Peniarth Isaf

Ballooning in Europe

Tim decided he wasn't quite ready for college after doing his A Levels so he took four years out to travel. He began by applying for a job ground-crewing for Bombard Balloons an American company based in Beaune, France.

For part of the season the crew live in a Chateau in the wine-growing region of the Burgundy valley. The rest of the time they are on tour, travelling around Europe and flying balloons in the Loire valley, Italy, Austria, Ireland and the Czech Republic.

They have a full time chef who prepares the in-flight lunch for the clients, while the crew, in the chase vehicles, are on hand at the landing site to serve champagne to the passengers and all the locals who appear whenever a balloon comes down. The holidays include sightseeing and visits, with the crew acting as drivers and guides.

Favourite places are Siena during the Palio, and San Giminiano where a local farming family looks after the crew. Apparently the food is all home grown and the cooking is the real Italian experience.

Alf is a regular client of the company. A collector of antique corkscrews, he has his own uniquely decorated balloons. When not ballooning, Alf has an elephant polo team in Nepal called the Screwy Tuskers. Visit his website Corkscrew Balloons to catch up with his latest escapades. Pictures of Tim getting in the beers on one of Alf's annual trips to the Budvar brewery in the Czech Republic are here

The highlight of the year for balloonists is the Chateau d'Oex Festival which takes place every winter in the Swiss Alps. For the crew there is time to enjoy the winter sports too. It's not every job where you get paid to take the client's children skiing or tobogganing for the day.

Tim inflating one of Alf's corkscrew balloons at Chateau d'Oex

Arizona

After two or three summer seasons crewing in Europe and working at Lindstrands in Oswestry, Tim had saved enough to travel to Arizona where he bought his own balloon and a truck to transport the balloon and his crew.

For six months he was living in a trailer on the edge of the Arizona desert at his friend Steve's place near Phoenix. Steve, a pilot and qualified instructor gave Tim flying lessons in return for help in his balloon and aircraft repair business.

Tim's crew were a couple of old-timers, Dave and Walt. Apparently they spent most evenings drinking beer at the landing spot out in the desert and using the cans for shooting practice.

By the time he returned to Britain, Tim had his private pilot's licence and had notched up enough flying hours to start working towards his commercial licence.

Ballooning in Canada

Tim worked in Canada for two full seasons as a commercial pilot carrying passengers for Sundance Balloons and flying out of places such as Orangeville, Hockley Valley, Waterloo, London and Toronto.

Final preparations before takeoff.





Giant advertising balloons in the most amazing shapes.

Sadly, the Mountie is no more. Apparently it landed in a field of corn stubble and set fire to the whole lot. The crew did manage to escape before the propane tanks blew up.

If you think the bunny is big, take a look at the cow!







A mass take-off at the Gatineau Balloon Festival.