The Experience

A flight in a hot air balloon is one of the most exhilarating and memorable experiences you can have.  Kent Ballooning have been flying over the beautiful Garden of England since 1990 and our Chief Pilot has flown extensively throughout Canada, America and Australia.

Flights are scheduled 7 days a week during our flying season which usually runs from April to October.  We fly early in the morning just after sunrise, or in the evening a few hours before sunset.  These are the times when the air is generally stable and winds are light, making ideal conditions for ballooning.  Once you have booked your flight date, you can call our confirmation line to find out if it is going ahead.  Here you will be told which launch site the Pilot has chosen and what time to meet.  As balloons are guided by the wind it is the Pilot who chooses the launch site based on the forecast… so we don’t end up in the sea!  All of our launch sites have their own unique and charming features so don’t be disappointed if the launch site chosen is not your preferred option!

Upon arrival at the launch site, our crew will be there to greet you.  The Pilot and crew will be assembling the balloon on it’s side ready for your flight, feel free to look around and ask all those puzzling questions!  After a briefing by your Pilot, the inflation will begin, with petrol driven fans blowing cold air into the balloon.  As the balloon takes shape, the Pilot will use propane burners to add heat bringing the balloon and basket into an upright position, ready for passengers to climb aboard.  Anyone who might have difficulty climbing into the basket can enter while it’s horizontal.  A few more blasts of the burners is all that’s needed before you rise gracefully into the sky. 

There are few words that adequately describe your exhilaration as you first lift off in a hot air balloon.    The ground gently slips away as you rise up into the sky.  The roads and towns start to shrink and the colours and shapes of the beautiful Garden of England take over your senses. Once airborne, you will see the countryside from a totally new perspective.

So what’s it like flying in a balloon?  Firstly it’s quiet, you can hear dogs bark from 2,000ft!  The occasional roar of the burners usually goes unnoticed during the flight as you marvel at the sites below.  Viewing the world from the calm and peace of a hot air balloon as it drifts across the sky is really is an experience of a lifetime.  As we say - ‘The world looks different from a balloon’.  The colours of the countryside change depending on the time of year that you choose to fly.  For instance, in May you often see vivid patches of yellow rapeseed in flower, whilst in August the crops turn golden brown ready for harvesting.  Cold and frosty spring mornings have their appeal just as much as hot summer evenings – whenever you decide to fly, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

On the clearest of days it is possible to see Essex to the north, the Kent coastline to the east, France to the south and London to the west.  During your flight, you can reach heights of up to 6,500ft to enjoy the full panoramic view, or you may even dip down low to brush the treetops!  The wind direction and speed will determine the course and distance that you’ll fly.  Usually you can expect to cover anywhere between 5 and 25 miles.  Don’t forget to bring your camera and if it’s not digital, lots of film!

Once the pilot has chosen a suitable landing site he will talk you through his actions for the touch down and get you into the correct landing position.  If conditions are calm it is possible to have a ‘stand-up landing’, this is where the basket remains upright and sometimes can even be landed on its trailer!  If the wind is a little faster you will experience an ‘active landing’, this is where the basket will drag along the ground for a short distance before coming to a standstill, after which you will climb out laughing and giggling!

Once back on the ground, you’ll be invited to help the crew pack away the balloon, or you can just sit back and watch everyone else!  After a traditional champagne toast, you’ll receive a commemorative flight certificate signed by your Pilot and the opportunity to purchase any souvenirs of your flight, these include in-flight photography and clothing. 

Whether you are celebrating a birthday, an anniversary or just taking the trip of a lifetime, we are sure you will enjoy your flight with Kent Ballooning and cherish the memories forever – we’d love to have you along!