Photo taken by accident!

[Halfbaked_Boy]

This photo has resided in my 'Photos' folder for nearly seven months and yet until now I haven't really had a good look at all my pictures, and upon coming across this particular one my attention was diverted to the left hand side of the balloon (from my perspective). I took it from my bedroom window.

Looks like someone was having fun! If anybody managed to see that programme Richard Branson made a few months ago - something about recruiting a new member for his recruitment team at Virgin - one of the challenges the contestants faced involved climbing from the basket of a balloon to have tea and biscuits with Sir. Rich on the summit itself. If you look hard enough at the above picture you can just make out the 'ladder'.

Cheers, Jack.

[DBo]

Halfbaked

Balloons have a rope attached to the top of the envelope - the crown line, for handling during inflation & deflation. In flight the lower end of this rope is tied to the basket.

It is not unusual for people to tie flags to the crown line, & I think that's what is visible in your photograph.

Dave

[B Fraser]

'Tis definitely the crown line. The rope appears to be clipped to the burner frame so as to be within easy reach of the ground crew or P2. Most pilots tie on a Union Jack or a Jolly Roger. The flag doesn't serve any useful purpose unless it happens to be an NFU banner to gain sympathy from the owner of the field you land in.

[Halfbaked_Boy]

Thanks for the information guys, it's much appreciated!

I've always fancied having a go at ballooning - perhaps this will see some light once the warmer months start drawing in. For now, I'll try to savour some of those fine days that we have been seeing lately, although I believe that the current High is receeding its blessed form back over the pond

Cheers, Jack.