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Post by viscount on Jan 1, 2012 22:20:42 GMT 1
Merseyside Balloon Meets
1984, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2013 The shores of the River Mersey have long attracted aviation events (see threads on ‘Mersey River Festival Air Displays’ and ‘Mersey Flypasts’), the most unusual being a series of Hot Air Balloon Meets. Even though being well inside Liverpool Airport’s controlled special rules airspace zone, some free flight launches were permitted. As always with Hot Air Ballooning events, the weather plays a big part in shaping the event’s activities. As is usual for such events an evening launch around 1830 on each day, with an early morning one at around 0630 on the Saturday and Sunday, although there are variations on the theme with ‘press launch’ inflation on the Friday morning and a Saturday evening ‘night glow’ some years. The ‘Foot & Mouth’ outbreak of 2001 placed severe restriction on the activity of Hot Air Ballooning, the sport taking a long time to recover. One of the casualties being the Birkenhead event, although rising costs and rapidly expanding airport activity could well have made continuation difficult anyhow. I have great memories of HABs over the Liverpool skyline and of the entertainingly chaotic times as the 1998 launch floated off towards the 09 threshold across the River.
Some of these events have been covered before when the forum was hosted by xsorbit. I’ve long forgotten who posted their photos then, perhaps they would like to post them again here? The lists are from EGGP and NWAN paper magazines, compiled by section editors Brian Jones, Stuart McDiarmid and Brian Simcock from reports at the time. It is not unlikely that some inflations went unseen, but the lists and photos give a good indication of the events.Garden Festival Balloon Meet, Otterspool, 28th & 29th July 1984 The Balloon Meet at the I.G.F. took place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th July. On the Saturday the wind made inflations difficult, many inflated only briefly, although some managed to stay tethered for longer. On the Sunday the weather was much improved, permitting many more and much longer tethered inflations. The Colt Hot-Air Airship was inflated and flew away to land somewhere in the Childwall/Woolton area. This list comes from ‘EGGP’ the MAS ‘local’ magazine of the time and was from two reports submitted, which largely agreed, so this is considered a reasonably complete report. As the event was well inside Liverpool Airport’s Control Zone, no free flights by HABs were permitted, purely tethered inflations. The one exemption was the Colt hot-air Airship, being capable of directionally controlled flight. Participating Balloons noted
G-BBOO Thunder Ax6-56
G-BCSX Thunder AX7-77
G-BDYH Cameron V-56
G-BEJB Thunder Ax-6-56 “J&B Rare”
G-BETF Cameron Spark Plug SS “Champion Spark Plug”
G-BFIX Thunder Ax-7-77 “Animal Magic”
G-BGHS Cameron N-31 “Champion Spark Plug”
G-BGIP Colt 56A “Servowarm Heating”
G-BHAM Thunder Ax6-56
G-BHXT Thunder Ax6-56Z “Bandag II”
G-BILX Colt 31A “British Gas”
G-BIXW Colt 56B “Spam”
G-BJXD Colt 17A “Smirnoff”
G-BJZA Cameron N-65 “BM Volvo”
G-BKES Cameron bottle SS “Robinsons Barley Water”
G-BKMR Thunder Ax-3 “Notcutts Garden Centre”
G-BKXS Colt 56A “Derwent Television”
G-BKZA Cameron N-77 “Initial Services”
G-BREL Cameron O-77 “B.I.C.C.”
G-COOP Cameron N-31 “The Co-Operative”
G-HRZN Colt 77A “Orion Airways”
G-NUTS Cameron 35 peanut SS “Planters Nuts”
G-NWPB Thunder Ax7-77 “Royal Mail”
G-PERR Cameron 60 bottle SS “Perrier Water”
G-PIES Thunder Ax7-77 “Pork Farms”
G-STAG Cameron O-65 “Holker Hall”
G-WZZZ Colt AS-42 Airship “Smirnoff”
.
SS =Special shape
tf =tethered inflation
in = inflated briefly
.. = present, but not inflated
** = not noted as present
.
