 60th birthday badge! To start with Len had no idea where his family was taking him.On arrival it soon became apparent what was in stall, judging by his smile the balloon ride was going to be a winner.We soon prepared the balloon was help was in abundance, the breeze started to subside and we were airborne at 7.50 p.m. Looking back at the race circuit many of our passengers did not realise the history behind it. Starting off during the Second World War it was built as a busy airbase for American flying fortresses B17's which supported the airfields at Old Buckenham and Thorpe Abbotts. Eccles school was used as a hospital tending to the injured airmen from these bases.We drifted over Hargham on over the busy market town of Attleborough. Eventually landing in a fallow field in the village of Deopham. All the passengers' family and friends watched the balloon land with great excitement. The farmer Mrs Hasting gave the crew and family permission to enter the field. It was quite a pleasant surprise to find out that we had flown her son some sixteen years ago, goodness time does fly.

‘Brilliant birthday present, great evening both my family and I loved every bit of it'

Len Horrox

This morning turned out to be one of those perfect sunrise balloon flights over Norfolk On this balloon flight we had the pleasure in flying a family party from north Norfolk. We met everyone at 5.30 a.m. This wind was a very gentle flow from the southwest, making the inflation and launch a very easy and gentle affair. Once aloft the visibility was very good in fact at 3,000 feet pretty much all of Norfolk was in view. To the south the wind turbines at North Pickenham were bathed in a shallow layer of mist. The coast to our north was clearly defined. We drifted over the market town of Dereham then onto North Tuddenham. To our south was the 700 acre dairy farm owned by the Dann family. The farm produces high quality ice cream from the diary herd, which is can be purchased from the farm shop. Well worth a family treat.

From a pilots point of view this morning was on of those flights that's quite easy and very relaxing to do. As the overall speed was never above 7 m.p.h. Enabling the pilot to chat and point out the location of towns and villages in greater detail than normal. After an hour we were approaching the village of Lyng. A low approach over fields with standing crop for two miles and to our front was a track, just ideal to put the balloon down. Our crew were already there and helped us move the basket to a gateway enabling us deflate the canopy. With glasses raised we toasted our morning adventure.

‘Thank you again for a fantastic balloon trip, it was most certainly worth the wait. An experience I will never forget'.

David Goodman