Every flight is a good flight, says veteran balloonist
Veteran balloonist ready to take off from Innes Common in Hamilton after a three year break.
Cambridge pilot Chris Bransgrove has been to many festivals around the world but after a three-year break he is back in Hamilton for Balloons Over Waikato with the RE/MAX balloon.
Bransgrove said he has flown in almost every hot air balloon event in New Zealand and has also flown in events in Fiji, Mexico, Australia and America.
Fiji was one of Bransgrove’s most memorable flights because of the small size of the island.
“We looked one side and 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.”
Bransgrove got into ballooning after seeing the Eastern Central balloon floating in an ad on TV 33 years ago. He rang around the country looking for someone who knew about the balloon. He eventually found Andy Nicholson who was the man flying the balloon
Innes Common. Photo: Amelia Christensen-Rose
in the ad.
“I went to his place and had a chat and I said ‘how do you get a ride in a balloon?’ He said ‘you gotta buy one’. At that stage there were only about four balloons in New Zealand and he said ‘I know where one is for sale’.”
The two men brought the balloon from Christchurch and Nicholson taught Bransgrove how to fly it in his backyard.
The RE/MAX balloon is Bransgrove’s fifth.
“They only do so many hours and then they’re worn out.”
Some balloons can do 250 to 300 hours before they become worn out.
“[The RE/MAX balloon] will probably do 900 hours, it’s top quality.”
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