Balloon pilot returns to Balloons over Waikato
A familiar face has rejoined Balloons over Waikato this year.
Pilot Chris Bransgrove is back after a three-year absence from the annual Balloons over Waikato.
He is flying his fifth balloon, RE/MAX, at the festival this year.
The pilot said most balloons cost close to $50,000 and last a few hundred hours.
“Depending on the quality of the balloon some can last 250, 300 hours – this one will probably do 900 hours. It’s top quality,” Bransgrove said.
The pilot was there today with his wife Wendy Bransgrove, who is the crew chaser who helps track the balloon and pack up.
They will be attending all the events for Balloons over Waikato.
Bansgrove has been flying for 33 years and has been part of some big ballooning events.
He attended the biggest balloon meet in the world in Albuquerque.
“Around 800 balloons lift off in the morning, each morning for a week, that was awesome,” Bansgrove said.
He said that Albuquerque is a must for pilots. “They must do it at least once, if not twice.”
Bransgrove has done a few international flights, including Fiji, Mexico, the U.S, and Australia, saying that Fiji was the most exciting.
“We looked on one side, there was jungle and the other side you’ve got sea and you’ve actually really got to navigate your way through, so that was pretty tricky, but exciting,” Bansgrove said.
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