HOT AIR BALLOON DROPS IN AT THE 18TH HOLE
HE could barely muster the nerve to climb a tree as a child – now a Gold Coast business owner wrangles the world’s biggest pink hot air balloon at 2000 metres.
Murray Blyth, managing director of Go Ballooning, drew the attention of residents early yesterday when he landed his 13-storey balloon, which he says is the biggest pink balloon on the planet, on the fairway of the 18th hole at Lakelands Golf Club, Merrimac.
“We give them a carton of Great Northern (beer) for their trouble,” Mr Blyth laughed, explaining the landing on the course was planned.
“There’s no one on that hole until about 10 in the morning. You don’t want to land on the first hole when someone is trying to tee off.”
Mr Blyth had embarked on a joy flight with a family group from the Sheraton. They were celebrating the 16th birthday of two teenage girls. The teens were said to be blown away by the flight.
The huge pink balloon – in theme with the business’s backing of the McGrath Foundation – is a tricky craft but with experience of piloting more than 3000 flights, it’s a walk in the park for Mr Blyth.
“We’ve got no steering wheel, we can only use the wind.
“We’ve also got guys on the ground doing wind tests for us – it’s like three dimensional sailing,” he said.
“When I first started nearly 20 years ago it was pretty tough, but it’s like riding a bike now. Growing up as a kid, I couldn’t even climb a tree, believe it or not.”
Mr Blyth only recently returned to the skies over the Coast and hinterland after the business was grounded by the global coronavirus pandemic.
While things are slowly looking up, Mr Blyth has his “fingers crossed” business will continue to grow in the coming weeks and months, with the support of Queenslanders holidaying at home.