Bristol Balloon Fiesta
Join Date: Mar 2002
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I wondered how long it was going to be before somebody brought that up 
It was actually one of the Belgians (no comment), and, as usual, was blown-up (if that's the right expression
) somewhat out of proportion to the actual scale of the incident... 
(See numerous other examples on this site for journos soing this...)
It was actually one of the Belgians (no comment), and, as usual, was blown-up (if that's the right expression
) somewhat out of proportion to the actual scale of the incident... (See numerous other examples on this site for journos soing this...)
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: southern england
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RTFM, so it was the Belgians! 
The BBC reported the Fiesta organisers as saying that the pilot was Rupert Stanley, from London!!
I hope that landing on live rails is not in the ABC Guide to good ballooning!
The BBC reported the Fiesta organisers as saying that the pilot was Rupert Stanley, from London!! I hope that landing on live rails is not in the ABC Guide to good ballooning!
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Uh, that's what I was told, secondhand, from the debrief team 
-- I will investigate further...
Natch' 
however, in calm conditions, as we had over the weekend, you can land a balloon in some very small spaces. Not saying that this happened here, of course, but sometimes, from distance, it can look as if you've landed somewhere you haven't...
At least we haven't seen the habitual newspaper headline "Due to light winds, the balloons struggeld to get airbourne..."
-- I will investigate further...
I hope that landing on live rails is not in the ABC Guide to good ballooning
however, in calm conditions, as we had over the weekend, you can land a balloon in some very small spaces. Not saying that this happened here, of course, but sometimes, from distance, it can look as if you've landed somewhere you haven't...At least we haven't seen the habitual newspaper headline "Due to light winds, the balloons struggeld to get airbourne..."
Join Date: May 2001
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It was on the platform
It was on the platform stopped all trains for 15 mins Click here for link
edited to make the link work......
edited to make the link work......
Last edited by BRL; 13th Aug 2003 at 01:31.
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Most interesting ground-based moment was when a woman proposed to the leader of the parachute display team, over the PA, in front of tens of thousands of people and he said no.
Watching the balloons launch at 6:30am on Saturday made getting up at 5am worth the effort.
Watching the balloons launch at 6:30am on Saturday made getting up at 5am worth the effort.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Bristol, UK
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Balloon @ Avomnouth station
I went to the fiesta most of the weekend and it was generally a great time - shame given the 'good' weather they only managed to launch 4 / 7 scheduled times - but better safe than sorry.
As far as the balloon landing on Avonmouth station goes - it looked bloody dangerous to me from the photos on the Bristol Evening Post. OK he/she landed on a platform but it was right on the edge and quite rightly they stopped any trains due to pass. The newpaper story for what it's worth explained it was an 'emergency landing' as they were heading towards the Severn estuary but clearly they should have landed elsewhere. It would be nice to know the full story...
Distinct lack of special shapes I thought this year which is disappointing for the crowd.
Why do balloons need 3km viz like light aircraft to fly when they travel soooo slowly? This was the explaination of them abandoning the lauch due on Friday am (that and heading towards Bristol Airport).
As far as the balloon landing on Avonmouth station goes - it looked bloody dangerous to me from the photos on the Bristol Evening Post. OK he/she landed on a platform but it was right on the edge and quite rightly they stopped any trains due to pass. The newpaper story for what it's worth explained it was an 'emergency landing' as they were heading towards the Severn estuary but clearly they should have landed elsewhere. It would be nice to know the full story...
Distinct lack of special shapes I thought this year which is disappointing for the crowd.
Why do balloons need 3km viz like light aircraft to fly when they travel soooo slowly? This was the explaination of them abandoning the lauch due on Friday am (that and heading towards Bristol Airport).