Also possibly there were a second “Pork Farms” envelope; a second “Holker Hall” basket, but no
envelope (G-BDOF) was noted; BTs “Busby” was due, may have been around, but not inflated on the Sunday.
There were other tethered inflations by HABs on the I.G.F. site throughout the summer, but rarely more than one at a time. 
Balloons at LPL by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-BFIX Thunder Ax-7-77 Animal Magic by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-NWPB Thunder Ax7-77 Royal Mail by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-BKXS Colt 56A Derwent Television by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-PERR Cameron 60 bottle Perrier Water by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-NUTS Cameron 35 peanut Planters Nuts by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-NUTS Mr Peanut by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-NUTS n G-PERR by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-BREL Cameron O-77 BICC by Beemer328i, on Flickr Many thanks to Phil Gaulton for going to the trouble of scanning the photo negatives and apologies for the the 40 years worth of scratches and kids finger prints all over them. |
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Post by viscount on Jan 1, 2012 22:39:03 GMT 1
First Merseyside Balloon Festival, Twelve Quays, Birkenhead, 12th-14th June 1998 The only successful launch was on the Friday evening, although the Saturday night ‘Glow’ also happened. The riverside location provided a great back-drop as the balloons drifted away south-south-east on a gentle breeze. This pushed the HABs out over the river heading across the estuary in the general direction of the Airport. A number landed at Otterspool and in parks elsewhere around South Liverpool. The Dutch balloon (which is now based in the UK) touched-down on a sand bank in the Mersey, initially getting stuck there, before breaking free and making the east bank for a dry deflation! Let us hope they have another one next year, as this one was rather fun. Inflation & free flight, late afternoon Friday 12th June
G-BUGD Cameron V-77 “Cameron Balloons”
G-BWSP Cameron Carrots SS “Sainsbury’s”
G-BWUR Thunder Ax10-210 SS “Kinetic”
G-BWYP Sky 56-24 “SkyHigh Leisure”
G-BXAL Cameron Bertie Bassett SS “Bassetts”
G-BXHN Lindstrand Can SS “Budweiser”
G-BXHO Lindstrand Telewest Sphere SS “Telewest”
G-BXTJ Cameron N-77 “Chubb”
G-BXVP Sky 31-24 “Sky Balloons”
G-DRYS Cameron N-90 “Barbour”
G-LBNK Cameron N-105 “Lloyds Bank”
G-LLYD Cameron N-31 “Lloyds Bank”
G-MAPS Sky Map SS “OS Landranger”
G-MITS Cameron N-77 “Mitsubishi Shogun”
G-OSVY Sky 31-24 “Ordnance Survey”
G-RIPS Cameron Parachutist SS “Action Man”
G-SKYR Cameron A-180 “Cameron Balloons”
G-SKYY Cameron A-250 “Cameron Balloons”
G-SRVO Cameron N-90 “Servo Connectors”
G-VINO Sky 90-24 “Lambrini Bianco”
PH-MKB Cameron O-77
Saturday late evening night glow
I have no log of the envelopes that took part in the Night Glow, however looking at the
photos, there were at least 11 of those present taking part.
Other balloons noted over the weekend, but only tethered:
G-BVOO Lindstrand LBL-105A “Co-Op Insurance”
G-BVYJ Cameron Fire Extinguisher SS “Chubb”
G-BXHM Lindstrand LBL-25A “Bud Ice”
G-OSVO Cameron Hopper Servo SS “Servo Connectors”
The photos are scanned from 5x7 prints, so there is loss of detail. Would appear that I was at Twelve Quays for the Saturday early evening launch and the night glow. |
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Post by viscount on Jan 1, 2012 22:42:19 GMT 1
Balloons over the Mersey, Birkenhead Park, 18th-20th June 1999 A change of venue for 1999, with a move to Birkenhead Park. However the 1999 event was marred by poor weather, with no flying at all on the Saturday evening or Sunday and only a very few balloons appearing on the Friday evening. The early Saturday launch was very successful. A number of older balloons were actually inflated inside Cammel Laird’s massive ship-building shed during the course of Saturday morning. Amazingly one of the balloons inflated inside Cammel Lairds was G-BETF a 'veteran' of the Otterspool meet 15 years earlier!
