Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2004 - Review
The 2004 Bristol Balloon Fiesta was sponsored by IKEA, and was certainly a memorable year. Specially created for the event after claiming title sponsorship, IKEA had two hot air balloons built by locally based Cameron Balloons. The first; a small Z-42 envelope G-CCSI, plain blue with the large yellow logo, and could either be used as a hopper or with traditional basket. The second was G-IKEA, a huge special shape designed to look like the IKEA heart with the logo. Both operated by Phoenix Balloons, they appeared many times at the fiesta in 2004, and until the contract ended in 2008.
Press Launch
The fiesta was just a week away and it was time for the press launch. Although in 2004, the first of two gatherings of balloons for the media took place at the site itself, Ashton Court. Six or seven special shapes tethered for the press in an empty fiesta field. Sadly, we can’t find any photos of this.
The main fiesta press launch took place from Eastville Park, with 2004 being the only Bristol press launch to be held at this location. It was cloudy, but light winds meant it was near perfect flying conditions. Usual envelopes attended such as Snap Surveys, Bristol & West, Cancer Research, BWS, G-BRTV and The Mall. But the real stars of the show were of course the special shapes, which were in plentiful supply at Bristol 2004. The brand new IKEA 120 shape was getting ready for inflation, next to a rather strange-looking special shape making its first appearance in the city travelling from Holland. Built by Cameron Balloons one year before, it was Van Gogh, registered PH-GOG, which noticeably stood out next to the other balloons. The Airship & Balloon Company (ABC) were also in attendance with their green monster.com special shape, which had attended every year since built except 2002, and Lloyds TSB. The nodding Churchill dog was also being led out, which would be a new favourite for all ages for the best part of a decade. Registered G-CDOG and created by Lindstrand Balloons, Churchill was also operated by ABC. The other shape to appear at the press launch was the Chubb fire extinguisher.
Once the briefing was over and everyone was ready, the 30 balloon teams were given the signal to start their fans and begin the inflation process. It was incredible to see these special shapes coming to life, some of which for only the first or second time in Bristol, as the pilots fired up their burners. They took off in two waves, and could be seen more miles around. It certainly lit up people’s journey to work as they passed Eastville park by car or bus. Lots didn’t land too far away and were packed up into their bags and trailers, ready for the main event.
The main fiesta press launch took place from Eastville Park, with 2004 being the only Bristol press launch to be held at this location. It was cloudy, but light winds meant it was near perfect flying conditions. Usual envelopes attended such as Snap Surveys, Bristol & West, Cancer Research, BWS, G-BRTV and The Mall. But the real stars of the show were of course the special shapes, which were in plentiful supply at Bristol 2004. The brand new IKEA 120 shape was getting ready for inflation, next to a rather strange-looking special shape making its first appearance in the city travelling from Holland. Built by Cameron Balloons one year before, it was Van Gogh, registered PH-GOG, which noticeably stood out next to the other balloons. The Airship & Balloon Company (ABC) were also in attendance with their green monster.com special shape, which had attended every year since built except 2002, and Lloyds TSB. The nodding Churchill dog was also being led out, which would be a new favourite for all ages for the best part of a decade. Registered G-CDOG and created by Lindstrand Balloons, Churchill was also operated by ABC. The other shape to appear at the press launch was the Chubb fire extinguisher.
Once the briefing was over and everyone was ready, the 30 balloon teams were given the signal to start their fans and begin the inflation process. It was incredible to see these special shapes coming to life, some of which for only the first or second time in Bristol, as the pilots fired up their burners. They took off in two waves, and could be seen more miles around. It certainly lit up people’s journey to work as they passed Eastville park by car or bus. Lots didn’t land too far away and were packed up into their bags and trailers, ready for the main event.
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Thursday Special Shape Rodeo
Set up was complete at the site and it was nearly time for the 26th annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Gates opened at Thursday lunchtime and come the evening, some balloons were setting up in the arena. However, sadly it was announced that due to strong upper winds, there would be no free flying. An excellent tether still took place, with special shapes including the Stowells Wine Box and the Burger G-CCYP. Previously registered in Sweden as SE-ZXG, this balloon was making its first ever appearance at the fiesta, which is surprising as it was built by Colt Balloons way back in 1981.
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Thursday Night Glow
The night glow saw title sponsors IKEA tether their special shape high above the round balloons inflated in a loop around the outside of the arena. No weather issues meant everything went ahead as planned.
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Friday Morning
It was the morning of the first mass ascent of 2004 and hundreds of people had arrived bright and early. Eagerly awaiting confirmation of the launch, it was announced that it would be going ahead! Although the sun had not broken through the clouds, the main thing was that light winds surrounded the grounds of Ashton Court. Some impressive special shapes were being led out in front of the marquee, with crew having put sheets down to prevent the envelopes getting wet from the grass. Over one hundred teams were setting up and crowds were getting very excited, both from the site and from local viewpoints. The direction was a westerly straight across the city. Amongst many round balloons, IKEA was the first special shape to take off and disappear behind the trees of the fiesta field. Bud E Beaver was one of the special shapes inflating by the marquee, which was new to Bristol. Cameron Balloons had recently transformed this from Mr Potato Head, as you can see on some inflation photos with the old teeth showing through the fabric. Timing worked out perfectly and was set to be finished in early August, so it made sense to bring it along to the fiesta. Flying Enterprises flew their gigantic wine box this morning too, as Churchill was being set up along with the Monster, Chubb and Lloyds TSB.
