Why choose Kent Ballooning?

Listed below are the reasons why we believe Kent Ballooning are flying high above our competitors!

  • We have been established since 1990 and our current Pilot, Michael, has been flying since 1998, not only in Kent but also Australia, USA and Canada.  He is also a UK Balloon Pilot Instructor and holds a rare Group C Commercial Pilot’s Licence, allowing him to fly the largest balloons in the UK.
  • As your local balloon flight operator we have excellent local knowledge.  Michael has lived in Kent since 1981 and will point out local landmarks, places of historical interest and breathtaking scenery to add to the enjoyment of your flight.
  • We fly only in Kent, 7 days a week, both morning and evening during our flying season which is April until October.  (Some of our competitors claim to launch from over 60 UK sites but only have 10 or so balloons covering them all!  You could be waiting months to book a date convenient to you from a launch site in Kent!)
  • All of our launch sites are easy to get to and most are within 3 miles of a motorway junction. 
  • We offer you weather insurance as standard.  We won't charge you extra!!  If you are unlucky enough to have your flight cancelled on 5 occasions due to unsuitable weather conditions then we will automatically extend your Flight Voucher for a further period of 3 months.
  • We have an excellent passenger safety record.  The basket on our Spitfire balloon was manufactured to our own larger specifications, which currently exceed CAA standards, including seats for unrivalled comfort and safety during your flight and landing.
  • All of our equipment is impeccably maintained and our balloons inspected annually by the BBAC (British Balloon and Airship Club).  We hold a full CAA Air Operators Certificate (BL 085) and are members of BABO (British Association of Balloon Operators) and BBAC.  Michael is also the BBAC Land Owner Relations Officer for Kent.

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  • For your safety and to answer any questions that you may have, the Spitfire balloon has 3 ground crew plus your Pilot.  This also means we won’t insist on your help with the inflation or rely on you to pack the balloon away and load the basket onto the trailer, like some balloon companies!  You can just relax and enjoy your champagne or join in if you are feeling energetic!
  • We train our crew to beyond the standards recommended by the CAA.  Most have worked with us for a good number of years and some are even training to be pilots themselves, so they really know the ropes!
  • We don’t offer you just one glass of champagne after your flight, providing you are not driving!  For those who aren’t keen on champagne, there is orange juice or water and for the ale lovers there is always plenty of Spitfire courtesy of our sponsors, Shepherd Neame!
  • We offer you a unique, state of art on board digital photo system, giving you a complete history of your balloon flight.  Whilst you enjoy your champagne after your flight you can browse your photos on our 17” laptop and order a CD Rom.
  • We return you to the launch site in the comfort and safety of our fully licensed PSV ‘Spitfire’ minibus with forward facing seats and 3 point belts (not bouncing around in the back of a Land Rover!)  We are one of the few hot air ballooning companies in the UK who have a bus operators licence to offer this service.
  • Our current sponsors are Shepherd Neame but in the past we have worked with Kent Messenger Group (KM and KMFM), Adscene Newspapers, Invicta Radio, NFU (National Farmers Union), Chunnel Plant Hire and Corel Draw to name but a few!  Kent Ballooning is a local, well recognised and trusted company.
  • In a recent customer survey, our passengers rated us as having excellent customer service and 100% of our passengers said they would recommend us to a friend!  With us, it’s not just a once in a lifetime experience – you’ll want to come back again and again!
  • We might not be the biggest, but we are certainly the best!  Your ballooning experience with Kent Ballooning will be the safest and the most enjoyable!

Now click here to find out what comes as standard with your Flight Voucher and see our great prices!