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An uplifting experience
Do you have a licence?' a passenger asks the pilot, rather unhelpfully, as the balloon is already drifting at several hundred feet.
'No I just read a book on the way over,' jokes the pilot as the group of 12 airborne people around him start laughing – a little nervously in some cases.
There is a sense of camaraderie – not surprising as most of us are sharing our first experience of flying in a hot air balloon.
Gathered in the wicker basket are mums and sons, anniversary couples and best friends all rising above a West Meon field for a dream trip with the British School of Ballooning.
In charge of our flight is pilot John Coney, who thankfully does have a proper pilot's licence and has been in the job for 12 years and balloon flying for many more.
He has taken hundreds of people on what is often a trip of a lifetime and seen how they react to drifting high above the countryside.
'Most people are surprised by the lack of sensation and speed. I think that's what you can't really imagine,' says John.
The quiet and serenity that comes with floating 1,700 feet above the hustle and bustle of the earth is striking and a very special experience.
At the same time it helps the lucky passenger to be aware of the large unspoiled stretches of countryside we still have in Hampshire.
At times it seems like the balloon isn't moving at all and is simply hovering above patchwork fields that stretch almost as far as the eye can see.
What look like toy tractors trundle across them as Matchbox-like cars whizz along a nearby ribbon of Tarmac.
As we float in the direction of Winchester over the villages of Bramdean and Kilmeston and the stately pile that is Hinton Ampner House, we can see as far as Butser Hill to the north. In the south the Spinnaker Tower and Fawley power station stand out on a hazy horizon.
It's a fabulous view for everyone on board, including John – and he has seen some great sights in his years piloting and travelling in hot air balloons.
Also on the flight is pilot Jeff Lawton, who has come along for the ride. He has his own balloon and the enthusiasts head for meets across the world.
'Austria is probably my favourite,' says John. 'We go to a balloon meet every January and fly right over the Alps. It's absolutely stunning.'
Back over rural Hampshire, the scenery is a little less dramatic but there are plenty of charming countryside sights.
Farm animals dot the landscape and help create a storybook scene, but they can be a cause for concern for the balloon pilots.
The roar of the burners frequently punctuates the silence but for the passengers it's not a problem. It can be, however, for some animals.
'We have to be careful with noise and flying too low over pigs,' says John. 'They don't have the muscles in their necks to be able to look up so they tend to panic and scatter.'
Paying due consideration to farmers and the landscape and ensuring an interesting and pleasant flight for the passengers takes knowledge and planning.
Before the flight John, Jeff and colleague Richie Keen, who follows the balloons in a Land Rover ready to pick up passengers and equipment, spend time studying maps and checking wind direction with helium balloons.
John explains: 'At the moment we'll be heading towards Lee-on-the-Solent, which we don't really want to do. But eventually we should pick up the sea breeze, which will push us the other way.'
He also goes through safety procedures and asks for help clocking power lines – one of the chief hazards for a balloonist.
It's all necessary, although hot air ballooning has an excellent safety record. Still, for those of us uneasy with heights, drifting high above the trees is a little daunting at first.
'Most people are okay in a hot air balloon,' says John. 'It's the lack of sensation and movement. I don't like being up a ladder but this is fine.'
Nevertheless as we rise so does my concern. But I soon go from standing as far away from the side of the basket as possible (which admittedly isn't very far), to looking over the side at a rabbit darting through a field of linseed.
John adjusts our height frequently, partly so we can see as much as possible and partly to catch different air currents. Soon we have caught the sea breeze and everything is going swimmingly.
But apparently we should be concerned if we're still looking for somewhere to land after about two hours of flight. We don't have the propane gas to keep us up for much longer.
Of course we come down with plenty of time to spare, although the balloonists have to be careful about where they land. Many farmers are very helpful, but the pilots have to show them consideration too and avoid landing where they are likely to cause a disturbance. One area on John's map is marked 'impound threat' so one land-owner clearly isn't enthusiastic about balloon flight.
John has already briefed us on crash positions. Occasionally a basket will land upright, but in all other instances passengers must hold the rope handles at the side and crouch down, leaning on the dividers inside the basket.
It's uncomfortable but John assures us we'll soon be in a lying position and facing the sky.
The basket does tip and drag but it's fine and soon Richie is on his way to retrieve us and take us to a local farmyard for the traditional Champagne toast.
John's pleased with the successful sunset flight which has delighted the passengers. 'Yes it all went well, although I thought we were going to have to come down 20 minutes earlier – we were only about a mile from Southampton Airport airspace. It was fine – all perfectly legal and safe,' he says cheerfully
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Weather for Portsmouth
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