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As many people in the crowd would have guessed, the tartan pattern balloon was the famous Scottish Piper special shape, face down until the pilot applied some heat from the burners. After cold inflating for over half an hour, the Piper stood up in all his glory, stealing the limelight from any other balloon in the arena. It was rare to see the Piper at fiesta morning ascents, as he takes so much hard work to be set up and packed up, so is usually only done when more public are in attendance. Though it was flown in 1997 on Friday morning. Notice that the feet here are quite well inflated, but as the envelope got older towards 2009 these became a lot floppier! One of the Virgin jumbos, this one G-OVAA, also took off from the other end of the arena. Built in 1989, this hadn’t been seen at the fiesta since the early 1990s when all three were flown together at once.
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This launch was superb and the fiesta could not have started better. Press and media teams could record their footage to advertise the event for the remaining few days, which promised to be just as spectacular.
Friday Evening
Sadly, on Friday evening the weather took a turn for the worse, but the forecast for the weekend was looking very good.
Saturday Morning
Clear skies and light winds made for perfect conditions for the first weekend mass ascent of 2004. First to ascend from an extremely busy launch field was IKEA and SWEB energy, flown by Bailey Balloons. A group of daredevils from France attempted to walk a tightrope suspended between these balloons thousands of feet above land. Everybody fitted with parachutes, unfortunately no members of the ‘Skyliners’ could walk across without falling.
Most of the special shapes already mentioned took to the skies and was a brilliant photo opportunity for the spectators. Towards the end of the ascent some other shapes were brought out in their trailers, preparing for inflation.
Most of the special shapes already mentioned took to the skies and was a brilliant photo opportunity for the spectators. Towards the end of the ascent some other shapes were brought out in their trailers, preparing for inflation.
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Returning for another year were the Budvar beer glass balloons, registered in the Czech Republic as OK-1065, OK-9050 and built by Kubicek. Linas Mastis had travelled from the US with his flying saucer shape G-GUFO, which was made here in 1988, to attend Bristol 2004. It took off to end the morning’s flying activities and was a great one to see. Once the teams arrived back in the arena, Wash Cat and Lloyds TSB put on a tether for the crowds. The Colt-built envelope, G-WCAT, had its first flight 14 years prior to this, described as ‘colt flying mitt’.
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Saturday Evening
The sun kept on shining as the day went on and it was looking good for another huge mass ascent. Just before briefing time the Cadburys Crème Egg tethered alongside IKEA, G-BTRN and G-CCUJ.
The arena was just as packed as the outside with around one hundred balloon teams preparing for a classic Bristol Balloon Fiesta flight towards Clifton. Along with round balloons such as Agfa, Omega, Ultramagic, Vital, Bailey Balloons and Bristol Balloons, many special shapes flew during this slot too. Muir Moffat’s Jaguar car was only brought out the bag once in 2004 and took off with both Budvar beer glasses near the start. This was also Van Gogh’s only flight since the Eastville Park press launch a week ago.
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The finale of Saturday evening in 2004 was something quite spectacular. The tallest special shape at the fiesta, the Scottish Piper, was inflated next to Bud E Beaver. Referred to as ‘pipy’, the Piper is undoubtedly one of the most impressive hot air balloons ever to grace the skies above the city. With playing bagpipes, they both ascended into the sky, closely behind the Virgin Jumbo G-OVAA, brought by the Balloon Preservation Group.
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Saturday Night Glow
The night glow was a repeat of Thursday’s with Phoenix Balloons’ IKEA tethering in the centre of the arena. A handful of balloons that glowed include Lindstrand demo, G-MILE, G-BPWC, Visit Bristol, David Hathaway and Meath Heritage.
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Sunday Morning
Sunday came and we were greeted with similar conditions to Friday morning. This of course meant it was flyable, so the launch was confirmed with a direction towards the Downs. There was virtually no wind at all on the surface, but this wasn’t a bad thing. Once up to 500ft the pilots started moving east a little more.
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Linas from the US flew the UFO shape once again, alongside Stowells, Churchill, Budvar, Lloyds TSB and Chubb. No sign of G-IKEA this morning, instead deciding to fly the Z-42. The Burger shape was inflated again to entertain the public late morning.
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Sunday Evening
The final launch went ahead, albeit much smaller with only two special shapes lifting. Rounds such as Chubb, Chelsea Finance, ABC Flights, G-LEXI, Uphill, G-KSKS, Snow Business and G-BOEK were there.
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Thank you to Phil’s Balloons, Matt Cleaves and James McDonald for providing photos.
Read more from MJ Ballooning
If you would like to read more of our fiesta reviews from 2004 to 2020, click here.
Written by Matt Joyce 23/01/19
