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Original poster

Have you ever been in a hot air balloon?

58 replies

EDelafield · 26/03/2023 11:22

And if so, would you recommend it? Any hints or tips?

This is really not something I would ever do. I'm quite wary of heights since hitting middle age, for a start. But life feels so dull and miserable at the moment, and I am trying to think of things I can do that I would look forward to. This idea of a hot air balloon ride just popped in to my head and now it won't go.

I'd probably buy two tickets, treat DP and keep it a complete surprise.

OP posts:
FormerlySpeckledyHen · 26/03/2023 16:32

Yes. Early evening flight and loved it. I liked not knowing where we would end up or how we would get back.
We landed in a field that the owner quickly gave permission for the recovery vehicle to enter and it was very straightforward.

luckylavender · 26/03/2023 16:38

I did once in Egypt over the Valley of the Kings. It was magical but very tricky to get in and out of.

Akite · 26/03/2023 16:43

spring1976 · 26/03/2023 16:31

does
anyone know why the landings seem to be so random? One landed in a school field nearby and there are several
posts on this thread where the balloon pilot landed somewhere random.
Don't they plan where to land ahead of time to make sure it's not a school field or a field full of cows?

The landings are random. They float with the wind so the direction and speed change with every flight.
they won't land in a field with livestock (our field had cowpats - not cows) if they can avoid it and they get to know local farmers/landowners but it's still random as to where you end up.
we used to live near Bristol and one year the balloons from the fiesta landed on our village green, there were 6 or 7 of them and they let the local children climb in the baskets. They usually flew the opposite direction but that one time the wind was blowing our way!

bloodywhitecat · 26/03/2023 16:49

Yes, hate heights but loved hot air ballooning!

LatteOneShotplease · 26/03/2023 16:52

Yes, but only on holiday in Kenya, with my then-husband and our 8yo daughter. She loved it.
The basket was huge, and nicely padded, which was useful for the landing, when the balloon can drag along a little (and the catchers/assistants were worried about a thorny bush - but as it happened, we should really have been worried about the lions who were sighted close by our breakfast set-up in the bush).

Apparently, if there is an issue with the balloon, it turns into a great big parachute and lands very gently. That reassured us, but would not liked to have test the theory.

We were quite low, so we could see the animals - who sometimes ran away, and sometimes just ignored the balloon, maybe they were used to it. It was in Tsavo Hills and also over Salt Lick Safari Lodge, where we stayed for only one night for the elephants - which were lovely to see from the air.

There are no rapid movements, so the ride is smooth - but it does depend how you feel about not being on terra firma; I felt giddy on a water ride, on a stable boat in shallow water on the same holiday!

ProfYaffle · 26/03/2023 16:54

We did it a few years ago. What was a massive pita was the weather dependence, we made countless attempts before actually getting in the air. I think we had to extend our gift voucher a few times.

Like others I was a bit concerned about climbing into the basket but it was fine. The flight itself was wonderful. Landing was ...... jarring. Our basket tipped up and dragged along the ground. I was in the 'upper tier' of the basket, on my back, rattled about and ended up with scratches and scrapes on my knees. I had to get help to be pulled out of the basket. It all sounds way more dramatic than it was, it was a scenario we planned for in our training before we took off. I've attached a photo of the score marks we left in the field.

Have you ever been in a hot air balloon?
iusedtobeasize8 · 26/03/2023 16:57

Enduring Love put me off

LatteOneShotplease · 26/03/2023 17:00

@iusedtobeasize8 (Love theu/n - me too......)

I was going to say that, but didn't like to mention it!

MrsMoastyToasty · 27/03/2023 00:14

Landings are random. However in the early days of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta if the wind took them to the north of the city then they used to try and descend before they got to the aircraft works at Filton, often landing on the golf course near our house.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 27/03/2023 01:02

I went in one over the valley of the kings in Egypt. Really enjoyed it but we landed in the middle of a small road and there was a queue of donkeys and carts waiting for us to be dragged out of the way.