Regn. Type "Slogan" A B C D E
.
G-AYAL Omega 56 T
G-AZUK Western O-56 T
G-BETF Cameron 35 Spark Plug SS “Champion” T
G-BMAD Cameron V-77 T
G-BMKY Cameron O-65 T
G-BNAW Cameron V-65 F
G-BROY Cameron O-90 “Dixon Furnace Division” F
G-BUBL Thunder Ax8-105 “Mercier” T
G-BVBJ Colt Flying Coffee Jar SS “Maxwell House” T
G-BVMR Cameron V-90 F T
G-BWHC Cameron N-77 “Travelsphere Holidays” F
G-BWYP Sky 56-24 “SkyHigh Leisure” T
G-BXAL Cameron Bertie Bassett SS “Bassetts” F F
G-BXAM Cameron N-90 F
G-BXHN Lindstrand Can 65 SS “Budweiser” F F T F
G-BXHO Lindstrand Sphere SS “Telewest” F
G-BXLF Lindstrand LBL 90A “Variohm Components F F
G-BXTF Cameron N-105 Strawberry SS “Sainsbury’s” F F F
G-BXTJ Cameron N-7 “Chubb Fire” F
G-BXUG Lindstrand LBL cheese SS “Baby Bel” F F
G-BXUH Lindstrand LBL-31A “Baby Bel” T
G-BXYH Cameron N-105 “Fairy” F F
G-BXYI Cameron H-34 “Fairy” F T
G-BYDT Cameron N-90 “Tesco” F
G-BYDU Cameron Cart SS “Tesco” F F
G-BYEI Cameron Chick 90SS “BIC Soft Feel” F F F
G-BYFX Colt 77A “Agfa” F
G-BYLY Cameron V-77 “Rob Bayly” F F
G-CHAM Cameron Pot 90SS “Laitiere” F
G-DOWN Colt 31A F
G-DRYS Cameron N-90 “Barbour” F F F
G-FLEW Lindstrand LBL-90A “Lindstrand” F
G-FOWS Cameron N-105 “Fowlers Motorcycles" F
G-HORN Cameron V-77 “Travelgas” F
G-MAPS Sky Flying Map SS “Ordnance Survey” F
G-NEGS Thunder Ax7-77 T
G-NUTS Cameron Mr Peanut SS T
G-OHDC Colt Film Cassette SS “Agfa HDC” F
G-OSVY Sky 31-24 “Ordnance Survey” T
G-PVCU Cameron N-77 “Coldseal” F T
G-RIPS Cameron Parachutist 110SS “Action Man” F
G-SKYY Cameron A-250 “Cameron Balloons” F
G-SRVO Cameron N-90 “Servo Connectors” F F
G-VINO Sky 90-24 “Lambrini Bianco” F
G-YLYB Cameron N-105 “Lloyds-TSB” F F
BACP.258 Adams 14000 cu ft Parachute Balloon T
.
A = Friday 18th, morning 0730
B = Friday 18th, morning 0930
C = Friday 18th, afternoon 1835-2020
D= Saturday 19th, morning 0630
E = Saturday 19th morning, inside Cammell Lairds' shed
In addition G-BYDT was tethered in the park during Saturday afternoon, but nothing
else ventured out after that.
It would appear that my photos are from the early morning launch on the Saturday. |
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Post by viscount on Jan 1, 2012 22:55:55 GMT 1
Balloons over the Mersey, Birkenhead Park, 16th-18th June 2000 Clear conditions with only gentle breezes were perfect for HAB flying much of the weekend, or so it seemed! However, the constant airflow from the south would quickly push any launch over built-up Birkenhead, Wallasey and New Brighton then out into Liverpool Bay, with little opportunity to land and insufficient range to reach the Isle of Man! A frustrating weekend for the organisers, balloonists and spectator enthusiasts alike. If I remember correctly by the Sunday with a deteriorating weather forecast, everyone gave up trying.
Regn. Type "Slogan" When noted as present
.
