Things are looking up: Exhibition celebrates city’s balloon heritage
FROM Britain’s first modern hot air balloon, the Bristol Belle, to the annual Bristol Balloon Fiesta and the incredible colours and shapes that decorate the city’s skies each August, Bristol lays a strong claim to be considered the home of hot air ballooning in the UK.
This summer, Aerospace Bristol and Cameron Balloons will celebrate that heritage with a temporary exhibition at the museum and a special programme of hot air balloon themed activities running throughout the summer holiday.
Look Up! The Story of Hot Air Ballooning in Bristol will give museum visitors the chance to discover how and why hot air ballooning took off in Bristol, find out how Bedminster-based Cameron Balloons design and manufacture their amazing special shapes, and get hands-on with a range of hot air balloon themed activities.
Aerospace Bristol chief executive Sally Cordwell said: “Aerospace Bristol tells a fascinating story of aviation achievements spanning more than a century, from the early days of powered flight to the supersonic Concorde and beyond.
“Thanks to this new partnership with Cameron Balloons, we’re excited to expand that story and celebrate hot air ballooning as an important part of our city’s rich aviation heritage.”
Cameron Balloons spokesman Jess Siggers said: “Since our company’s inception in 1971, we’ve proudly created and built thousands of hot air balloons for pilots and operators around the world from our home of Bristol, born from the passion and vision of our founder, aeronautical engineer Don Cameron. We’re looking forward to telling the story of Bristol’s ballooning heritage alongside Aerospace Bristol’s innovative ethos and educational qualities, celebrating the boundless possibilities of aviation together and hopefully introducing the joy and excitement of ballooning to some pilots of the future.”
» Look Up! The Story Of Hot Air Ballooning in Bristol will run from July 24 to September 1. The exhibition and activities will be included with museum admission tickets.