The sky over Derbyshire will be full of bright red hot air balloons later this month when a top pilot marks his birthday with a spectacular mini-fiesta.

Everyone likes having a few balloons around on their special day but for his 40th Virgin Balloon Flight’s pilot Martin Collinson has taken it to the extreme.

Martin’s huge Virgin balloon will be joined by four others flying from the company’s new launch site at Bakewell Showground in the Peak District during the weekend of July 22 and 23.

Martin, who has been a commercial pilot for 12 years and with VBF for three, said he couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate hitting the big ‘four O’.

“The fiesta is going to be brilliant and will be an amazing sight from the ground. I’ve flown balloons all over the world and I can honestly say nothing beats flying over the Peak District’s magnificent scenery,” he said.

“I fly from Bakewell Showground all year round now and it is the perfect place to launch from as it gives you the opportunity to enjoy this special landscape from an amazing new perspective.”

Martin’s Lindstrand balloon takes a massive 330,000 cubic ft of air to fill and towers over 100ft tall above the 16-person basket, when inflated.

“This is going to be an unforgettable party in the clouds but these balloons take a bit longer to blow up than the normal birthday variety!” he added.

The Virgin pilots will be flying lucky paying passengers and guests on both evenings of the fiesta and will be in the air for around an hour for each flight, soaring up to around 2,000ft.

They can travel as far as 20 miles in that time, depending on the wind, and after each landing everyone will enjoy the traditional champagne toast.

Sights which may disappear under the basket could include beauty spots and landmarks such as Lathkill and Dovedale, the Chatsworth estate, Haddon Hall and Hardwick Hall.

Martin, whose actual birthday is on July 24, also flies from Virgin Balloon Flight’s launch sites in Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire.

For more information or to book a flight with Martin, click here or call 0870 444 2768.

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