Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2012 Review
Pictures: Ollie Warren (Balloons over Bristol) - JEM Ballooning - Ballooning Pictures - Liam Whitelock - MJ Ballooning
In 2012 the build up to the fiesta began with 3 Heart FM tether road shows. The first tether took place on the Wednesday, the week before the fiesta, at Lloyds amphitheatre. Title sponsors Jones Lang LaSalle G-CHDH, CTS G-OCTS, Renishaw G-RENI operated by Exclusive Ballooning and Cash4Cars G-IBCF owned by Elite Air tethered here.
There was another tether at Castle Park and balloons there were Jones Lang LaSalle G-CHDH, CTS G-OCTS and David Hathaway G-CHFM.
The third tether road show was 2 days later at College Green. Balloons that tethered included Jones Lang LaSalle G-CHDH, Palletways G-WAYS, Palletways Dragon G-PLLT all operated by Lindstrand, CTS G-OCTS, Cash4Cars G-IBCF and Fishtank G-CDDN operated by Flying Enterprises.
This year the press launch took place at Greville Smyth Park in Ashton. One special shape attended which was the Palletways Dragon. All the balloons that flew were: DS Smith Packaging piloted by Bailey Balloons, Jones Lang LaSalle operated by Lindstrand, BWS Security Systems, Cash4Cars piloted by Elite Air, G-BOEK, Snap Surveys, University of Bristol (BUHABS), Palletways Dragon and round balloon operated by Lindstrand, Edward Ware Homes, Miles Architectural Ironmongery Ltd, Collett Transport Services, Blue Square betting round balloon operated by Exclusive Ballooning, G-BIBO, Sky Balloons, Fishtank piloted by Flying Enterprises, Cameron Balloons, G-CDGN, G-CBVD piloted by Phoenix Balloons and Renishaw operated by Exclusive Ballooning. It was a great launch and the sun didn’t stop shining!
The official start of the fiesta soon came and the weather couldn't have been better. Before the main launch and tethering started, there was a previous tethering display including the Palletways Dragon, Blue square betting and Churchill. There was a final briefing and it was announced that the launch would be going ahead. This was the first time since 2007! The newly manufactured 'Group First' balloon tethered next to the balloonists marquee. Joining Lindstrand’s Palletways Dragon, Airship & Balloon Company’s Churchill and Group First was the University of Bristol balloon (BUHABS). This is when all the other shapes started to tether. There was also a few round balloons including Lindstrand’s Jones Lang LaSalle (tethering), Exclusive Ballooning’s Renishaw (tethering), House of Fraser, Bailey Balloons, Original 106.5, DS Smith Packaging, Bristol Balloons, Park Furnishers, Bath Building Society, Virgin Balloon Flights, The Mall, Team GB, Palletways and the Airship & Balloon Company’s round balloon. These balloons took off throughout the whole launch.
Blue Square Betting inflated again and joining it was Mr Peanut! Mr Peanut last visited Ashton Court in 2002 for a tether. It is one of the oldest special shapes in the UK and is owned by the British Balloon Museum & Library (BB&ML). This was a real surprise and BBML were only asked to tether it a few hours before the launch. The Panasonic Battery inflated and took off after House of Fraser.
Blue Square Betting inflated again and joining it was Mr Peanut! Mr Peanut last visited Ashton Court in 2002 for a tether. It is one of the oldest special shapes in the UK and is owned by the British Balloon Museum & Library (BB&ML). This was a real surprise and BBML were only asked to tether it a few hours before the launch. The Panasonic Battery inflated and took off after House of Fraser.
Soon after the famous Bristol Belle tethered! The Bristol Belle was the first modern hot air balloon in Western Europe and Don Cameron created this with other members of his gliding club (see more info here). The Stowells Wine Box also tethered for around 20 minutes. Wash Cat popped up in between Churchill and the Belle for the rest of the launch. This was Wash Cat's second appearance at BIBF as it was last seen at the fiesta in 2004 tethering next to Lloyds TSB. The UP Balloon went up behind Wash Cat and it was last seen at the fiesta in 2009, advertising Disney's new UP film and it was then operated by Exclusive Ballooning. It is now flown by its manufacturer, Cameron Balloons.
The Molly Mae Balloon Team's Club Orange Can tethered behind Lindstrand's Palletways Dragon. Returning for the first time since the early 1990s, Choc Dips shape made a short flight. Tethering next to Mr Peanut was an even older shape, the British Gas Flame and the flame is also owned by the BBM&L. After just under 40 minutes of inflating Action Man, he was looking great and the team were hoping for a 10 minute flight. Action Man doesn't fly on mornings as the owner doesn't want to wear it out when not many people are there (even though there are still hundreds). This was the last shape to launch, and when it did there was a huge cheer. The Club Orange Can deflated and got packed away whilst BabyBel started inflating for a short tether. Meanwhile the Jaguar Car was lead out and it was having a C of A - and it passed! C of A stands for Certificate of Airworthiness, but unfortunately it only cold air inflated, so you couldn't see the scale of the car.
