HOT
AIR BALLOONING IN NEPAL
INFORMATION:
Now a days Hot Air Balloon has been drifting across the Kathmandu Valley. Sunrise Nepal (P) Ltd. announces its daily flight, weather permitting, from the first week of October through to end of April.
AGE: There is no age barrier to enjoying our flights. However, a degree of fitness is required as we may have to walk through paddocks after landing. There are no seats in the basket - therefore, standing for the duration of the flight ( about on hour) is unavoidable.
We do not recommend bringing very small children. The reason are twofold-the first being the comfort and enjoyment of the other passengers. The baskets are quite small and young children often get restless when in confined areas. The second reason is more practical. The walls of the baskets are four feet high, small children would have difficulty in seeing over, unless carried by an adult ( an arduous task for a one hour fight). We do stipulate that children under 12 years must be accompanied by an adult.
WHEN: We take off soon after sunrise. Winds are usually at their calmest then. Winter months provide the most reliable conditions. We fly in the summer, but very early in the morning.
DURATION: Normally we fly for about an hour, but this is at the pilot's discretion, taking into account the winds, temperature and weight carried on the day.
WHAT TO WEAR: Dress as for hiking, including sturdy shoes or boots plus sun glasses, gloves and a cap. It does not get any colder in the balloon than on the ground.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Our advice is to bring more film than you think you'll need. There is so much to see, from an entirely new perspective - you'll want to record it all to relive later.
PAYMENTS/REFUNDS: Payments must be made at least 3 days prior to flight. As ballooning is dependant on favorable weather conditions and safety is our first consideration and we will not fly it conditions are unsuitable. If you are "weathered out" you may rebook for this season or the next, or receive a refund.
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WHAT TO EXPECT ON A PASSENGER FLIGHT
Everyone
meets at a predetermined spot, usually half an hour before daybreak. After a cup
of tea and a short flight briefing the adventure begins. At this time the wind
direction is determined and a launch site is chosen. Launch sites are dotted
around the valley, so that no matter where the winds is coming from, the
passengers are guaranteed a lovely flight.
The
actual launch of the hot air balloon usually takes place no more than half an
hour after arrival at the launch site. The balloon and the basket are carried in
a truck. The basket is laid on its side and the gaily colored fabric is pulled
out of its bag. Flying wires from the "Envelope" are attached, and the
whole system is given a "walk around" inspection by pilot and
Passengers may assist with the inflation, or stand back and take photographs,
whichever they desire to do.
Initially,
a large fan is used to direct cold air into the envelope - later the burner is
fired, thus heating the air already in the balloon. As the warm air expands, the
envelope rises into position above the basket, ready for flight..............a
sleeping beauty brought to life. As the balloon can only move in the same
direction as the wind is blowing and cannot return to the launch site, it is
necessary for the ground crew to follow in a retrieve vehicle. Communication
between the pilot and ground is maintained via two - way radio. Flights are
usually 45 minutes to 1 hour in duration. At the final landing point, the
retrieve crew assist in packing up the envelope and basket. A flight certificate
and souvenir pack are distributed to all passengers, rounding off a fabulous
adventure. From the start to finish the balloon adventure takes about 5 hours,
yet the experience will leave you with warm memories which will last a lifetime.
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HOT - AIR BALLOONING IN KATHMANDU - THE FACTS
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"Procure
me some taffeta and rope and I will astonish the world". This statement was
reportedly made by Joseph Montogolfier, a French papermaker, (and his brother
Etienne), more than 200 years ago. It was not as pompous as it might seem.
Watching smoke rise up the chimney, Joseph deduced that a paper bag filled
with hot air would rise heavenwards, too. The brothers knew nothing of the
relationship between pressure density, temperature and the buoyancy of gases and
it was ten years before their experiments convinced them to attempt a public
demonstration.
On
June 5, 1783, they did indeed astonish the world with a linen balloon some 11
meters in diameter, inflated over a fire of damp straw, old shoes and
brandy-soaked rags. The Paris Royal Academy of Science was impressed and on
September 19 that year, the Montgolfiers inflated a balloon at Versailles before
King Louise XVI and Maries Antoinette. The passengers were a sheep, a rooster
and a duck and the flight lasted eight minutes. Indecorously, the sheep trampled
the duck on landing, but the queen was so moved she installed the world's first
surviving aerial passengers in her private zoo.
The
historic first manned free flight followed on November 21 when Jean Francois
Pitatre De Rozier and a nobleman, the Marquis D'Arlands, flew for 25 minutes at
an average height of 300 ft. Their balloon was not the simple functional design
preferred today. It was elaborately decorated with sighs of zodiac worked in
gold bearing an embellished monogram of the King of France. The lower part was
garnished with masks, garlands and spread-eagles and the circular basket
festooned with draperies and other ornaments. No wonder Marie Antoinett dubbed
ballooning the "Sport of the Gods", though skeptics dismissed the
bizarre activity as a useless eccentricity of the aristocratic classes. Others,
however, saw great potential. The American Benjamin Franklin was present at the
first launch and, when asked what useful purpose the balloon might serve,
replied: "Of what use is a newborn baby?". Fortunately, many shared
his view.
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Nigel
Pogmore has for many years had an interest in Travel of more adventurous nature.
In 1974 
Nigel set off on a motor cycle trip, from his home town of York, England
to Asia,. On his return to Yorkshire he found settling down to the normal
everyday life, impractical, numerous jaunt proceeded. In 1978 Nigel had the good
fortune to be selected as expedition driver for Encounter Overland, a UK company
that is renowned for its expedition to Kathmandu. It was during his time with
Encounter, that Nigel became addicted to Nepal. Whilst working for Encounter
Overland, he was sent to support other members of staff man a nine persons yacht
that did ten day charter trips between Pennang and Phuket. Later on Nigel
arrived in Australia, and based himself in Sydney for the next ten years.
It
was in Australia, that Nigels interest in Balloons started. Perhaps it was fate
that he was to meet up with Christ Dewhirst. Chris a well credited balloon
pilot, agreed to train Nigel up to the Australian standard. Nigel went on to run
Balloon Sunrise NSW. Along with many interesting times with Balloon Sunrise
Nepal he was asked to be a part of the Australian Bicentennial Balloon race
team, a race from Perth to Sydney. Nigel went on to start up Balloon Sunrise in
England, and has two operations, one in Yorkshire and the other in the Scottish
border. Along with the above he has flown balloons in UAE, also in Egypt in the
valley of the Kings and the Queens. Nigel's commitments to excellence and
safety, his energetic approach to life, and passion of ballooning plus a love of
telling a tale quickly puts his passengers at ease, all combines to make,
Balloon Sunrise Nepal a special company to fly with.
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