First flight of G-DKGM - a Cameron 0-56

Last week Tuesday the 19th of April saw the first flight of our brand-new ultra light-weight Cameron 0-56 G-DKGM! 

In matching colours G-BKGM and G-DKGM will hopefully depart together on the 20th of June for their world adventure heading first for Iceland, then Greenland and northern Canada before arriving at Oshkosh/USA

Taking off from a lovely private country house the two balloons rose to the skies with fellow pilot Ian Parsons taking those photos. Thank you very much Ian for those!

 

Betty taking off from Charlton Park!

Enjoy a photo taken by Pete Bish at Charlton Park with Tim Darrah at the controls and Phil on board as 'Betty' takes off for her short flight to Gloucester Airport where she will be undergoing her annual inspection over the next few weeks.

In the meantime the team is busy preparing everything for a planned departure from Bristol on the
                                                      20th of June
So watch this space and keep fingers firmly crossed that we will finally get going!

Betty is spreading her wings again!

Tim Darrah at the controls

After a long hibernation at her stately home Betty finally spread her wings again and flew under the careful eyes of Tim Darrah (and Phil) back to Gloucestershire airport.

getting Betty ready at Charlton Park

Simon Wrighton (ATC Bristol)

I sadly missed taking any photos of her take off and landing as someone had to drive the car!









Thanks also so much for Roger Shepherd for his hard work over the winter and taking care of her. The engines started without any problems and all was back into one piece (despite the mice attack!)

Roger Shepherd chasing unwelcomed passengers

The Beech will undergo her annual inspection at RGV Staverton and then we will start a new attempt at doing the Trans-Atlantic crossing by mid-June. Keep fingers crossed!