BRANSGROVE, Chris
From: Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand
Balloon: REMAX (ZK-WON)

Chris has been flying hot air balloons for 25 years. He has been pilot of the REMAX balloon for the past five years and owned New Zealand’s first single man balloon. Chris attended the world’s biggest annual hot air balloon fiesta in Albuquerque in 2002, and came first in the ‘Flight of the Nations’ event.

BROWN, Mark
From: Hamilton, New Zealand
Balloon: Waikato (ZK-WEL)

Mark has been involved in hot air ballooning for six years, initially as crew and now as a pilot. He has attended fiestas in Australia, Wairarapa and Waikato. Along with the other owners/pilots of the Waikato balloon, Mark enjoys the friendly atmosphere within the team and the enjoyment of flying for fun.

CARLAW, Murray
From:
Balloon:

Murray has been ballooning for 15 years and started flying with the Waikato Hot Air Balloon Club. He has attended events in Australia, Hastings, Hamilton, Levin, Methven and Wairarapa. Murray flies purely for the enjoyment of it and for the camaraderie shared between balloonists.

CLIFTON, John
From: Nelson, New Zealand
Balloon: Tanswell (ZK-FAC)

John first flew in NZ at the 2003 Wairarapa fiesta after moving to from the UK to Motueka with his family in 2002.  John had his first balloon flight in 1979 and has flown over 600 hours in balloons. John has flown in Holland, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, across London, English channel, Dover to Dunkerque and Alps.

CURSONS, Scott
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Balloon:

Scott has been involved in ballooning for the last 15 years, mainly as a crew member and has attended many festivals throughout New Zealand, in the UK and France. Scott completed his UK PPL in France and in 2006 purchased his own balloon. Scott’s passion for aviation extends to his position as a Licenced Aircraft Engineer and also Kitesurfing.

FINLAN, Stuart
From: Hamilton, New Zealand
Balloon: Wow! (ZK-FAN)

Stuart learnt to fly in England some 25 years ago and holds a British Private Pilots Licence (PPL), Commercial Pilots Licence and Instructors Rating. He has flown in 12 countries including Jordan, Norway, Guernsey and Australia. He has flown commercially and competitively and includes many special shape balloons in his flight log.

HOPPING, Lance
From: Carterton, New Zealand
Balloons: Mr Big (XXF)

Lance gained his hot air balloon licence in 1995. Lance owns and operates Ballooning New Zealand Ltd, and has over 900 hours commercial ballooning experience. Lance has attended many previous fiestas in the Wairarapa and Waikato. He is currently flying one of New Zealand's biggest balloons, a Cameron 210, which can carry 10 passengers plus pilot.

KING, Daniel
From: Carterton, New Zealand
Balloon: Generation-4 (FAQ)

Dan has been flying various balloons for 14 years and has flown in fiestas in Wairarapa, Waikato and Christchurch. Much of his flying has been in Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.

KING, Peter
From: Carterton, New Zealand
Balloon: Flagship (FAG)

Peter has attended many fiestas in New Zealand. He has flown in the Wairarapa and around New Zealand to promote his own company's balloon. Peter usually launches from his own backyard and specialises in high altitude flights. This year Peter will fly a light 'Boland Balloon' made by Brian Boland in Vermont, USA.

MCKEE, Daryl
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Balloon: Freedom (ZK-FAX)

A former member of the Royal NZ Air Force, Daryl gained his commercial pilot license in June 1992. He is now a director of the Balloon Expedition Co of NZ. He first flew a balloon in 1982 and has since logged more than 1500 flying hours. Daryl has also flown in Waikato and at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

MCKEE, Matt
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Balloon: Privateer

Although a pilot in his own right Matt has been a co-pilot for Daryl McKee assisting him at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Matt is heavily involved in assisting with hot air balloons helping with event set ups, promotional tours and running of day-to-day ballooning expeditions.

NATHAN, Murray
From: Levin, New Zealand
Balloon: (ZK-FBQ)

Ballooning is very much a family sport for Nathan, together with his Aussie wife, Michelle, and their two children.  They were hooked since Denis Hall landed his balloon on their dairy farm in Levin and received their first balloon and flying lessons from Chris and Wendy Bransgrove.

OAKLEY, Michael
From: Darfield, New Zealand
Balloon: vegetables.co.nz (ZK-WRU)

Flying balloons since 1997, Michael has flown in festivals throughout NZ. This will be his 10th time attending the Wairarapa event (winner of the 2004 and 2005 Wairarapa fiestas).  He represented New Zealand at the world champs in Australia in 2004. Michael is also a keen glider pilot with over 3,500 hours. Following his father’s passions son Nicholas is also a keen balloonist, and now 15 years old, was the overall winner of last year’s Wairarapa festival.

PARKER, Andrew
From: Hamilton, New Zealand
Balloon: Hamilton (ZK-UPP)

Andrew has been a balloon pilot for nine years since the age of 16 – he could fly a balloon before driving a car! Andrew has spent the last six years flying as a job and owns a balloon company in Hamilton. He has flown in Australia, China, USA, various countries in Europe and Russia. He attended the first ever Wairarapa festival as crew and is making his fourth appearance this year.

SALE, Ross
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Balloon: Bittersweet (N8295)

Ross has been flying balloons since 1982, originally in the USA where the 'air bug' first got him. He returned to his native New Zealand in 1994, with ballooning and yachting fitted into any spare moments. Ross does most of his flying in the North Island. He has flown in the last eight Wairarapa fiestas.

SHAW, Murray
From: Hamilton, New Zealand
Balloon: (N9020 Q)

Murray has recently retired from the asphalt business and is busy with diving, fishing, ballooning, planting trees and cultivating native and other exotic birds. This is only his fourth year of ballooning, yet he has already flown 35 flights (over 150 hours).

SHOUSE, Michael
From: Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Balloon:

Recently relocated to the Hutt Valley, Michael has been a US-licensed commercial pilot for the last 30 years. He is employed by the Civil Aviation Authority of NZ. Chief pilot of the Coca Cola Balloon for the last 20 years, Michael competed in the 1979, 1981 and 1983 World Championships, several US National Championships and has flown many commemorative events worldwide.

STACEY, Martyn
From:
Balloon:

WATSON, Howard
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Balloon: Mogul (ZK-FBA)

Howard started flying in 1996 and has attended fiestas in the Wairarapa, Hamilton, Blenheim, Hastings, Methven and Levin. He was the winner of the BNZ Waikato Championship in 2006. Howard attended in 2007 and is looking forward to the fun of the festival that 2009 has on offer.

WILTON, Mark & Aaron
From: Carterton, New Zealand
Balloon: (ZK-KKH)

Mark and son, Aaron, became involved with ballooning seven years ago as ground crew. When a friend gave up ballooning, Mark learnt to fly his balloon and now Aaron is also a pilot. The family duo are looking forward to their third festival where more time will be spent in the air than on the ground.