This morning was a wonderful opportunity to view the city of Norwich and the Norfolk Broads from a hot air balloon. We launched from Mattishall golf club and quickly climbed out to 2,000 feet. It was a stunning morning with pristine views out to the coast. Our track was taking us to the north of Norwich at about 20 knots. A quick call to Norwich air traffic control on 119.35 MHz to inform them of our transit of their airspace. As we pass overhead Taverham the balloon descends to 1,000 feet our track then turns to a westerly heading with the wind speed down to 14 knots. From the balloon basket we keep a listening watch on the airports frequency and watch the first lift of helicopters taking the oilrig workers out across the North Sea. We then descend again to 500 feet as we approach the Norfolk Broads. Wroxham and Hoveton are two connected villages, split by the River Bure and are a beautiful sight from the air. With still no suitable landing in sight we press on over Wroxham and Hoveton broad. We are now in open countryside and are flying at 100 feet. Our ground crews has things well in hand and are to our front coming along the Neatishaed road. They are on the radio explaining there is a field suitable to land to our front. Passengers are then briefed to stow their cameras and adopt landing positions the hot air balloon touches down in the parish of Horning. With the balloon packed away and on its trailer we toasted our flight in the traditional manner.
Dear Robert, John and David,
Had to drop you all a note of thanks for my balloon flight over Norwich on Saturday morning. I commend you on your professionally and conduct from start to finish, the views of Norwich and the Broads will be something to be savored for a long time. My wife who followed your ground team enjoyed that experience to, and now wished that she had been on board with me.
John Warwick