Skip to main content
Call us on 0117 982 9561
News

G-JIMA attends Longleat Sky Safari

18/09/2019
Hot air ballon

An amazing spectacle took place over the majestic Elizabethan House of Longleat and its Safari Park this weekend when around 200 hot air balloons and 11,000 visitors from all over the world attended Sky Safari, Europe’s largest annual hot air ballooning event. Pilots from around the globe and more locally, Bristol, took to the skies to produce an impressive display of multicoloured balloons in all shapes and sizes as they drifted over the wonderful grounds.

B&A Group and our hot air balloon, G-Jima – were delighted to join companies such as Keltbray, R M Penny, Renishaw and all the other teams for what was a glorious 4-day balloon extravaganza.

For our first attendance at this event, our expectations were exceeded starting on the Thursday evening as G-Jima under the expert pilotage of Rob Clements took part in the first glow where the burner danced to the music and cheering of the crowds. On the Friday both morning and evening we took to the skies to drift across the beautiful countryside of Wiltshire. Rob and his Crew Chief Simon were joined by Shauna from B&A Group, ‘I had an amazing time, I was up at 4 am and was still on a buzz at 6 pm’.

On the Saturday we lifted out of the mist and had the most perfect flight and landing. 11 am saw us tethered by Longleat House sharing a hitch with our old friends Batemans where we bobbed around in the gentle warm autumn breeze. The evening once again saw G-Jima drifting over spectacular scenery, passing over ShearwaterLake. The glorious autumn weather contributed to what was the most superb family day out.

Hot air ballon

Rob comments, ‘What more could you want, it’s a wonderful time of the year to fly, we had an enthusiastic welcome from all at Longleat, beautiful weather and scenery and friendly farmers. A great way to spend a fabulous weekend.’

The B&A group would like to thank our Pilot Rob Clements and his team Simon, Helen, David, Ivon and Ken, plus Clare Raby from B&A Group for all their help and enthusiasm. We would also like to thank organisers Exclusive Ballooning for a fabulous event. We can’t wait for next year.

Hot air ballons