Pete Dalby first saw balloons in 1984 during a European championship event in York, which piqued his interest but did not lead to immediate involvement.
His first close encounter with a balloon was in 1986 at a Peace Festival in Beverly, East Yorkshire, where he assisted pilot David Smith after a balloon landed near his house.
David Smith offered to teach Pete to fly, leading to Pete's first flight at Roundhay Park, which solidified his passion for ballooning.
Transition to Ballooning as a Career
Pete obtained his private ballooning license in March 1988 and later pursued a commercial license, which he achieved in July 1989 after passing exams and a check flight with Kevin Meehan.
He transitioned from working as a BT telephone engineer to becoming a full-time professional balloon pilot in May 1992 after accepting redundancy from BT.
Pete started his own ballooning business, "Heavens Above," in East Yorkshire, initially flying a Cameron 77 balloon and later upgrading to a Cameron 120 due to increased demand.
Commercial Ballooning Ventures
Pete worked for Phil Dunnington in the Lake District, flying the "High Adventure" balloon, a Cameron 180, and later set up his own business, "Phoenix Balloons Limited," in 1997 to handle commercial contracts.
He flew special-shaped balloons like Bertie Bassett (Liquorice Allsorts Man) and IKEA balloons, which led to significant sponsorship opportunities, including Taittinger Champagne.
Pete has been flying the Taittinger Champagne balloon since 2007 and continues to manage commercial ballooning operations, including hosting guests and serving champagne after flights.
Family and Personal Ballooning
Pete's family has been involved in ballooning, with his wife Julia and daughters Hannah and Katie participating in events and owning balloons.
The family recently sold their shared Concept 60 balloon and is having a single hopper built at Cameron Balloons, which will serve as their new family balloon.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Involvement
Pete has attended over 25 Bristol Balloon Fiestas and became actively involved in the event around 2010, initially through Clive Bailey's recommendation.
He has served as chairman of the Flying Committee and a board member of the Fiesta, helping to navigate challenges such as poor weather and the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns.
Pete highlighted the Fiesta's free entry policy and the financial challenges of securing sponsorships for large-scale events, emphasizing the importance of community engagement.
Red Bull BMX Balloon Stunt
Pete piloted a Cameron Z 600 balloon for a Red Bull stunt involving a BMX bowl suspended below the basket, weighing 2.4 tonnes.
The BMX rider, Chris Kyle, performed stunts at 2,000 feet, with safety measures including a parachute in case of a fall.
Pete described the technical challenges of inflating, manoeuvring, and landing the balloon with the bowl attached, emphasizing the importance of careful planning and execution.
Memorable Flights and Challenges
Pete recounted a challenging landing in the late 1990s while teaching David Farrar to fly, where strong winds caused the balloon to bounce over a drainage ditch, resulting in injuries but no major damage.
He emphasized the importance of assessing weather conditions and making cautious decisions to ensure safety during flights.
Future Plans and Outlook
Pete plans to continue flying the Taittinger Champagne balloon and looks forward to new projects, including the family hopper balloon and potential surprises from organizations like Red Bull.
He expressed optimism for the Bristol Balloon Fiesta's future despite recent challenges and highlighted the importance of adapting to changing circumstances in the ballooning industry.
