Our trip to Thailand had been long expected, initially planned for winter 94/95. My wife Karin had bought the maps and books and even packed, we were out. The balloon was ready and Colt Thunder custom made with a heavy basket for hard use overseas. And then to failure. The delay means that we have lost the windows relatively short Thailand available to fly. E 'was rainy old England for most of the winter and a rethink of the plan for us. I hadasked by Jon Nunns leave early for him in South Africa Co Pilot balloons flying work.
Jon's interest in Thailand comes from several commercial hits, probably had the greatest experience of flying in Thailand. Sky Balloons in Thailand managed agent, balloons sell one of the first to leave the assembly line of two businessmen, in turn, , and wanted to learn to fly a flag to go to work this time andPoint in the right direction.
So, after a passenger fantastic summer in England, it was off on a Quantas Jumbo from a snowy December Heathrow. We took a flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, a city in the north, the host of the Southeast Asian Games, was (SEA Games), our first stop. Jon, returning from SAGA, was there for three days to ease us into things.
Our guests were able to find a sponsor is a company cell phone and we had a whole day before. The cityactivity was associated with the games and is great fun to be there singing. We usually flew across the city stadium in the morning and evening.
The stadium was about 10 km from the center of the city lay under an east side, of course, possible shadow of night flying over the stadium and went out in nature has had the opportunity in the morning, we take the slope and the road to ' West, who was not a good idea of howthere were about 50 km of forest and national park before the next street.
It 's always been relatively quiet and find places to land was not a problem. We were not alone in the air in a gas balloon castle Carl Cameron in Europe and was carried by the airship America. Strangely, neither thought to visit or call the international airport is 8 km south of the stadium. This caused a certain amount of trouble as a Thai love to fly and had no permissions complicated. Since we have allowed ushave been met and received a certain amount of flack from their CAA. We have opened the way very well for their imprisonment was mentioned more than once!
The airship did a fantastic job, apparently does not shine in the air and the camera images of a live TV from the stadium. During the evening we tied near the stadium and the airship still plodded around flyers.
Thais are passionate about football and the Asian Cup was also held during the games in the evening.Our attacks coincided with all the home games of the team. Thailand through the ranks of advanced tickets sold out and started to get ugly at the gates. burned to the semifinals of the fans after ticket tents in protest and several thousand extra tried to get in causing an outbreak of police brutality.
We are tied high and allows us to see the matches and performed public relations staff, tended to stay for a while ', as we had the best view in the house!
The first and last day ofgames that we flew at the stadium itself, the first flight of Jon, with me on board and the last of me. What a fantastic feeling when you fall off the edge of the roof of the stadium and stand in the midst of all the noise and then pile of new, really fun, it's highly recommended!
The flights over the city were also commendable. The airport has had to stay under our 1000 "and if we fly higher then we had to call in FM. It worked well and, of course, flyingTemple of low level was fascinating. Chiang Mai old city lies within a square Canel and contains about 300 temples in its entirety. And 'here that flies daily from. The river winds its way into the Ping east of the old town and has been very useful for large changes in direction. In general, the majority of wind directions can be displayed and will remain in town for about an hour and then climbing and departing was fairly simple.
I must say that Northern Thai seemed more than fun-lovingtheir compatriots in the south. To this end, they enjoy letting off fireworks and balloons to bring linen fabric balls to keep burning up. It is not uncommon to see 10 or so cross the red light up the night sky when you drink a beer. They go pretty high and I flew with a little 'to 3000'. Drain on some occasions, when the fabric of inhabitants balls landing in our honor. They also flew with large strings of fireworks blasting away underneath. All good things to watch for aircraft. LastNight was the start of the Games for over 1000 of these balloons in about 10 minutes around the stadium, and it was a quiet night, was the most beautiful comics I've ever seen.
Then again, it was all over it is off to Bangkok eight hours south on the road. Without me, we had the announcement of the Prime Minister to come and office were searched for a job!