The Molly Mae Balloon Team's Club Orange Can tethered behind Lindstrand's Palletways Dragon. Returning for the first time since the early 1990s, Choc Dips shape made a short flight. Tethering next to Mr Peanut was an even older shape, the British Gas Flame and the flame is also owned by the BBM&L. After just under 40 minutes of inflating Action Man, he was looking great and the team were hoping for a 10 minute flight. Action Man doesn't fly on mornings as the owner doesn't want to wear it out when not many people are there (even though there are still hundreds). This was the last shape to launch, and when it did there was a huge cheer. The Club Orange Can deflated and got packed away whilst BabyBel started inflating for a short tether. Meanwhile the Jaguar Car was lead out and it was having a C of A - and it passed! C of A stands for Certificate of Airworthiness, but unfortunately it only cold air inflated, so you couldn't see the scale of the car.
For the night glow the conditions were calm and perfect. Around 25 balloons inflated and took part, including the Palletways Dragon, for the first time at
Ashton Court in 2012.
Ashton Court in 2012.
Friday morning came and the weather was perfect a part from one thing- the wind. It was a tiny bit gusty and was taking the balloons towards Nailsea. Choc Dips and Woody Woodpecker took off. This left the Palletways Dragon, Blue Square Betting, the Jaguar Car and Churchill tethered and this was the Jaguar Car's only inflated appearance at the 2012 fiesta, after having a CofA on Thursday. It was a really impressive launch as over 100 balloons ascended. Most teams got a half an hour flight and it was short because of the wind direction.
The Friday PM launch was kicked off with the Palletways Dragon going up. The other shapes there were Choc Dips and Woody Woodpecker. There were loads of round balloons, so many we needed a bigger arena! Action Man and BabyBel ascended together to end the launch, unfortunately still flying towards Nailsea. 102 balloons launched at this ascent.
Next up was the IlluminAir Display, which looked pretty dull as it wasn't dark enough for the firework effect!
On Saturday morning it was breezy and very gusty at times. Despite this 17 balloons launched and amazingly Woody Woodpecker was one of them!
Throughout Saturday the wind got stronger so the evening launch was cancelled. Ashton Court reached its full capacity and had to turn away people as it was dangerously full. Jones Lang LaSalle G-CHDH, the Learning Balloon G-CHGD operated by Lighter than Air, G-BWMH and the Union Jack balloon G-CHBX operated by Lindstrand tethered in the more sheltered part of the arena and got absolutely battered by the gusts. A few special shapes were in the arena in their trailers but teams decided it was safer to not inflate them in the challenging winds. The Palletways Round Balloon also tried to inflate, but only cold air inflated and CTS was lead out. The Jaguar Car special shape lead out, but it didn't inflate at all. The RAF Falcons also did a parachute display which tried to lighten the mood, but didn't.
The night glow was impressive considering the tricky PM conditions.
On Sunday morning it was thunder and lightning so obviously nothing happened. The Blades Display went ahead and before going to Ashton Court they did a few loops nearby. The performance lasted 15 minutes and wasn’t as good as the RAF Red Arrows like previous years.
The rain passed over at around midday and hours before the launch it said it would be going ahead on time! The balloons started laying out and Visit Bristol
launched to mark the start of the last ascent in 2012! Another 31 balloons launched and then at this point, the wind suddenly changed. This kept the
remaining balloons on the ground. The balloons that took off were: Visit Bristol, Book People, G-JHAA, G-BWKV, Snap Surveys, G-BRTV, Sun Rise, Woody Woodpecker, CTS, Cameron Balloons, Polly Wallets, New David Hathaway, House of Fraser, Omega, Bristol Balloons, Chat D'oex, Lidl, New Holland, Virgin, Jones Lang LaSalle, Snow Business and G-SFSL. They went towards Filton and this was the last event of the Bristol International Balloon
Fiesta 2012 and it had been great! The only thing with the 2012 fiesta was the wind, which was going the wrong way as the pilots and people of Bristol don't want this to happen.
The rain passed over at around midday and hours before the launch it said it would be going ahead on time! The balloons started laying out and Visit Bristol
launched to mark the start of the last ascent in 2012! Another 31 balloons launched and then at this point, the wind suddenly changed. This kept the
remaining balloons on the ground. The balloons that took off were: Visit Bristol, Book People, G-JHAA, G-BWKV, Snap Surveys, G-BRTV, Sun Rise, Woody Woodpecker, CTS, Cameron Balloons, Polly Wallets, New David Hathaway, House of Fraser, Omega, Bristol Balloons, Chat D'oex, Lidl, New Holland, Virgin, Jones Lang LaSalle, Snow Business and G-SFSL. They went towards Filton and this was the last event of the Bristol International Balloon
Fiesta 2012 and it had been great! The only thing with the 2012 fiesta was the wind, which was going the wrong way as the pilots and people of Bristol don't want this to happen.
