High Road Balloons have various hot air balloon flights options for you when it comes to getting you in the air.  Full details and online booking can be found at www.highroadballoons.co.uk

We have 2 balloons.  Both are available for private charter.  Our smaller 2 passenger balloon has been proven quite popular for anniversaries, birthdays and wedding hire (we have had many marriage proposals in our balloons) or for many other occasions you can think of! 

We also have an 8 passenger balloon which can be chartered for families, corporate hire and functions, parties or groups of friends.  We may be able to arrange for us to come to your village or town if you can get together 8 people for a hot air balloon flight.  We could take-off from your village green or recreation park (permissions required) or even your land if you have space.

If you would like to buy one, two or any number up to 8 vouchers then there are options regarding which type of voucher you choose:

An 'Anytime Flight Voucher' is valid Monday through to Sunday (including Bank Holidays).

A 'Midweek Flight Voucher' is valid Monday through to Friday (including Friday evening but not Bank Holidays.

A 'Standby Flight Voucher' is valid anytime but you are unable to book a specific date.  We would call you with 48 or 24 hours notice that we have a flight.  You would be able to decline our dates on up to 5 occasions.  For full details of prices and online booking please visit our website www.highroadballoons.co.uk

A hot air balloon is made up of components that fit together.  The crew will prepare the balloon for a flight at the launch site and will happily explain how a balloon works.  Firstly there is the 'basket' which is made from wicker.  This is the part of the balloon which the passengers stand in during the flight.  The basket also hold the flight cylinders or 'gas tanks' and of course the pilot.  Once the basket is off-loaded from the trailer and put in the correct postion for the direction of flight (balloons travel in the same direction as the prevailing wind) the 'burner' is fitted.  This is the part of the balloon that changes the gas into fire and heats the air in the balloon thus providing lift.  The burner is attached and the balloon basket is laid on it's side.  At this point the 'envelope' is unveiled.  This is the fabric part of the hot air balloon (the balloon shaped part) which attaches to the burner frame.    The envelope is stretched out and filled with cold air by means of an 'inflator fan'.  The air enters the envelope at the 'mouth'.  This is the big opening at the bottom of the envelope.  The cold air helps the fabric of the envelope lift and become more of a balloon shape.  Once the envelope is sufficiently filled with cold air the pilot lights his burners and gently heats the air inside.  At this point the air expands and so does the envelope.  The air becomes warm enough that it rises – lifting the envelope up and making the balloon stand up.  The hot air balloon is now ready to fly.  Once the passengers are loaded and the pilot has completed his safety checks the restraint line is released and the balloon floats gently above and is carried in the direction of the wind.

Each hot air balloon flight lasts approximately one hour and with the very nature of ballooning each one is unique.  There are many different options when it comes to buying a 'flight voucher'.  It largely depends upon when you want to fly, in which size balloon and how many people you want to buy vouchers for.  You can book online at www.highroadballoons.co.uk or call us for more information or if you would like to speak to one of us about the options available to you.