Air Displays
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Meet the Icons
Air Displays
Airborne Pyrotechnics – Daytime
The Sydney Charles Display Team will perform their unique aerial ballet. Set to beautiful music, their display will be the perfect time to relax, enjoy the wonderful surroundings of the Longleat Estate and watch a completely different form of aerobatics.
Airborne Pyrotechnics - Evening
This is a unique and spectacular pyrotechnic air display from local pilots Tim and Tom Dews. Taking off from the nearby Wing Farm in Longbridge Deverill, the aerobatic aircraft will conduct their display illuminated with thousands of LED’s whilst trailing and firing fireworks from their wingtips and fuselages.
Gyro Air Displays
Peter Davis will be returning in the amazing Calidus Gyroplane. Our younger members of the audience love his dynamic and spectacular display and those with a knowledge of aviation recognise the highest level of skill involved, which makes Peter the world’s leading Gyro display pilot!
G Force Aerobatics
You will be blown away by Chris Burkett in his hi tech Extra 300 aircraft. Chris will be hurtling around the sky above Longleat with some astounding unlimited aerobatics, rolls, spins and loops, with some more manoeuvres so extreme there are no names for them, including an incredible end over end tumble.
T6 Harvard ‘Wacky Wabbit’
The name is derived from early WW2 Merrie Melodies cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engine putting out 600hp, the Harvard will announce her presence with the distinctive growling roar of the propeller tips exceeding the speed of sound.
Yak 54 Model
World famous R/C pilot Steve Carr will be joining us once again with his giant Yak 50 aerobatics aircraft. Taking off and landing right in front of you his model is a third of the size of a full size Yak 50 aircraft – it is so large you can almost get inside it! A truly breathtaking display!
Special Shapes - Flying
Oggy the Friendly Dragon
Oggy made his debut UK performance this year, and is making his final stop at Longleat. Standing just under 150 feet tall, it takes 175,000 cubic feet of hot air to inflate him. Owner and pilot, Jack Semler will be travelling from the USA with his wife, Lynn, who will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
Scarlett the Macaw
Returning this year is a firm favourite of Longleat’s. Piloted by John Viner, Scarlett and John have toured the world and brought joy to so many faces in recent months, both in Europe and beyond. Give a big hand to them as they fly overhead and take part in our Night Glows.
Slither the Snake
We will be welcoming Jerry Davis back to the festival with Slither the Snake! Jerry, who comes from Bath, will be flying Slither on all three days of the festival. Once inflated, Jerry’s balloon contains 90,000 cubic feet of hot air.
Dolly the Sheep
Dolly the Sheep who joins us for another year. Named Dolly after the sheep that was the first clone of an adult mammal. Piloted by Neil Edmunds, who lives in nearby Gloucestershire, Neil and Dolly will be taking to the skies every day, as well as taking part in some of our Night Glows.
Elii the Elephant
Returning to Longleat following last year’s debut appearance is pilot Mark Stokoe with Elii. Having flown in from overseas, especially for Icons of the Sky, keep an eye out for Elii’s huge ears and trunk as they fly overhead. They will also take part in a farewell Night Glow on the Sunday Night.
Funny Bunny
Making his debut Icons of the Sky appearance is Funny Bunny. Piloted by Bart Geeraerts, this special shape will be travelling all the way from Belgium to take part. Usually, Bart is either flying one man hopper balloons, with his legs dangling from a seat underneath, or flying passengers in his bigger balloons back home.
Special Shapes - Tethering
Babybel
Travelling all the way from the Netherlands with pilot Gerard van der Pluijm is Babybel. Known affectionately as ‘Mr Cool’ with his snazzy sunglasses, he will be appearing in our daytime tether slot on the Oval as well as taking part in the Night Glow. Mr Cool was designed by our very own commentator Mark Lockwood.
Forklift Truck
Another one of our debut shapes for Icons of the Sky is the Forklift Truck. To make this huge shape was quite technical with much of it digitally printed to give the appearance of a driver inside. You can see Gerard and the team displaying this special shape on the Oval during the tether slots.
Rupert Bear
Rupert has been one of the most famous and much loved special shape balloons ever created and was responsible for major interest in many of the large balloon festivals of the 1990’s. Do you remember last year the call ’wake up Rupert’ when we got him out of his bag and he started wriggling his fingers?
Ralph the Roziere
Jointly owned by the Bristol Balloon Collectors and MJ Ballooning, Ralph joined us last year being one of the stars of our Night Glow. This year the teams from Bristol will be glowing Ralph on the Friday evening as well as tethering on the oval for all to see his cheeky smile!
Thomas the Tank Engine
Icons of the Sky couldn't be without this firm favourite. Now retired from flying, you can see this family friendly special shape on the Oval. Thomas is now preserved by the Bristol Balloon Collectors, which is headed up by brothers Liam & Dan Whitelock. Liam has just checked out and now a fully fledged pilot!
Michelin Man
Returning to Icons of the Sky is Michelin Man. Standing at 175ft, Eric, as he is affectionately known, is our tallest special shape taking part this year - catch a glimpse of him towering over Longleat House as he tethers on the Oval. Eric is preserved by the Bristol Balloon Collectors to ensure he can be enjoyed by generations to come.