Just don't look down: Glass-bottomed hot air balloon takes its maiden flight... and even the pilot admits its terrifying



These stomach-churning images capture the moment the world's first glass-bottomed hot air balloon took its maiden flight today.



The traditional wicker four-man basket has a completely transparent floor which provides passengers with heart-stopping views of the scenery below.

The balloon took to the skies over Bath, Somerset, to mark the start of the 2010 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Hot scare balloon: The glass-bottomed basket was described by its first passenger Jo Chambers as 'unnerving' and 'incredible'

The basket was the brainchild of Christian Brown - a pilot with 18 years experience flying balloons - who admitted the flight was a 'terrifying experience'.

He said: 'We've done tethered trials before, which usually end with passengers shrieking and screaming in fear, but this is the first time we've actually taken to the skies unaided.

'Ordinarily, you would look over the edge of the basket to peer at the ground below but there is something very disconcerting about seeing it right beneath your feet.

Up, up and away: The world's only glass-bottomed hot air balloon prepares for lift off from Bath's Royal Crescent as part of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta

'It certainly isn't for the feint-hearted, but this is a totally unique experience and we have added a new dimension to ballooning.

'It was a terrifying experience.'

The balloon was designed by Shropshire-based Lindstrand Balloons and is made made using 12 miles of thread and covered with enough material to cover three double decker buses.

The traditional wicker-sided basket carries up to two passengers and two pilots who stand on two-inch thick glass.

Christian, 44, travelled the world in a balloon with tycoon Richard Branson and currently holds the tethered altitude world record after flying at 10,000ft on a mountain in Chile.

Don't look down: The view from the bottom of the basket is more reassuring

'We designed it for Alpine flying as it would give incredible views of the scenery below,' he said.

'We also hope to use it to break the altitude world record and fly at over 10,000ft, which will be incredible.

'We're in the very early stages at the minute and are getting feedback from passengers but hope to roll them out to the public next year.'

Jo Chambers, 31, from Bath, who was the first to go up in the balloon yesterday, said: 'It was absolutely incredible and offered beautiful views below.

'It was unnerving and the basket creaked slightly which was slightly disconcerting.