Hot air ballooning

What to expect

Hot air ballooning is all about getting up in the air. Hot air balloon experiences can be non-tethered, so you travel where the wind takes you, or tethered, where the balloon and basket are attached to a point on the ground so you just go up and down. Either way, you’ll stand in a basket that’s suspended below a giant balloon filled with hot air.

Take off and landing are exciting experiences, but you’ll also have the chance to watch the world drift by.

Hot air ballooning is an activity for older Scouts – it’s likely that Beavers and Cubs won’t be able to see over the side of the basket, and many providers have height or age restrictions to keep everyone safe.

What you’ll learn

Hot air ballooning offers you the chance to appreciate the world from a new angle. When you’re in the sky and the burner goes quiet, it’s a great opportunity to look around (and down) at the world below. Do you notice anything you don’t see every day?

Pilots are usually happy to share their knowledge and experience, too. Hot air balloons work because the burner heats the air inside the balloon; when it’s hotter than the air outside the balloon it makes the aircraft lift. When the cools down, the balloon will float slowly back to Earth. That’s just the basics, though. Why not pick the pilot’s brain and see what you can find out?

Fun facts

• The first hot air balloon was flown in Paris on the 19 September 1783 – it was an unmanned, tethered light. Just a month later, in October 1783, was the first manned flight up to 26 metres.
• Since then, the activity’s spread across the world. Events happen every year to celebrate hot air balloons, for example, the British International Balloon Fiesta.

Handy hints

• See how it works. A flair for hot air is the perfect way to prepare for this adventure and remind yourself of the science behind your trip to the skies.
• Make sure your camera has a strap. You’ll want to make the most of the photo opportunities that come with hot air ballooning, but you need to keep you camera (and people on the ground!) safe. A strap’s the best way to do this – even if everyone’s really careful, accidents can happen.
• Expect to swish and sway. Sometimes, adventures like hot air ballooning can cause motion sickness. Be prepared with anything you need to cope with it, and have a chat about what people can to to manage motion sickness before you take off.
• Take a map. Being up in the air is a great opportunity to see how the ground looks from above – it’s like a map unfolding beneath your eyes. Why not take a map along so you can compare it to what you see?