A hot air balloon pilot who proposed to his wife in the clouds is now soaring through the sky over Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire in one of the biggest balloons in the UK.

Max Duncomb has joined Virgin Balloon Flights as he celebrates his 15th year as a commercial pilot.

The 36-year-old has just started whisking passengers into the blue yonder from VBF’s launch sites around all the counties including Cholmondeley Castle in Nantwich, Amerton Farm near Cannock Chase and the West Mid Show Ground in Shrewsbury.

Max’s new red Virgin balloon - worth a total of around £60,000 - forms a huge silhouette against the skyline and is the largest in VBF’s fleet.

The monster balloon or ‘envelope’, made by Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons Ltd, is called a Lindstrand 400 because it needs a massive 400,000 cubic ft of air to fill it. When inflated it stands more than 90ft tall, nearly 100ft around and has a surface area of 27,000sq ft – roughly the size of three football pitches.

It can carry a basket with up to 20 passengers whereas a standard sport balloon usually carries only four people and is a quarter of the size.

Max said: “The thing I love about ballooning is its ability to turn an average day into a fantastic one. Flying such a massive balloon is great fun and being able to take so many people up at once is really good too.

“With all the wonderful sights these beautiful counties have to offer, a balloon flight over any one of them is an unforgettable experience.”

Max was an industrial engineer before becoming a pilot and now runs an IT business at the same time as flying for Virgin Balloon Flights – the UK’s largest passenger balloon company, with more than 100 launch sites nationwide.

He learned to fly in 1989 over the vineyards of Burgundy, France, and has since flown all around continental Europe. His favourite area to fly is Gstaad, Switzerland.
After thousands of hours in the air, Max said one moment 10 years ago stood out.

“My most memorable flight was when I asked my wife Louise to marry me during a flight with 12 other passengers,” he said.

“It’s not easy to get down on one knee whilst trying to fly as well. The other passengers were glad to hear her say yes so I could get on with the flight!”

For more information or to book a flight visit the website at www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 0870 444 2768.

ABOUT MAX’S NEW BALLOON…

- Balloon name = G – UVBF, “Uniform Virgin Balloon Flights”
- Envelope type = Lindstrand (AX12) 400
- Made by Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons Ltd, Oswestry, Shropshire.
- Holds 400,000 cubic ft of air
- Height (when inflated) = 90ft/28m
- Equator/widest point (when inflated) = 96ft/29m
- Surface area = 27,000sq ft/2,400metres sq
- Total balloon cost with (basket + burners etc) = around £60,000
- Total weight 2 tonnes+
- Fuel usage = 250 litres an hour
- VBF maximum flight duration = 1hr 45mins, average = 1 hour, minimum =   45mins
- This balloon Up to 150 flights/2250 passengers a season
- Can fly up to 30,000ft, and legally up to 10,000ft (without oxygen)
  (but VBF normally up to 2,000ft).

For press enquires please call PR & Marketing Account Manager Alex Ferguson on 01952 212760 or email alexf@virginballoonflights.co.uk