Learning to rise to the occasion

The early bird catches the sunrise in a hot-air balloon over Christchurch, as PAT BARRETT finds.

The quiet pre-dawn streets of urban Christchurch sunk slowly beneath us as we ascended steadily into the still darkened sky with only a whisper of wind to denote our passage upwards.

Not a word passed our lips as the vast canopy, 35m high, drew us up and out toward the south-west, passing over slumbering Christchurch, dominated by street lights and shadows.

The 20 passengers on this early morning flight were encouraged to lay out and inflate the huge bubble of reinforced nylon with the help of chief pilot Peter Kollar. Once the 700kg parcel is spread on to the ground from the tip-trailer, it is quickly stretched out flat. The hot-air entry hole is opened and attached to our bus, which doubles as an anchor. Generator-driven fans blast air into the balloon, which begins to billow and writhe along the ground like an awakening dinosaur.

This phase can be decidedly chilling for those standing either side of the blowers to hold open the entry point.

When fully inflated, hot air is blasted in short bursts to raise the balloon to a standing position. Now it becomes obvious why travelling in a hot-air balloon is a warm experience and extra clothing is not needed.

We board the basket as quickly as possible and moments later the huge craft is uncoupled from the bus and rises rapidly into the air.

This dramatic transformation from a lifeless heap of fabric into a craft of grace and beauty is stunning.

Hot-air ballooning is a peaceful way to fly, free from the constraints of pressurised cabins, port-holes and stuffy air. Here you are intimately linked with the heavens and only a nose length from the steadily increasing void below the wicker basket of the balloon.

It is exciting and calming to soar effortlessly skyward, the regular roar of the LPG burners the essential intrusion on the peace and stealth of the flight.

As we gained altitude we lost intricate ground detail and our field of view changed to the distant alps, the squat bulk of the Peninsula hills and the broad swathe of brightly lit Christchurch.

Beyond the line of dimly visible surf the rapid lightening of the horizon promised a spectacular sunrise over plains and peaks.

The immense bulbous bulk of the balloon arched over us, its interior lit by the intense heat and flame - 10,000 cubic metres and a maximum of 3 tonnes, our pilot told us - which was ample to carry the 20 of us plus fuel, basket and associated paraphernalia.

Regular blasts of heat kept us climbing at a rate of 200m a minute. Our balloon, the largest commercial balloon in the world, with a maximum rate of ascent of more than 400m a minute, can easily out-climb a helicopter.

Gliding, climbing, descending and cruising all happen in a choreographed display of grace and simplicity. In a sense, an unreal experience of flight, but one which attracts novices and experienced balloonists.

The red blush of dawn light painted the balloon, peaks and plains in a display of radiance, softening the landscape under its warm glow.

Dawn is always a special window of beauty on the day, and seen from the open basket drifting above the plains it was especially memorable.

Capturing the sun's fleeting passage over the horizon and the first wash of colour was an exercise in efficiency and agility, especially from the cramped balloon basket, where we were allotted small cubicles which, in our case, each contained five people.

The cubicles secure passengers for the sometimes rough touchdown.

Our descent to a farmer's paddock south-west of Christchurch was gentle. Canterbury has ideal terrain for ballooning, with its wide open spaces and small population - unlike Europe, where finding a landing spot can be quite a skill, and a touchdown in a schoolyard, tennis court or road is not uncommon.

As we drifted slowly, with the north-east wind pushing us over the hedgerows, the pilot shouted for us to brace for landing.

We hunkered down in the basket with a firm grasp on the landing loops, frame or each other as the the craft sank swiftly toward the ground.

There was a sharp bump, quickly followed by a leaping surge back into the air and another bang on to the ground. The balloon kangaroo-hopped long the field for 20m as it lost velocity and ground to a halt.

The giant canopy of air above us began to gently topple and lay resting on the ground as we scrambled out, - relieved and with great anticipation for another flight.

It is not uncommon for the basket to tip over on landing or for the balloon to leap and scrape for 50m or more. On these occasions it is important for passengers to stay with it.

After our uneventful landing, we stowed the balloon and basket and enjoyed a well-deserved champagne breakfast as the warm morning sunlight flooded the paddock to lift the dew from the grass.

* Pat Barrett flew courtesy of Up, Up & Away Balloon Adventures.

Up, Up & Away Balloon Adventures