| By :
Eddie Prentice
The first manned balloon flight took place over 200 years ago. As piloting a balloon requires licensing and purchase of equipment, most people opt to purchase a balloon flight from a company offering balloon rides. This guide is designed to answer questions that prospective flight passengers may have. 1. When is the best time of year to fly? Generally in the summer months. In the UK, the main season generally runs between March and October. Naturally, weekend summer evenings are the most popular so there may be greater availability on weekdays. Spring and Autumn can produce some excellent flying conditions, with changing colours and flights of greater distances. 2. What time of day is best to fly? Balloon flights are made either early morning or evening when the winds are at their calmest. The time varies throughout the season as with the daylight hours. Typically in the UK, from May - August flights take off at 6:30am or 6:00pm. In the winter it is usually possible to fly any time of the day 3. Where do flights land? Balloons fly with the wind, so you only know the approximate direction of a flight, not the exact landing point. 4. Is it Safe? The answer is, very safe. Hot air ballooning has the best safety record of any form of flying. It is highly unlikely that anybody would take you flying if conditions are unsafe. All pilots are highly qualified and all are commercially licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority. 5. How long do flights last? Generally a commercial balloon flight lasts an hour or so. Generally you will be met where you land and driven back to your point of departure. All in, you should allow about 3 hours for a one hour flight. 6. How high do you fly? Mostly not above 2500ft, normally a cruising height is around 1000ft. The temperature in the balloon is very similar as on the ground, there is no wind chill factor. 7. What should you wear? Stout waterproof shoes or Wellingtons are advisable as landing fields can often be very damp early morning and evening. A hat for those who may be 'thin on top' as the burner creates quite a lot of radiant heat. Ladies should not wear high heels. It is just as warm in the sky as on the ground - the same clothes as one would wear to go out on the day for a walk, will be adequate.
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