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    • Bristol Balloon Fiesta >
      • 2022 Fiesta
      • 2021 Fiesta
      • 2020 Fiesta
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      • 1998 Fiesta
      • 1990 Fiestas >
        • 1990s - Album 1
        • 1990s - Album 2
        • 1990s - Album 3
        • 1990s - Album 4
        • 1990s - Album 5
        • 1990s - Album 6
        • 1990s - Album 7
        • 1990s - Album 8
        • 1990s - Album 9
        • 1990s - Album 10
        • 1990s - Album 11
      • 1990 Fiesta
      • 1990s Night Glows
      • Late 1980s
      • 1988 Fiesta
      • 1983 Fiesta
      • 1981 Fiesta
      • Mixed Fiesta Photos
    • 2022 Bristol & Bath Flights >
      • 12/01/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 15/01/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 16/01/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 23/01/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 30/01/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 11/02/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 04/03/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 14/03/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 15/03/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 20/03/22 - Orange Inflation at Ashton Court PM
      • 24/03/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 02/04/22 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 08/04/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 09/04/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 10/04/22 - Maize Field AM
      • 10/04/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 13/04/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 14/04/22 - G-LIPS Flight from Ashton Court PM
      • 15/04/22 - Special Shape Tether at Ashton Court
      • 15/04/22 - G-LIPS Flight from Maize Field PM
      • 16/04/22 - G-LIPS Flight from Maize Field PM
      • 18/04/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • ​​25/04/22 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • ​​28/04/22 - Newbridge PM
      • ​​29/04/22 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 30/04/22 - Maize Field AM
      • 30/04/22 - Ashton Court Tether
      • 30/04/22 - G-LIPS Flight from Ashton Court PM
      • 05/05/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 07/05/22 - Maize Field PM
      • 08/05/22 - Maize Field Tether
      • 08/05/22 - Maize Field PM
      • 12/05/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 14/05/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 14/05/22 - Maize Field PM
      • 19/05/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 19/05/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 21/05/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 27/05/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 28/05/22 - Maize Field AM
      • 28/05/22 - Bath Balloon Fiesta | Royal Crescent PM
      • 29/05/22 - Bristol Balloon Tether at Ashton Court AM
      • 13/06/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 13/06/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 14/06/22 - Flight from Ashton Court AM
      • 14/06/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 15/06/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 16/06/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 16/06/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 20/06/22 - Orange Inflation at Ashton Court PM
      • 21/06/22 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 22/06/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 22/06/22 - Maize Field PM
      • 22/06/22 - Newbridge PM
      • 23/06/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 03/07/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 05/07/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 06/07/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 07/07/22 - Keynsham PM
      • 09/07/22 - Maize Field AM
      • 09/07/22 - Keynsham AM
      • 09/07/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 10/07/22 - Maize Field AM
      • 10/07/22 - Special Shapes at Ashton Court PM
      • 11/07/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 12/07/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 13/07/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 15/07/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 16/07/22 - Coffee Jar Flight from Norton St Philip PM
      • 20/07/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 26/07/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 28/07/22 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 29/07/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 05/08/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 06/08/22 - Maize Field AM
      • 06/08/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 07/08/22 - Alien Inflation at Newton St Loe AM
      • 07/08/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 08/08/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 12/09/22 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 17/09/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 18/09/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 18/09/22 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 19/09/22 - Keynsham PM
      • 21/09/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 08/10/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 08/10/22 - Ashton Court PM
      • 19/11/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 10/12/22 - Ashton Court AM
      • 10/12/22 - Ashton Court Tether PM
      • 16/12/22 - Ashton Court AM
    • 2021 Bristol & Bath Flights >
      • 02/01/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 27/02/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 07/03/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 08/03/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 30/03/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 30/03/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 31/03/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 04/04/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 12/04/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • ​13/04/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • ​13/04/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • ​14/04/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • ​14/04/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • ​16/04/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • ​17/04/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • ​17/04/21 - ​Maize Field PM
      • ​18/04/21 - ​Maize Field AM
      • ​18/04/21 - ​Maize Field PM
      • ​19/04/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • ​20/04/21 - ​Maize Field PM
      • ​26/04/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • ​27/04/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 02/05/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 02/05/21 - Ashton Court Tether AM
      • 07/05/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 07/05/21 - Maize Field Tether
