Get High With Hot Air Ballooning

Say it quietly but summer is almost here again

. Okay, here in Britain our definition of 'summer' might differ from the rest of the world, but now the skies are finally clearing we'll soon be used to one of the more peaceful sights of a summer's evening: hot air balloons drifting languidly through the clouds. It's one of the more delightful sights to behold and, as hot air ballooning becomes increasingly popular, it's one we're seeing more of all the time.

This hobby has a long and proud history. The first balloon flight was launched back in the 18th century by Pilatre De Rozier. He sent his new invention, with the grand sounding name of Aerostate Reveillion up with the first ever passengers: a sheep, a duck and a rooster.

Before long hot air ballooning was taking off all over the world. A couple of years later, Jean Pierre Blanchard broke a new record for making the first flight across the channel. He would later become the first person to make a flight in North America in 1793. Slowly but surely it was cleat hot air ballooning was becoming a global phenomenon.

However, for the most audacious attempt, we should probably cast our eyes to a Switzerland and a scientist named Auguste Piccarde. While most were reasonably happy with modest flights right here on terra firma, he had bigger ambitions. Why, he asked, could a man not fly a balloon right into space. He came as close as was feasibly possible . In 1932 he made the first manned flight into the stratosphere reaching a height of over 52,000.

However, the most famous balloonist has to be Richard Branson. Having made his fortune with Virgin he decided to spend most of it embarking on ever more ambitious hot air balloon flights around the world. Sometimes he was successful; other times not.

Today, though, hot air ballooning assumes what we might expect is more modest and realistic proportions, as a popular leisure activity. There are lots of operations offering the chance to go drifting off into a world of your own. It's an incredibly peaceful and relaxing experience. It gives you a chance to enjoy the landscape around you in a whole new way.

Hot air ballooning prices are surprisingly affordable. They vary depending on what type of trip you want. You could hire one for just a couple of hours or even a day or two. If you like you could even float around as part of a race. Whatever you choice there are few more wonderful pastimes. No wonder so many people come back time and time again.

by: Dominic Donaldson

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