Every year there are certain balloon flights that really do stick in your mind and this evening was certainly on of those. We greeted our passengers at Mattishall Golf Club. The wind on the surface was going to take us south slowly towards the town of Wymondham. We always extract highly detailed forecasts prior to every balloon trip and this evening at height the wind was flowing in the opposite direction with more speed. However we would need to fly high, very high. With a flight of this caliber you need consensus from the passengers they are happy for this to take place, everyone was very keen. At 500 feet we were barley moving at 3 knots, a radio call to Norwich Air Traffic Control requesting to ascend to 7,500 feet was made. The reply came back ‘ yes you have clearance to climb to FL75. Stratus burners on and the balloon is heated we start our climb at 500 feet per minute. Eyes now on the GPS system at 2,000 we are virtually stationary! We keep climbing passing 2,500 we start to turn towards Norwich at 10 knots. At 5,000 feet heading Taverham 16 knots. We finish the climb at 7,500 feet now heading north at 23 knots towards Blickling and the north Norfolk coast. Norwich ATC call us on the radio to inform that a sea breeze has developed and the surface wind is now coming from the east, so we now know our direction will change again when we descend into the surface layer. The view was to say the least quite something. From Kings Lynn, Morston through to the Norfolk Broads with ships out on the North Sea all were well defined. As we approach Blickling we start our descent and at 800 feet turn to the left some 100 degrees. We are now travelling towards the attractive market town of Reepham. We fly over the town centre to waves from the locals sitting outside the Kings Arms and a large group of very excited children who have now decided to give chase on their bicycles. We land on a cut hay field in the parish of Reepham after one hour and 35 minutes in the air. A truly wonderful end to the day.
Our Balloon Ride last week was amazing. I must admit I was a liitle conserned when you explained the height thing but any worries i had soon dissapeared as the experience un folded. Well done all of you Really was worth the wait. THANK YOU.
Simon Morris