The earliest balloons, such as those flown by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783, were vast constructions of linen and paper. They had to lift not only the pilot and passengers, but also, incredibly, bear the weight of an iron brazier and all the fuel, straw and wood required for the flight! Not surprisingly, many of these early monsters, known as "Montgolfiers", caught fire, or were destroyed by gusts of wind while still on the ground.

So it was that the alternative gas balloon, a sealed envelope of lighter-than-air gas, also first flown in 1783, was soon adopted as the balloonists' preferred means of ascent. It seemed that the hot air balloon, man's first aircraft, was to be consigned to history.

However, the desire to construct a viable hot air balloon still tantalised the ingenuity of many engineers. One hundred and eighty years later, during the early 1960's, the combination of strong, lightweight nylon and bottled LPG changed everything, and the modern hot air balloon was born.

Another forty years on and the hot air balloon continues to evolve. The last decade has seen giant balloons conquer first the Atlantic, then the Pacific Ocean. In March 1999, after many failed attempts, the first circumnavigation of the globe was accomplished, using a 'combination' balloon. This design utilises both hot air and gas, and is known as a "Rosiere" after Pilatre Rosiere, the pilot of the first man-carrying balloon, which ascended from Paris in 1783.

The advances in technology, originally developed to aid some of these remarkable flights, has filtered through to improvements in the manufacture of sporting and passenger balloons, and is reflected most particularly in the development of fabrics and the design of burners. Modern balloons are tough, durable, and have a safety record unparalleled by any other aircraft.

Over the years, Champagne Flights has purchased balloons and equipment almost exclusively from Thunder & Colt Balloons, now based at Bristol. It is good to know that our balloons, with their consistently safe and reliable build quality, have been designed and built by the same British engineers and craftsmen who worked on so many record-breaking projects. When we order new equipment, we know it's the very best.