I don't think we have had many posts on balloons on the NZCivair blog, but they are a part of the New Zealand civil aviation scene and they are out there on still mornings taking fortunate passengers on amazing flights. Today I had the opportunity to experience ballooning on a lovely morning North of Auckland.
After unpacking the balloon you start to inflate it with two large fans
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Then up up and away with the application of fierce flames from the propane burners.
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Then all too soon you land in a paddock that the wind has directed you to, and you all help to pack the balloon away. A really neat experience!
Kavanagh E-180 balloon ZK-FBI was manufactured by Kavanagh Balloons in Sydney Australia, and was first registered in New Zealand on 11/1/02, which makes todays flight the first of her 10th year of making a living. We flew today with a full load of 8 passengers plus our balloon master. ZK-FBI is registered to Balloon Safaris NZ Ltd of North Shore.
After years of hopping in and out of powered planes, I experienced ballooning for the first time at the Balloons Over Waikato event last year.
ReplyDeleteWe were the event photographers - all three family members had the opportunity to fly (and shoot).
Our gallery is here if you are interested :)
http://www.pbase.com/ascend_photography/bow_2010