Deputy Prime Minister Shinawatra said Thakasin taking office in early 1995 that theIn mid-January 1996 (or 2539, as it is there), would solve the traffic problems in Bangkok. It 'been pouring millions of baht of his own money in what is basically an impossible task. He made all sorts of tricks for people who are trying to remedy is to show.
We were asked to fly to Bangkok on him to observe traffic from the air, this being in his words, a cost effective solution. Permissions obviously had to be searched. We were summoned for our firstMeeting with the CAA on Christmas Day at 10 clock, each apparently find it amusing that I was missing my Christmas. On arrival it was found that does not really want us to fly in what has been a military and not, I should not see everything. The Kings Palace is about to fly a no, as you should never be more than your head! However, the implementation of the civilian Prime Minister Office had a lot of pressure to do and they did give and how they mightThey are told to other balloons and airships in Chiang Mai (you are always in the picture, this is a warning). It was discovered that we held the winning hand, but she really say that I do not like at first. E 'was only requirement is that I do not fly higher than 500. "Well, what! A pleasure. Royal Flying Helicopter to 800 ', so be it. I left on Christmas Day with a piece of paper that I'm not 500 FFA, where I ordered it like to fly! Then a trip to TowerBangkok International know so they know what was wrong and bring an air chart. They already knew everything about us and I would not be a chart-air: military intelligence and everything else. If I had known I would have brought in England before you leave!
So it happened that I was doing balloon traffic reports over the city of Bangkok with the deputy prime minister on board, and a film crew and five TV crews following through the traffic. We flew two days with four flights. Flightsthemselves were pretty exciting to the point that I would not rush to do it again. The tallest building is always on for 1000 'and we flew right between a group of them, of course, stop all traffic as we went. For those who have just released over the Siam Square and flying in general to the queen Siriket convention center and then to know the flow. The 500 'level, a real pain in the afternoon, the OAT was 37C and some thermal were popping out all over the place Imay or may not actually fly a little 'higher on the top of this came and if it is cool, but maybe I altimeter incorrectly!
So after all the fun and games went to three people around the train our agents and the two businessmen. To begin with we went to the province of Rayong SE of Bangkok, Pattaya is famous for its beach resorts. The boys, for some reason, if interested in training there. Unfortunately, it has been shown to coast and the seaevening breeze brought down to earth and the breeze of the morning. Our only allowed for a 25 km square, so that we could not go further inland.
No problem, because one of the boys had relatives with a farm near Kanchanaburi, home of the Bridge on the River Kwai, west of the country. E 'was here that the bulk of the training was completed. It 'was an ideal area for ballooning, appear generally flat with occasional hills 500-600 feet like islands. The fields are mainlySugar cane by about three quarters and the rest are rice fields. Everything went well and after three return flights to Bangkok for work, where the kids ready. She will travel to England to take their PPL soon.
Another surprise was imminent. See the fly in the stadium in Chiang Mai was so good I was asked to another with a flying kick start the Thai football league is gone. It's not a big deal but the stadium in 500 meters from the sea with all the housesWay to it. Luck was on our side again and after two days of strong monsoon winds on the day in question, was calm. We inflated behind a five-story building that was near the stadium and beat the wind direction. The signal was for us to begin a series of fireworks the ninth being our go. For practices that we can not because of the wind, we make sure that the bands had left and we were able to fly at a light. You know what next.1-2-3-4-5 to 9, you go to 6-7-8rose from behind the building to see that everything was still there between them that I got all hopped our official with the football and handed it to the President of Yamaha and the ball runs out quickly! I never wanted to fly out of that!
So is short, I have not touched the stuff is really annoying that the character is to add stuff later. You'll find all the bits for you.
If you are interested in going out therethen the man really in touch man head of the new brand Balloon Club of Thailand: -
YUTAKIT WANICHANOND
125/135 CHANGWATANA ROAD
PAKRET
Nontaburi
11120
THAILAND
FAX 584 0042
To update the story in June 2004, was appointed deputy prime minister in the Council of Ministers and is willing to buy a share of Liverpool Football Club in the UK. Since then I flew to Australia, Kenya and am now back in South Africa with his business travel.[HTTP: / / www.airborneadventuresafrica.com]
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