G-BSDV Thunder 31A Sunam
G-BWPZ Cameron N-90 “Jaguar” Satpm SatNG
G-BWYP Sky 56-24 “Sky High Leisure” Friam Fripm
G-BXHM Lindstrand LBL-25A “Budweiser” SatNG
G-BXHN Lindstrand Can SS “Budweiser” Friam Fripm Satpm
G-BXHO Lindstrand Sphere “Telewest” Friam SatNG
G-BXTF Cameron N-105 Strawberry "Sainsbury’s” Friam Satpm SatNG
G-BYDJ Colt 120A “Typhoo Tea” Satpm
G-BYDT Cameron N-90 “Tesco” SatNG
G-BYDU Cameron Cart SS “Tesco” Friam
G-BYEI Cameron 90 Chick SS “BIC Soft Grip” Friam SatNG
G-BYFK Cameron Printer SS "Samsung” Friam
G-BYNW Cameron H-34 “Energis” SatNG
G-BZEY Cameron N-90 “Wrangler” Friam
G-BZFG Cameron Sky 105 “Benadryl” Friam
G-BZJA Cameron Fire 90 “Chubb” Friam
G-IDDI Cameron N-77 “Allen Harris Sunam
/Royal Sun Alliance Property Services”
G-LTSB Cameron LTS-90 “Lloyd’s TSB” Friam Fripm
G-MAPS Sky Flying Map SS “Ordnance Survey” Friam Fripm
G-OAXA Cameron FA Cup 90 SS “AXA” Friam
G-OXKB Cameron 110 Sportscar SS “Jaguar” Friam Satpm SatNG
G-OSVY Sky 31-24 “Ordnance Survey” Satpm SatNG
G-PHOT Thunder Film Cassette SS “Agfa” Friam
G-VINO Sky 90-24 “Lambrini Bianco” Satpm SatNG
G-VOTE Utramagic M-77 “European Parliament”Friam Satpm
G-YLYB Cameron N-105 “Lloyd’s TSB” Satpm SatNG Sunam
It would appear that there was no report for the Saturday morning inflation(s). Friam = 0630-0800; Fripm 1800-2000; Satpm 1900-2000 SatNG = 2215-2240; Sunam 0700-0900. With no free flights and a brisk breeze at times, although over time a number of balloons were inflated, there were not many at once, except on Friday 0630 and Saturday evening & Night Flow at 2215. With optimism, I choose to go for the Sunday 0630 'slot' with only three HABs inflated, so not too many photos from me! |
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Post by viscount on Jan 1, 2012 23:07:41 GMT 1
Balloons over the Mersey, Birkenhead Park, 15th-17th June 2001 Despite government restrictions placed on movement around rural areas of Britain, the ‘Balloons over the Mersey’ event went ahead, however free-flying was banned due to ‘Foot and Mouth’ restrictions. With only tethered display inflations, the number of HABs in attendance was well down, and mostly familiar ‘promotional’ special shapes. The weather too was marginal at times even for tethered inflations during the weekend. Optimism was high that the restrictions would be lifted within months; however the ‘Foot and Mouth’ outbreak lasted for some time and Hot Air Ballooning as a sport took even longer to recover. This, sadly, was to be the last ‘Balloons over the Mersey’ event.
G-BNHL Colt 90 Beer Glass SS “Gatzweiller Alt” Sat SatNG
G-BVBJ Cameron Coffee Jar SS “Maxwell House” Sun
G-BWPZ Cameron N-90 “Jaguar” Fri SatNG
G-BWSO Cameron 90 Apple SS “Sainsbury’s” Fri Sat SatNG
G-BWZP Cameron 105 Home SS “Barclays” Fri
G-BYFK Cameron 105 Printer SS “Samsung” Fri
G-BYFX Colt 77A “Agfa” SatNG
G-BZFG Sky 105-24 “Benadryl” Sat SatNG
G-IDDI Cameron N-70 “Allen & Harris” Fri
G-LTSB Cameron LTSB-90 SS “Lloyds/TSB" Sat
G-OAXA Cameron 90 FA Cup SS “AXA” Fri
G-SRVO Cameron N-90 “Servo Connectors” Sat
G-YLYB Cameron N-105 “Lloyd’s/TSB” Sat SatNG
.
