The 3-4-40 Region is a local ballooning club, one of a number of UK organizations affiliated to the British Balloon and Airship Club. The Region is named after the three motorways which pass through it and includes Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire east of Salisbury Plain, and much of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. We maintain close links with other regional balloon clubs including the Mid-Hants Balloon Club, Western Region and the Black Horse Balloon Club.
Membership to the region is open to anyone interested in ballooning whether they are Commercial Operators, Private Pilots, Pilots under Training (PUTs), Retrieve Crew, or people who simply enjoy being around balloons.
Members do not need to live in the region to be a member with many joining because they enjoy flying in the region or attending events which happen in the region.
The region committee organise several flyouts and help with several events. In particular we organise the ballooning at the Abingdon Air and Country Show, Woodcote steam Rally, the mass balloon launch from the Royal County of Berkshire Show as well as the Icicle Refrozen Balloon Meet in January.
There are also monthly meetings across the year which all members can attend. The committee work together to arrange a mixture of speakers, some instructional, some entertaining and some on topical issues. The idea of these meetings is to build good friendships and the opportunity to meet others interested in our sport.
We also publish a newsletter called Flying Wires, at different points during the year giving information on future meetings, news on local ballooning activities, a section on past ballooning activities as well as any landowner relation updates.
As a club we do not offer public rides in a balloon for money, instead we encourage people to get involved in ballooning. However if you wish to just have a balloon flight there are many companies that offer flights. Some including Virgin Balloon Flights who fly from several launch sites in our region. There are lots of other commercial operators further afield too including Bailey Balloons and Ballooning Network.
Interested in finding out more and getting involved in our region. Why not join us and get access to club news and events. Click here for more information.
