Bailey Balloons at Fairford International Air Tattoo 2007
Held annually each July at RAF Fairford, the Royal international Air Tattoo
is the world's largest military airshow and has gained the well-earned reputation as one of the UK's
top outdoor family events.There's more than just aircraft at The Royal International Air
Tattoo!
Bailey Balloons was one of the commercial operators flying across the skies of Fairford!
A spectacular view for all to see as the EDF Balloon rose up into the centre of a low-pressure
system. A truly rare occasion for Balloonists, as they were able to witness beautiful cloud formations
surrounding them, as if in the eye of a storm.
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Toshiba Transatlantic Challenge!
This July, the explorer David Hempleman-Adams piloted a small gas balloon,
no bigger than most people`s front rooms, from St John's, Newfoundland, Canada,
to Europe. No one until now has ever flown the Atlantic in a balloon as small as this one ever before!
Clive Bailey was the flight director helping co-ordinate David from the ground and directed his travel as he went.
This was a new FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) world record in distance and
with Clive and the control centre team directing David, the challenge was successful!
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Bailey Balloons At The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 9th-12th August 2007
The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is the largest balloon fiesta in Europe and one of the largest outdoor events in the UK, with over half a million visitors attending over the four days. Each day over 100 hot air balloons lift off in the early morning and early evening, weather permitting of course, along with spectacular Night Glows on the Thursday and Saturday evenings. Clive Bailey not only flies his balloons from the Fiesta, but is also the Flight Director and is responsible for the twice-daily launch of over 100 balloons. There is a hugely varied selection of stalls, a French market and numerous catering outlets surrounding the launch arena. The arena plays host to many special events and attractions throughout the day, which have included Camel Racing, Wing Walking and an outstanding Parachute Display Team.
Book Your Champagne Fiesta Flight With Bailey Balloons this August
We have spaces to fly individuals, small and large private or corporate groups. Prices are £160 per person including complimentary champagne and commemorative flight certificates. We can also help organise corporate hospitality for you. Please look at our Bristol Fiesta page or contact us for more details.
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Hope He Has Passed His Test!
Chopper flies high with stuntman & pilot, Ian Ashpole riding an American Chopper under the Discovery Balloon flown by Clive Bailey. The duo work well as a team when doing stunts as both are very safety conscious but love the adrenalin of performing daredevil stunts! Clive flew with Ian up to 4000 feet and then Ian skydived safely to the ground. Clive was left with the difficult task of landing the balloon with the bike underneath the balloon but managed well with only a small amount of superficial damage to the bike.
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Brunel Surveys His Kingdom!
Clive Bailey and Ian Ashpole teamed up again to try and fly the Discovery Channel Balloon under the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, with Ian on the TOP of the balloon dressed as Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The stunt was part of the 200 years anniversary of Brunel celebrations. At the crack of dawn after weeks of planning the weather seemed perfect. Clive took off with Ian holding his life in Clive’s hands as he was harnessed to the top of the balloon. Unfortunately as the balloon approached the bridge the wind drew it slightly to one side and they had to climb out of the Avon Gorge. They landed safely at Ashton Court with hot feet for Ian! They are both determined to achieve this stunt so watch this space!
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Blindfolded Tight-Rope Walk at 4000 feet!
Clive and Jo Bailey also organised another huge press-generating mad stunt
involving Mike Howard walking across a narrow 19ft beam tied between the SWEB
and IKEA balloon. On a beautiful early morning from the Bristol Fiesta they
ascended to 4000 ft over countryside outside Bristol and Mike walked across the
beam whilst blindfolded. The whole event was captured by television film crew
from one of the balloons and also a helicopter. Clive then had to land the SWEB
balloon with a hugh beam attached - not an easy feat!
Bristol & West & the SWEB Balloons send best wishes to the British Olympic Team on the
opening day of the Olympics.
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James Bond Stunt
At last year's fiesta Clive Bailey organised a daredevil James Bond style stunt
with Mike Howard, one of the Bailey Balloons pilots and also a British Airways
Captain.
Mike took off under a cluster of small helium filled balloons dressed as James
Bond attached to the Bristol & West Hot Air Balloon piloted by Clive Bailey.
They were hoping to beat the world altitude record of 11,500 feet but had to
remain below 7500 feet due to airspace restrictions. Another attempt is to be
planned soon. So look to the skies for more interesting stunts from Bailey
Balloons.
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Pub Takes To The Sky-Pulling The Highest Pint!
The Bass balloon was kitted out with a temporary bar. Bristol Rugby Captain, Lawrence Dallaglio
and his girlfriend pulled a pint of Bass as they flew over Bristol.
The pilot had to wait until he had landed before sampling the beer!
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Silks Acrobats Under EDF Balloon
Two amazingly skilled acrobat artists performed their act under the EDF Energy Balloon.
The weather conditions were too windy on the day so the young women performed off a crane for BBC weather
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The New EDF Energy Balloon
As part of their new branding and image EDF Energy launched their new balloon to attend events and fiestas to support their marketing campaign, events such as the London Marathon.
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David Hempleman-Adams record breaking flight to the North Pole.
Clive was responsible for the logistics and was Flight Director for David's historic balloon flight to the North Pole. Take off was on the 28th May 2000 from Spitsbergen, after two years of planning. On 1st June David reached the North Pole and was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records to be the first person to fly a balloon to the North Pole from land. He finally landed 300km from the take off site and was recovered by helicopter. His book 'Skies of Ice' is well worth reading.
Solo Flight Across The Atlantic
Clive has helped David Hempleman-Adams with his record-breaking solo balloon
flight in an open wicker basket across the Atlantic. Clive was in the control
centre helping David with his last hours of the flight and the final landing
just outside Blackpool.
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Clive & Jo flying at the Chateau D'oex Balloon Fiesta, Switzerland
Each January Jo & Clive attend the most prestigious event of the winter's
ballooning calendar. 80 - 100 balloons fly at this 10-day spectacular in the
Swiss Alps set in a small mountain village, a few miles from Gstaad, in the
sunshine and snow. After another successful and stunning flight amongst the
beautiful snow-covered mountains Jo lands in a field and waits for Clive to come
and help her pull the balloon down.
The final weekend of the fiesta sees a spectacular night glow and fireworks in
temperatures of minus 15 with the dramatic outline of the enormous mountains
behind.
Clive is in his element in the Swiss mountains flying the Brunel Ford balloon
and enjoys the challenge of landing back at the fiesta launch site using the
complex valley winds.
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Bailey Balloons at Fairford International Air Tattoo
Clive was one of the commercial pilots flying at Fairford this year at the
annual air show.
He was flying the Bristol & West balloon as part of the spectacular flying
displays.
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