There may well have been other inflations in addition to those noted.
Fri = Noted inflated sometime on Friday. 5 for the Press in morning (not incl G-IDDI)
Sat = noted inflated sometime during daylight, most noted at any one time was 3.
SatNG = Saturday evening Night Glow event, with only 6 inflated.
A disappointment, both in turn-out of HABs and the weather, is reflected in the number of pictures taken! |
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Post by RICEY on Jan 2, 2012 1:24:14 GMT 1
Another great article Viscount.
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Post by john1958 on Jan 2, 2012 10:15:34 GMT 1
Sad to read that every balloon meet has been marred by the weather!!!!!
Some superb shapes there.......reminds me of the days I used to collect them! :-)
John
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Post by viscount on Oct 6, 2021 10:21:20 GMT 1
Having replaced the images on this thread with ones not partially obscured by Photobucket's watermark, 'Beemer' has reminded me of an event within the lifetime of this incarnation of the NWAN Forum. As a result it was recorded on NWAN (quite correctly as an event), but never subsequently as worthy of being recorded as local history. Quite interesting to reflect that hot air balloon meets were permitted so close to, and indeed inside the Liverpool ATC Special Rules Zone. This thread since first posted in January 2012 has received a quite creditable 4,500 views before being updated during October 2021. AINTREE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL, 20th and 21st JULY 2013.
Saturday, 20 July 2013, Aintree Racecourse
Reg/Code Type C/no Operator/advertising
G-BSIO Cameron Hot Air Balloon Furness House 56SS 2310 The Co-op Funeral Care
G-BSUK Colt Hot Air Balloon 77A 1374 No logo, multicolour, built 1986
G-BTZY Thunder Colt Hot Air Balloon 56A 2084 S J Wardle, laid out but not inflated.
G-BVUC Colt Hot Air Balloon 56A 2608 Corks and Cans Norton.
G-CFSL Balony Kubicek Hot Air Balloon BB26Z 642 The Co-op Funeral Care.
G-CHAM Cameron Hot Air Balloon POT 90SS 2912 Yogurt Pot.
G-OBUY Colt Hot Air Balloon 69A 2031 Virgin.
G-OCFD Bell 206B Jet Ranger III 3165 Helicopter pleasure flights
G-OKCP Lindstrand Hot Air Balloon LBL Battery SS 621 Panasonic
G-TAJF Lindstrand Hot Air Balloon LBL-77A 905 No logo, multicolour
plus two present, that never appeared, G-BXLF Lindstrand and G-BWNP Cameron Club 90SS
Sunday, 21st July 2013, Aintree Racecourse.
G-OMDR Agusta Bell AB.206 Jet Ranger III Helicopter pleasure flights
G-OCFD Bell 206B Jet Ranger III Helicopter pleasure flights
With gusting wind, while some HABs may have been inflated during the day, none were observed by NWAN members visiting.
As stated above the strong winds were not ideal for hot air balloons and only a few managed to inflate fully. I was given a (hot) air side pass so we could get up close and watch the crews struggling to get them inflated. It was also the first time I have seen inside a HAB to take in the structure of them. 
G-BSUK Colt 77A by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-BSIO Cameron Building-56 by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-OKCP Battery by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
Inside G-OKCP by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-TAJF Lindstrand 77A by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-OKCP Lindstrand Battery by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-OBUY Colt 69A by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-CFSL BB262 Co-op Funeralcare by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-BVUS Lindstrand 90A by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-CHAM Cameron Pot-90 by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-OKCP by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-OKCP by Beemer328i, on Flickr 
G-OCFD Jet Ranger III by Beemer328i, on Flickr There is a thread, developed over the days of Aintree Hot Air Balloon Festival derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/12636/aintree-balloon-festival-20th-21st However a number of images are now dead links, so this illustrated summary replaces that thread, which will be quietly allowed to wither away. |
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Post by Beemer on Oct 15, 2023 11:24:49 GMT 1
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Post by Barfluer on Oct 15, 2023 13:58:43 GMT 1
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