      • 17/05/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 27/05/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 27/05/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 27/05/21 - Maize Field PM
      • 28/05/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 29/05/21 - Maize Field PM
      • ​30/05/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 31/05/21 - Maize Field AM
      • 04/06/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • ​07/06/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 08/06/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 09/06/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 12/06/21 - Bath Balloon Fiesta | Inglescombe Farm PM
      • 13/06/21 - Bath Balloon Fiesta | Glasshouse Playing Fields AM
      • 13/06/21 - Bath Balloon Fiesta | Glasshouse Playing Fields PM
      • 14/06/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 15/06/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 16/06/21 - G-LIPS Tether at Ashton Court PM
      • 17/06/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 23/06/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 23/06/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 26/06/21 - G-DIPI Tether at Ashton Court PM
      • 30/06/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 01/07/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 02/07/21 - Poplar Insulation Tether at Ashton Court AM
      • 02/07/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 08/07/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 09/07/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 10/07/21 - Keynsham PM
      • 14/07/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 14/07/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 15/07/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 16/07/21 - Keynsham PM
      • 17/07/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 17/07/21 - Maize Field PM
      • 18/07/21 - Maize Field AM
      • 18/07/21 - Special Shape Tether at Ashton Court PM
      • 19/07/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 20/07/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 21/07/21 - Maize Field PM
      • 22/07/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 25/07/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 26/07/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 01/08/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 01/08/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 03/08/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 12/08/21 - Dundridge Park AM
      • 22/08/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 23/08/21 - Maize Field PM
      • 25/08/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 27/08/21 - Maize Field AM
      • 03/09/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 04/09/21 - Maize Field PM
      • 05/09/21 - G-LIPS Flight | Maize Field PM
      • 12/09/21 - Maize Field AM
      • 14/09/21 - Keynsham PM
      • 14/09/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 15/09/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 16/09/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 18/09/21 - J&B Bottle Special Shape Tether AM
      • 20/09/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 20/09/21 - Maize Field PM
      • 21/09/21 - Keynsham PM
      • 21/09/21 - Oakhill Recreational Ground, Radstock PM
      • 06/10/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 07/10/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 08/10/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 08/10/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 09/10/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 10/10/21 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 10/10/21 - Keynsham PM
      • 11/10/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 12/10/21 - Keynsham PM
      • 13/10/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 15/10/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 16/10/21 - Keynsham PM
      • 17/10/21 - Ashton Court PM
      • 14/11/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 19/12/21 - Ashton Court AM
      • 26/12/21 - Ashton Court AM
    • 2020 Bristol & Bath Flights >
      • 20/01/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 25/01/20 - Galleon Special Shape Tether AM
      • 27/05/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 30/05/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 02/06/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 07/06/20 - Henbury Tether PM
      • 24/06/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 24/06/20 - Henbury Tether PM
      • 07/07/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 11/07/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 11/07/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • ​12/07/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 12/07/20 - Maize Field Tether
      • 12/07/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 20/07/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 20/07/20 - G-GCCC Flight | Bristol County Ground PM
      • 21/07/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 22/07/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 29/07/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 29/07/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 30/07/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 30/07/20 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 30/07/20 - County Ground PM
      • 02/08/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 04/08/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 07/08/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 07/08/20 - Henbury Night Glow
      • 09/08/20 - Maize Field PM
      • 27/08/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 30/08/20 - WRBBAC Flyout | Timsbury PM
      • 31/08/20 - George Brazil Airship | Havyatt Green AM
      • 31/08/20 - Maize Field PM
      • 01/09/20 - Sky Orchestra | Ashton Court PM
      • 06/09/20 - Key Worker Flight over Bristol AM
      • 10/09/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 10/09/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 11/09/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 12/09/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 13/09/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 14/09/20 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 15/09/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 21/09/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 21/09/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 22/09/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 28/09/20 - Ashton Court AM
      • 28/09/20 - Bristol Balloon Tether | Ashton Court PM
      • 29/09/20 - Wallace & Gromit Rocket Launch | Lloyds Amphitheatre AM
      • 29/09/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 11/10/20 - Ashton Court PM
      • 04/11/20 - Ashton Court AM
    • 2019 Bristol & Bath Flights >
      • 27/02/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 27/02/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 01/03/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 20/03/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 24/03/19 - Maize Field AM
      • 24/03/19 - Upper Swainswick AM
      • 25/03/19 - Maize Field PM
      • 26/03/19 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 26/03/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 27/03/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 28/03/19 - Wraxall PM
      • 29/03/19 - G-UWEB Tether | Ashton Court PM
      • 30/03/19 - Keynsham PM
      • 01/04/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 11/04/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 12/04/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 19/04/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 19/04/19 - Maize Field PM
      • 20/04/19 - Maize Field AM
      • 20/04/19 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 20/04/19 - WRBBAC Flyout | Maize Field PM
      • 21/04/19 - Maize Field AM
      • 21/04/19 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 21/04/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 21/04/19 - Maize Field PM
      • 23/04/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 28/04/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 29/04/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 30/04/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 05/05/19 - Maize Field AM
      • 05/05/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • ​06/05/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 10/05/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 12/05/19 - Maize Field AM
      • 12/05/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 12/05/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 21/05/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 22/05/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 24/05/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 25/05/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 25/05/19 - Bath Balloon Fiesta AM
      • 31/05/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 01/06/19 - Shirehampton PBA Club Fun Day
      • 06/06/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 09/06/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 18/06/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 21/06/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 21/06/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 22/06/19 - G-NORG Airship in Ashton Court AM
      • 25/06/19 - Flight from Maize Field PM
      • 02/07/19 - Flight from Maize Field PM
      • 03/07/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 04/07/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 04/07/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 04/07/19 - Longwell Green Tether PM
      • 05/07/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 05/07/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 06/07/19 - Flight from Ashton Court AM
      • 06/07/19 - Lawrence Weston Tether at LDubstock
      • 07/07/19 - Maize Field AM
      • 07/07/19 - Flight from Ashton Court PM
      • 08/07/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 09/07/19 - Flight from Ashton Court PM
      • 10/07/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 13/07/19 - Maize Field PM
      • 14/07/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 15/07/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 16/07/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 22/07/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 23/07/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 24/07/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • ​26/07/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 01/08/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 01/08/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 02/08/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 02/08/19 - Maize Field PM
      • 13/08/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 15/08/19 - Pettefords Tether at Nailsea
      • 20/08/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 20/08/19 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 21/08/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 21/08/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 23/08/19 - Flight from Maize Field PM
      • 23/08/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 25/08/19 - Maize Field AM
      • 25/08/19 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 25/08/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 26/08/19 - Ashton Court PM
      • 01/09/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 07/09/19 - Keynsham AM
      • 07/09/19 - Maize Field PM
      • ​08/09/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 08/09/19 - Timsbury Flyout PM
      • 10/09/19 - Ashton Court AM
      • 18/09/19 - Keynsham PM
      • 19/09/19 - Maize Field PM
      • 16/11/19 - G-BIRE Tether at Ashton Court
    • 2018 Bristol & Bath Flights >
      • 06/03/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 21/03/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 25/03/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 26/03/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 05/04/18 - Test Inflations AM
      • 19/04/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 19/04/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 20/04/18 - Maize Field PM
      • Balloon Flight | 21/04/18 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 03/05/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 03/05/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 04/05/18 - Chubb Special Shape Inflation | Ashton Court AM
      • Balloon Flight | 04/05/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • Balloon Flight | 05/05/18 - Maize Field AM
      • 05/05/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 05/05/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 06/05/18 - Maize Field AM
      • 06/05/18 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 06/05/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 06/05/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 06/05/18 - Balloons over Bristol PM
      • 07/05/18 - Maize Field AM
      • 07/05/18 - Chew Magna Flyout PM
      • 08/05/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 10/05/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 12/05/18 - Maize Field AM
      • 12/05/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 13/05/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 13/05/18 - Portway Tether AM
      • 14/05/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 17/05/18 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 25/05/18 - Bath Balloon Fiesta PM
      • 02/06/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 03/06/18 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 03/06/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 06/06/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 08/06/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 09/06/18 - Maize Field AM
      • 09/06/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 12/06/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 13/06/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 15/06/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 22/06/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 22/06/18 - Didmarton Meet PM
      • 23/06/18 - Didmarton Meet AM
      • 25/06/18 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 26/06/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 05/07/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 06/07/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 07/07/18 - Cheddar Rugby Club AM
      • 07/07/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • Balloon Flight | 08/07/18 - Maize Field AM
      • 08/07/18 - South Gloucestershire PM
      • 08/07/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 10/07/18 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 11/07/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 14/07/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 15/07/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 15/07/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 16/07/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 17/07/18 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 18/07/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 18/07/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 19/07/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 19/07/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 21/07/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 21/07/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 22/07/18 - Keynsham AM
      • 22/07/18 - Timsbury Flyout PM
      • 25/07/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 02/08/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 03/08/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 04/08/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 05/08/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 07/08/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 09/08/18 - Pre Fiesta Flight | Ashton Court AM
      • 21/08/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 28/08/18 - Bishop Sutton Flyout PM
      • 30/08/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 31/08/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 01/09/18 - Henbury AM
      • 01/09/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 02/09/18 - Tethering in Nailsea PM
      • 02/09/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 05/09/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 06/09/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 07/09/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 12/09/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 13/09/18 - Ashton Court AM
      • 25/09/18 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 26/09/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 29/09/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 05/10/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 07/10/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 19/10/18 - Maize Field PM
      • 20/10/18 - Ashton Court PM
      • 28/12/18 - Maize Field PM
    • 2017 Bristol & Bath Flights >
      • 05/01/17 - Cash4Cars over Bristol
      • 22/01/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 18/02/17 - Ashton Court G-GAGE Tether
      • 13/03/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • Balloon Flight | 27/03/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 02/04/17 - Keynsham AM
      • 02/04/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 05/04/17 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 05/04/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 06/04/17 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 06/04/17 - Maize Field PM
      • 07/04/17 - Maize Field AM
      • 07/04/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 08/04/17 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 08/04/17 - Maize Field AM
      • 08/04/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 10/04/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 13/04/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 13/04/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 17/04/17 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 17/04/17 - Maize Field PM
      • 18/04/17 - Keynsham PM
      • 19/04/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 22/04/17 - Maize Field PM
      • 23/04/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 27/04/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 28/04/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • Balloon Flight in G-UWEB | 29/04/17 - Maize Field AM
      • 06/05/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 07/05/17 - Maize Field AM
      • 07/05/17 - Maize Field PM
      • 09/05/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 10/05/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 24/05/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • Balloon Flight in Red Letter Days | 25/05/17 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 28/05/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 28/05/17 - Maize Field AM
      • 31/05/17 - Ashton Court Tether PM
      • 13/06/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 13/06/17 - Keynsham PM
      • 14/06/17 - Maize Field PM
      • 14/06/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 17/06/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 18/06/17 - Keynsham AM
      • 18/06/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 18/06/17 - Tethering Bagerline - Ashton Court PM
      • 19/06/17 - Maize Field PM
      • 26/06/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 02/07/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 04/07/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 04/07/17 - Fiesta Charity Partnership Launch | Ashton Court PM
      • 05/07/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 08/07/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 09/07/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 09/07/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 10/07/17 - College Green Tether AM
      • 12/07/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 12/07/17 - Maize Field PM
      • 17/07/17 - Maize Field AM
      • 17/07/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 24/07/17 - Royal Victoria Park PM
      • 25/07/17 - Royal Victoria Park AM
      • 25/07/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 31/07/17 - Visit Bath Tether | Royal Crescent PM
      • 01/08/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • Balloon Flight in Tango | 06/08/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 20/08/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 21/08/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 24/08/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 25/08/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 26/08/17 - Ashton Court PM
      • 27/08/17 - Ashton Court AM
      • 27/08/17 - Ashton Court PM
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Top 10 Fiesta Special Shapes

30/7/2019

 
If you’re a fan of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, you’ll know how many hundreds of special shapes have graced the skies above Ashton Court; Fire extinguishers to Liquorice allsorts men – we’ve had it all! But which are the best?
​The first ever special shape was the Golliwog built by Cameron Balloons in 1976 to advertise Robertson’s jam, which appeared at events all across the UK. During the 1980s special shape balloons became increasingly popular with many companies splashing the cash to bring these weird and wonderful creations to life.
​Although they are great to look at, it comes at a cost. Hot air ballooning is not cheap, and a special shape can easily cost in excess of £100,000. They can take hours to set up and inflate, as well as pack away. Most of the larger special shapes which are a lot of work have a sponsor who would pay for the build and pay the operator for the tethering or flying of their balloon. Although some don’t have a sponsor and are paid for by the owners themselves.
​Special shapes can be simple ‘add-on’ balloons such as the panther or much more complex like the Piper and some are built around a standard round envelope or racer with sections added on, such as Churchill. The larger and more intricately detailed the special shape is, the more recognisable and popular with the public they become. They require experienced pilots to fly them and are a great advertising tool for TV and social media.
​It wasn’t easy, but we’ve come up with a list of the top ten special shapes ever to attend the Bristol Balloon Fiesta! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and which would be in your top ten.
10. Churchill Dog
​First up at number ten is the Airship & Balloon Company’s Churchill dog. Built by Lindstrand in 2003 and often seen alongside the G-MSTR monster special shape, this loveable character was a firm favourite and attended every year until 2012. Although it didn’t fly too often, Churchill was seen at most launches over the years, looking on as others flew over this great city.
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9. Tesco Trolley
​Commissioned in 1998, the Tesco trolley was operated by the Virgin Airship & Balloon Company and features many other brands as well as Tesco. The late 90s was the best time for special shapes in hot air ballooning and visitors to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta had a real treat every year.
​Once its commercial jobs were finished after returning to the 2006 fiesta, the Tesco trolley was bought by Linas Mastis in America. Info on Linas is extremely limited these days but he has an awesome collection of old special shapes including George the Hoffmeister bear, Bradford & Bingley, Radio One FM and the UFO that visited Bristol in 2004.
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Photo: Matt Cleaves
8. Michelin Men
​Three Michelin man special shapes were built by Cameron Balloons in 1997, all of which were test inflated one morning at Ashton Court together. The characters, known as Bibendum for tyre manufacturing company Michelin, were very popular with the public and G-PNEU returned to the 2018 fiesta for the 40th anniversary celebrations. This one is in storage with the British Balloon Museum & Library (BBM&L) but does still come out on special occasions. G-GRIP is still in the UK.
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7. Jaguar Car
​The Jaguar XK8 car is one of our all-time favourite hot air balloons and we’d like it higher on the list! It was owned locally by Muir Moffat, created by the team at Cameron Balloons in 1996 and without doubt is a fiesta classic. It attended special shape launches and mass ascents from the 90s until its last appearance where it tethered late morning on Saturday of the 2012 fiesta. 
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​Since then sadly it’s not been seen and its whereabouts nowadays is unknown; was it destroyed or has it been secretly hidden away somewhere?
6. George White Superbike
​The superbike was built by Lindstrand in 2010 and attended the Bristol Balloon Fiesta for two years before returning under new ownership. It was originally sponsored and built for George White Motors and Lindstrand Media operated it along with JLL and the Palletways dragon. It’s one of the largest special shapes in the world and has stolen the show each time it’s come to Bristol. 
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​In 2012 George White went into administration. The artwork was removed and was put up for sale. The new UK buyer then sold it on again around a year later to Dreamflights based in Holland, who tour the world with the Superbike attending meets in Joure, Leon and the Midlands.
5. Mr Bup
​Number five is Mr Bup! It was owned in Belgium along with the F1 car special shape and built by Cameron Balloons in 2006. You may remember Mr Bup appeared at the fiesta in 2006 on Sunday evening; this was because everything was completed in the factory just as it was fiesta time in Bristol. Three years later in 2009 the team brought him back and flew him several times right across the city in the marvellous weather that greeted us that weekend.
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​Mr Bup is now owned in China and sadly not seen anymore, but maybe he will pop up somewhere one day!
4. Bertie Bassett
​When you think of Bristol, balloons and the fiesta, the Bertie Bassett special shapes are often some of the most memorable of all. They were created right here in Bristol; one in 1997 and the other in 2001, operated by Phoenix Balloons. Along with the superbike and many other older favourites, the liquorice allsorts men returned in 2018 for the 40th anniversary and stood tall over the fiesta once more!
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​Both Berties are now owned by Andrew Kaye in this country, who also owns Aston Martin, the Orange and the Barclays House.
3. Action Man
​Operated by the Virgin Airship & Balloon Company, Action Man was built in the most exciting era for special shapes in 1997. On a few rare occasions on take-off orange smoke was deployed from the smoke cannister, which was quite a sight. After three years attending the fiesta, Action Man went away for some time before switching owners and a quick afternoon tether at the 2007 fiesta.
​In 2012 it was announced that Action Man would be making a special comeback to Bristol along with Babybel, which was also owned by the German team of Gaby and Karl Grünauer. They flew on Thursday and Friday night and what a sight it was. Seven years later it doesn’t inflate as good, which is always going to happen with these old special shapes, but after ten minutes stood up with lots of burning, the legs, hands and other details look just as impressive. We hope to see it in the UK again sometime soon, but who knows…
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2. Rupert Bear
​Ahh Rupert Bear! He’s our second top special shape. Hang on - second, don’t you mean top? Well, no, to us there is one balloon that even tops Rupert, but we’ll come to that in a minute.
​From 1991 to 1995 Rupert attended the Bristol Balloon Fiesta operated by Flying Pictures, who operated most of the special shapes at that time such as the Kiwi, Agfa, Unipart and Fosters. Seeing Rupert was the highlight of the fiesta for many and he was the best special shape.
​After sitting in the bag for around twenty-three years and hearing tells of the dreadful condition of the envelope, we were walking down the field at the 2018 fiesta and noticed something being prepared to tether… Yes, it was Rupert back at Bristol and he looked great!
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​People were saying it wouldn’t be able to stand up before this, so who is to say another special shape won’t pop up in a few years that was supposedly ruined? Let’s wait and see!
1. Scottish Piper
​Our number one fiesta special shape is the Scottish Piper. This is our favourite balloon and grew up watching it fly and loving it as a child. It’s just incredible; the height, the detail, everything. 
​‘Pipy’ was purely built for fun and to put a smile on people’s faces by Muir Moffat who also owned the Jaguar car we looked at earlier. Featuring his family’s own tartan and standing 156ft tall, the Piper was a regular at Bristol and Château-d'Oex in Switzerland. It was always inflated at the end of fiesta mass ascents and often the finale to the event. Our favourite moment was when it flew with the Jaguar car and Mr Bup to close the 2009 event. 
​It was donated to the BBM&L some years later. After that the Piper wasn’t seen in Bristol until the 40th anniversary where pilots on behalf of the museum tethered him twice over the weekend.
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​​We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about our top ten fiesta special shapes. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and which are your favourites!
Read more from MJ Ballooning
Find out more about hot air ballooning in Bristol on MJ Ballooning.
Penguin GamerYT link
28/7/2019 11:21:50 pm

I love all of these

Benjamin Perks
29/7/2019 04:16:14 pm

I prefer the more complex shapes like the RAC van, Jaguar Car and other ones like LTSB, IBBC, SATI and SATL and the Telewest sphere. Shame they aren't seen as often. Cmon people! Bring them back to Bristol!

Jon
30/7/2019 01:15:43 pm

Great article - would love to see George the Bear again one day, it’s a shame to hear it’s location/condition is now unknown

MJ Ballooning
30/7/2019 01:49:15 pm

Thanks! George Bear is with Linas Mastis in the USA along with many other old special shapes, but it's all a bit of a mystery. As you say, location and condition unknown but hopefully maybe one day they will be found.

steve roake
30/7/2019 01:27:55 pm

For me its one of three .
Cadburys Caramel Bunny
Sunny Boy
MR Cool (baby Bel)

P
31/7/2019 01:44:35 am

G-BMUN Motorbike
G-BRMZ Macaw

laura
1/8/2019 10:02:05 pm

i'd replace mr bup with lurpak .... but otherwise these are all classics from the golden days of the fiesta :)

Greg Maunder
1/10/2019 10:58:19 pm

Hitched a ride on Mister Bup at the Canberra Balloon Spectacular in March 2013. An amazing experience.


Comments are closed.

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