Mark Lockwood, former creative director for Virgin Airship & Balloon Company, explains what life was like as a special shape hot air balloon pilot 25 years ago. We hope you enjoy this fascinating article which gives an insight into the glory days of UK Ballooning, crewing on shapes such as Action Man and Sonic the Hedgehog which now reside in our collection! Images are kindly supplied and scanned in by Dan at Ballooning Pictures UK. Over to you, Mark...
Discover how MJ Ballooning started, building our brand through the years, and how we acquired some of the most iconic UK special shape hot air balloons. How my childhood dream as a 10 year old is now reality in 2023…
On a secret mission in foreign lands, he has been a hedgehog in hiding for many years, saving the world and being a cool spiny spy! After so long he’s come home to this years Bristol International Balloon Fiesta…
We were delighted to speak to BBC Bristol live on radio from the Bristol Balloon Fiesta site on Friday 12th August. They have also filmed some footage of our popular special shape balloons and put a short video together about why we're doing what we're doing and how it started.
Read our 2022 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta review and summary, looking back on a spectacular 4 days of hot air ballooning at Ashton Court Estate. See what is was like from our team's point of view attending for the first time with a fleet of special shape balloons.
August is here again and that can only mean one thing in Bristol: BALLOONS!! After a long 3 years away, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta returns to Ashton Court from Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th August 2022 for 4 days of mass balloon launches, night glows and family fun.
Fiesta fans are looking forward to two weeks of hot air balloon launches from all around Bristol for the city's first ever 'Fiesta Fortnight'. As a result of Covid-19, the usual Bristol Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court has not been possible this year, but people of Bristol are still encouraged to look to the skies this August!
As seen in our previous blog post, the 2020 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta was cancelled due to obvious reasons, but the organisers and pilots were still determined to put on a show - but with a twist. A fiesta flypast and virtual glow were arranged, for the people of Bristol to watch from their doorsteps and online.
Today the Bristol Balloon Fiesta have made an announcement regarding the 2020 event, originally due to take place between 6-9th August. Organisers have been forced to cancel the usual event and activities at Ashton Court due to social distancing but are encouraging Bristolians to still look to the skies…
As you can probably tell, here at MJ Ballooning we are a big fan of special shape hot air balloons. Hundreds of weird and spectacular special shapes have appeared at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta since the 1980s. In a previous blog, we looked at the most loved and popular to come to Bristol, but what about the forgotten special shapes?
|
BlogWelcome to MJ Ballooning's blog! Read about local goings on, special shapes and more.
Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|