I remember it being difficult to get in and out of as I'm really short. We were told we must wear trousers and flat shoes (common sense surely) but some Chinese tourists turned up in mini skirts and heels. It wasn't comfortable for them when we crash landed 😄.

It was really lovely up there but wish we could have

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 27/03/2023 01:06

Posted too soon
... wish we could have had a private trip as there were a lot of people stuffed into the basket and it seemed too many.

Also wish we could have afforded to do a balloon ride in Kenya when we were there, but it was so so expensive.

Ruthietuthie · 27/03/2023 01:10

I took at hot air balloon trip over Grand Teton in the US. It was incredibly beautiful and I really enjoyed it, even though I am scared of heights.

EarlofShrewsbury · 27/03/2023 18:57

MrsMoastyToasty · 27/03/2023 00:14

Landings are random. However in the early days of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta if the wind took them to the north of the city then they used to try and descend before they got to the aircraft works at Filton, often landing on the golf course near our house.

I lived in Little Stoke as a child and they often landed in our local field. One landed on the house once.

What happens when you need a wee?

Original poster
EDelafield · 27/03/2023 19:15

Tickets bought. Just waiting for available dates now...

OP posts:
sofapaddling · 27/03/2023 19:37

I loved it when I did it. Though like many have said, it was cancelled several times before good weather was finally achieved. And be prepared to help pack up the balloon at the end - they make you work for that good experience 😬

Riverlee · 27/03/2023 19:59

Nope not done one. Don’t laugh, but I’d that I’d the toilet half way through!

Riverlee · 27/03/2023 20:00

I’d worry..

QueefQueen80s · 27/03/2023 20:02

Not since one in Egypt hit electricity lines and all the tourists instantly vaporised..

Worthless1 · 27/03/2023 20:32

I've done it and I loved it. I'd always wanted to go in a hot air balloon and my ex husband treated me for my birthday. It got cancelled a few times due to the weather but it was worth the wait.
We did go through a tree as we started to descend and had to duck.
We also ended up in a field we went supposed to, in a rough area of Bristol. A load of kids came and started climbing on the hot air balloon. The pilot told them to get off anf one boy said "don't shout at me or I'll tell my dad you touched me" and another boy who looked about 14 told my husband he wanted to take me in the back of a van and shag me! 😳 Fond memories 🤣
The actual experience was fantastic though.

LatteOneShotplease · 28/03/2023 15:47

QueefQueen80s · 27/03/2023 20:02

Not since one in Egypt hit electricity lines and all the tourists instantly vaporised..

That was awful.

As we were out in a game reserve, we never saw any power lines.....

Not that I had actually considered that 😶

veiledsentiments · 28/03/2023 16:06

Did it in Cappadocia in Turkey. Was an early start, but the pilot was extremely qualified. Was an absolutely amazing experience. Would definitely do it again.

IvysMum12 · 28/03/2023 19:12

My grandad was a balloonist in the First World War.
I'd only do it if I could keep one foot on the ground.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 28/03/2023 19:19

I wish i was brave enough but i just see them as floating death traps.

HelenaJustina · 28/03/2023 19:25

Yes, loads. My husband has his HAB pilot licence and we have a part share in three balloons. DC have all flown too, rule was they had to be old/tall enough to see over the edge of the basket.

Have had upright landings, drag landings, landings in 8ft of snow drift… the only steerage is using the slightly varying wind directions at different levels so you can’t predict where you will land with a huge degree of accuracy. Balloonists carry specially marked up air maps with sensitive sites like stud farms, power cables etc marked. It’s a very physical team sport and we’ve got amazing friends all over the world from participating.

Original poster
EDelafield · 04/09/2023 18:15

Well, I did it. It was amazing, a really good experience. I was only a little bit nervous at one point, just as we really started to go up in the air.
Looking back it was also the start of a new chapter for me. I’ve tried a couple of outdoorsy things since then and am hoping to work up to more adventurous ones.

OP posts: