Bristol Special Shape Hot Air Balloons

Special Shapes at Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 1979-2022

Special shape hot air balloons always take centre stage at balloon festivals around the world. Many spectacular special shapes have appeared in Bristol every summer at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, so here is a chance to view them with a little information about them too. See which ones you like, whether it's old classic Bertie Bassett or recent creation Stuart the Minion.

Which special shape is your favourite? Let us know on social media @mjballooning!

View the special shape balloons by clicking on a year of the fiesta. 2018 was a good recent year with a record 31 shapes attending for the 40th anniversary.

Click to view all special shape balloons that appeared at the fiesta during the 1990s and 80s.

We have picked some of the stand out special shapes to grace the skies of Bristol ever since the first ever event in 1979. There are so many to choose from, but these are truly remarkable. Click below to find out more. Also find Cameron test inflations which secretly happened at Ashton Court over the years, plus learn about the magical Forbes special shape collection!

Special Shapes at Midlands Air Festival & Sky Safari

Although historically the Bristol Balloon Fiesta has attracted the most special shape balloons, other UK events also have many attending too. The Midlands Air Festival had over 45 shapes in attendance at their 2019 event including Peg leg Pete, the Superbike, Snow White and Rupert Bear. Longleat's Sky Safari event every September has seen international pilots bring the Orient Express, Brandenburg Gate and Alfred the Carpenter.

Click below to explore all the special shapes that have appeared!

Our Special Shapes!

Here at MJ Ballooning, we own 6 special shape balloons. Visit 'Our Balloons' to find out more about Snow White G-BVDF, Orange G-CDXW, Slick the Dragon G-PNAD and retro classics Joycam Lips G-LIPS, Maxwell House Coffee Jar G-BVBK and Choc Dips G-DIPI.

Special Shapes in Bristol & Bath

Here are some interesting balloons that have appeared locally around Bristol and Bath whilst not participating in an event. Big, complex shapes used to fly over Bristol quite regularly back in the 90s, as Cameron Balloons took them on test flights to check everything was working. These below are not including test inflations, just when they have randomly popped up, either for a flight or a tether!

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in 2023?