Civilian Aviation

The Exclusive Cup balloon event, marketed as the Longleat Balloon safari, was held at the Wiltshire estate of the Marquis of Bath Thursday through to Sunday. This is now the Uk's largest balloon event in terms of participants and the organisers are claiming 173 balloons lifted for the Saturday morning launch - although us spotters would suggest this number was c154 and the others either hopped down the drive or were tethered. Nonetheless it's a great event with a good selection f balloons from the UK and further afield, including this year the USA, Thailand, Spain and Lithuania in amzing scenic countryside.

As the event is just a couple of miles up the road from where I live it gives me a great chance to use local knowldge to try and second guess good locations given forecast wind directions. Always going to be a bit of a gamble but it worked out OK this year for me.

Saturday AM I photographed from on top of Clay Hill to the immediate east of the launch site. The wind was brisk and I was very suprised when they launched and there were a few dodgy moments seen. A small selection of the 150+ balloons photographed.

Tall Steve led the way and landed adjacent Clay Hill to put out the markers for the precision streamer drop competition.
20180915-080338-Longleat-3 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081130-Longleat by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

Many balloons then attempted to duck down in to the field to drop their streamer as close to the cross as possible, some less successful than others.

The Unison balloon snagged in the top of a tree and once free swung alarmingly from side to side.
20180915-081308-Longleat-3 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

The green balloon in this pictured came off second best to an oak tree, parts of which were still hanging from it, after a quick landing.
20180915-081601-Longleat by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

Dramas done with and the usual spectacle of colourful balloons in a
20180915-081554-Longleat-3 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-080656-Longleat by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-080803-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081000-Longleat-3 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081019-Longleat-3 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081417-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081423-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081452-Longleat by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081632-Longleat by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081912-Longleat-3 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081936-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-081958-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-082135-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-082203-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-082636-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

This is the type of shot I was hoping for but the wind only took a couple of balloons to the east of the hill.
20180915-082719-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-082753-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-084355-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-085317-Longleat by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

Saturday PM was from the village of Chapmanslade looking down in to the valley and main landing ground.
20180915-183654-Longleat by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

20180915-183841-Longleat-2 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

Looking back up towards Clay Hill
20180915-184117-Longleat by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

Lots and lots more can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/25034864@ ... 787509917/

Thanks for looking

Neil

Super pictures, looks a really good event.
Exclusive is right - I never saw any advertising for this - yet Ashton always appears in various enthusiast calendar of events.
Must keep an eye for it next year.
Thanks for posting.
Pete.

Fabulous pictures. A real treat.

Very nice indeed, I've really enjoyed looking through them.

Great set