About Us
1. What you need to know…
Taking off from West Linton
The club currently has its own balloon named ‘Saltire’ and we’re currently in the process of securing funding for a new balloon (see ‘The Next EUHABC Balloon!‘). We’re able to offer cheap flights for members partly through a subsidy from the Edinburgh University Sports Union and partly by the committed efforts of some Club members who turn up regularly to help with flying and participate in fund-raising activities. It is their involvement that enables us to fly so many students for the first time.
Many just take the opportunity to fly and are never seen again, but some do see beyond this chance and continue to participate in the sport of ballooning for many years. Ballooning isn’t just about watching the world float by beneath you; it’s about participating in a team to get the balloon in the air, navigating your way about the countryside to follow the balloon until it lands and then celebrating the day in a nearby village hostelry!
Getting ready to inflate at Bush
Keen participants can even go on to receive flying instruction and gain a pilot’s licence; all club pilots have gained their licenses this way and some now fly professionally in far away places such as Kenya.
But obviously, most students who first turn up want to get into the air as soon as possible and the club will typically get you into the air by your second trip with us. We try to give priority to those who get most involved with the club.
2. Want to go flying
Lift off
Put simply, for local weekend flying, come along to our meetings and we’ll keep you updated about chances to fly.
Ballooning is only possible in light winds and non-thermic air. The best opportunity for such conditions is at the beginning and end of a day. During the summer, even turning up at 7am has sometimes proved too late by the time that we reach the takeoff site! Be prepared for early starts! In the winter, daylight and therefore flying time is restricted so early starts are not a problem (but do be prepared to be up before dawn).
When we go flying we usually meet at the Club garage. You should bring warm outdoor clothes and stout footwear. Food is optional but with a trip typically lasting up to five hours it is recommended although we often stop for a drink and snack. In addition, the Club also organises cheap weekend trips away, either to small balloon meets (e.g. Hull and the Lake District) where you can meet other fellow balloonists, or just one off trips in Scotland, typically the Borders or the Trossachs. We usually stay in hostels or camp if it is warm enough!
The Club also flies abroad in the summer and attends the biannual Metz balloon festival in France – host to thousands of balloons and 300,000 spectators.
3. Costs
Each member is required to pay a membership fee of £15, which is valid for one year.
The cost of your first flight is £40. This covers the cost of running our vehicle and your share of the propane used on the flight. Flights can last between 30 minutes and 2 hours, although typically last around 1 hour. The duration depends on the weather conditions, landing sites and the preferences of the passengers. Subsequent flights cost £10 for active club members.
We accept cheques (payable to EUHABC).
Note that the current commercial rate for ballooning in Southern Scotland is between £150 and £200 per hour!
4. So you want to learn to fly?
Inflating on a cold day
To ensure the continuing survival of the Club, experienced Club pilots train Club members so that they can obtain a Private Pilots License (PPL) in the balloon category. The amount of training that each trainee requires varies greatly with the student’s previous aviation experience, general ability and commitment as well as the general weather conditions that prevail through his/her training.
The award of a PPL enables the holder to captain the balloon and fly passengers, although not for personal remuneration other than a contribution towards flying costs. To fly for remuneration, a pilot has to obtain a Commercial Pilots License, requiring significantly more flying experience. Trainee pilots start out at the bottom by spending perhaps a year convincing the pilots and committee that they have enough enthusiasm and commitment to complete a training program that, on average, will take a year. Even during training, much time and devotion is required. Much of it is spent ringing up for detailed weather forecasts, getting together a retrieve crew and persuading a pilot’s spouse that she really doesn’t mind letting him disappear at 7am on Sunday morning to give you a training flight! But the rewards are there. One pilot has been flying commercially in Africa, Canada and now Germany. Another local pilot has just come back from flying in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Others maintain their licenses more locally in between surgery, conveyancing and computing.
The club assists financially with trainee pilots costs. The amount depends on the effort that the trainee pilot puts in, but usually the flying costs are halved and the examination and license fees (amounting to several hundred pounds) are paid. Once trained, the Club naturally expects a trained pilot to help continue the survival of the Club by flying Club members, although at this stage, the flying is free.
The club aims to train one pilot per year. If the urge is there, then get noticed and have a chat with us. If we can’t put you off, then we’ll know you’re serious!
5. A brief history of the club
Edinburgh University Hot Air Balloon Club was founded in 1969 by a small group of enthusiastic students, with the intention of providing an unusual and rewarding sport for all members of the University. The first balloon – Godolphin – flew in October 1970 and was one of the first hot air balloons registered in Britain. The Club quickly became recognized internationally when two pilots trained within the club, Dick Worth and Ian Jacobs, set a new world altitude record of 23,000 feet in Godolphin.
In 1974, Godolphin was retired to the British Balloon Museum in Newbury and was succeeded by Obelix which had the cartoon character emblazoned in full colour on its envelope. Obelix gave good service until early 1979 when, to take account of the Club’s increased membership, a larger balloon was purchased. This balloon, the James Tytler, made its maiden flight in February 1979 and was used successfully to train a number of club pilots and to regularly fly Club members.
James Tytler, a graduate of this university, was the first British aeronaut. He made the first historic balloon ascent from Edinburgh on the 25th August 1784 flying the Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon. Two hundred years later to the day, the Club’s fourth balloon, aptly named the Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon, made its maiden flight. This was the largest balloon ever flown by the club, having a 105,000 cu ft air capacity. Two high-powered liquid propane burners were used to heat this air and the envelope stood 80 feet high. The wicker basket accommodated up to six people.
