Mass Balloon Ascents
Throughout the Fiesta weekend the sky above Ashton Court will be filled with hot air balloons. Mass ascents will take place as follows:
Thursday 8th August - 6.00pm: Special Shapes Launch
Friday 9th - 6.00am and 6.00pm: Mass ascent
Saturday 10th - 6.00am and 6.00pm: Mass ascent
Sunday 11th - 6.00am and 6.00pm: Mass ascent
During the Fiesta you can follow the latest flight information via our Twitter feed (which is updated regularly on our homepage), Facebook page or by calling the Visitor Hotline.
On discussing the appropriate weather for ballooning, Don Cameron, Chairman of the Flying Committee commented:
"Ideally we (hot air balloon pilots) would like clear skies and winds under 8 knots.
But there are other things that we think about. If the winds at 2000 feet are too high, then mixing after the sun comes up will cause a speed-up near the ground by landing time.
We also ask about the stability of the air which depends on the temperature profile with height. If it is very stable, as often happens after a night of clear skies, that is good. If the ground layer is warmer, it is less stable and upper air mixing and thermals will be expected to start earlier in the day.
Sometimes cloud is an advantage, because it cuts down the solar heating and makes the thermals start later. Thermals are good for gliders, but bad for balloons because they make the flight path on landing unpredictable."