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

Chris has been flying hot air balloons for 27 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: Forlongs (ZK-FFF)

Mark has been involved in hot air ballooning for eight years, initially as crew and now as a pilot. He has attended fiestas in Australia, Wairarapa and Waikato. Mark was the winner of the 2009 Wairarapa event. Mark now owns and operates the Kiwi Balloon Company in Hamilton.

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.

CLULOW, John
From:      Hamilton, New Zealand
Balloon:   MIZ Waikato (ZK-MIZ)

John has been flying balloons for three and a half years having previously crewed for festivals since 2004 in Hamilton, Wairarapa and Levin.  He flew in last year’s Wairarapa event and now has more than 80 flying hours

CURSONS, Scott
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Balloon: (ZK-LAR)

Scott has been involved in ballooning for the last 17 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.

Denis started ballooning in 1989 after purchasing a Cameron 210 in the USA. Denis has had some hair-raising times in balloons, including landing on the roof of a house in Hamilton and piloting a tethered flight behind a boat across Wellington Harbour.

HICKEY, Pauline
From:  Hamilton, New Zealand
Balloon:  Sunrise (ZK-RYZ)

Pauline has been a balloon pilot for 13 years and a crew member for 20 years. Competition & ballooning achievements include the Balloons Over Waikato NZ Champion in 2003.   Pauline has also attended festivals in Christchurch, Blenheim, Wanaka, Wairarapa, Methven and Levin.  She has flown in the USA, UK, France and Australia.   Pauline is a foundation member of Waikato Balloon Club.  Her daughters both fly balloons and other family members act as crew.

HICKS, Paul
From: Waikato, New Zealand
Balloon:  Fly Trap (ZK-FRG)

The Hicks Family come from the heart ofo the Waikato where they milk where cows and fly balloons. Pilot, Paul Hicks, has been flying for 8 years.  He was introduced to ballooning by his wife Marie who has been involved with balloons for almost 20 years. Marie is currently learning to fly as it was decided that having a family was to come first. Daughters Trinity (8) and Summer (5) have been around balloons all their lives and are great little helpers.  They both want to fly when they can reach the burners. 

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.

LIVINGSTON, Andrew
From:  Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Balloon: Hawkes Bay Wine Country Flier (ZK-EMB)

Andrew started ballooning 26 years ago with five friends and in 1990 he set up a balloon flight business Early Morning Balloons.  NZ’s oldest commercial balloon pilot, Andrew flew the first balloon in the new millennium and the first in the Toronto Sky Dome with the roof on. Ballooning now runs in the Livingston family with Andrew’s sons Jason and Mark and daughter Amanda also flying balloons. 

LIVINGSTON, Jason
From:     Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Balloon:  Hopper (VH-YPO)
 
Jason is a commercial balloon pilot with over 3,000 hours.  He has flown daily over lions, hippos, elephants, zebra, giraffes, wildebeests, and cheetahs in Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve. He has spent the past 20 years flying over the Australian outback and the Australian Gold Coast in 450,000 cu ft balloons, the largest in Australasia.  Back in NZ he flies part time for the family business, Early Morning Balloons.  Jason holds NZ, Australian, Canadian and Kenyan CPL Balloon Licenses plus Instructor ratings. He has attended balloon festivals in Australia and New Zealand and this is his second time at the Wairarapa event. 

MacSKIMMING, Mark
From: Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
Balloon: Pandy

Mark has been flying balloons since 1991.  With extensive experience in aviation education and safety, he is a life member of the Balloon Federation of America.  He has flown several long jump flights of over 160km and has completed a high-altitude flight to 6,700 metres.  Mark will pilot 'Pandy', from Texas USA, which makes its first flight outside of the USA at Trust House Balloons Over Wairarapa. 

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.

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 12th time attending the Wairarapa event (winner of the 2004, 2005 and 2011 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 17 years old.

OAKLEY, Nicholas
From: Darfield, New Zealand
Balloon: (ZK-FBO)

Nicholas is 17 years old and has been attending balloon fiestas since he was 5. He first soloed in a balloon at 12 years of age and has been co-pilot with his father Michael Oakley for many years. Nicholas will be flying by himself at this festival and is flying the Canterbury Balloon Club Balloon. Nicholas, like his father, also flies gliders.

NICHOLSON, Andy
From:     Christchurch, New Zealand
Balloons: Cadbury Creme Egg (ZK-EGG) & (ZK-FHD)

An airline pilot and farmer from Christchurch, Andy has been flying balloons for 31 years.  He has competed in the Pan Pacific Champs.  Other festivals attended include Albuquerque, Bristol, France, Australia, Chateaux D’oeux, Australia.  He is a Civil Aviation Authority Balloon Flight Examiner, a licensed engineer and CAA Aviation Inspector-Balloons

ROLD, Per
From:  Blenheim, New Zealand
Balloon:  Lee (ZK-LEE)

Per has been flying balloons since 1996.  He has attended fiestas in France, the UK and the USA and has competed in the Danish National Championships in 2000 and 2001.  He has also attended many Wairarapa fiestas and was the winner of the 2000 and 2001 events.

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 10 Wairarapa fiestas.

SCOTT, Craig
From: Masterton, New Zealand
Balloon: Jelly Bean (ZK-FAI)

Craig started crewing in 2001 at the Wairarapa festival and then went on to crew in Hamilton and at the Wairarapa events during the following years. In 07 and 08 he crewed for Brian Boland and at the end of the 08 festival decided to buy the balloon from Brian. Craig is supported by his family who crew for him.

SHOUSE, Michael
From: Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Balloon: Coke (N28861)

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 21 years, Michael competed in the 1979, 1981 and 1983 World Championships, several US National Championships and has flown many commemorative events worldwide.

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 has attended the Wairarapa festival since 2007 and looks forward to the fun of the festival in 2012.

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

Mark and son, Aaron, became involved with ballooning nine 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 fifth festival where more time will be spent in the air than on the ground. Mark was the winner of the WEL Energy Trust Trophy at the Waikato event in 2009.