Donnington Grove Country Club, Newbury (Icicle Refrozen Balloon Meet) – Saturday 4th January 2025 (Grant Robinson)

Hi all,

A pleasant six hours were spent at Donnington Grove Country Club, Newbury to see what the Icicle Refrozen Balloon Meet might produce for our pleasure. Was also the first chance of the year to catch up with some old friends and faces and wish them happy New Year. I was there from 08:15 to 14:15 and G-WHAT was the last thing being packed away when I left.

Some terrible weather was forecast for later in the day and overnight, meaning that any action on Sunday was to be unlikely and I guessed that the maximum effort would be made by the crews today – I was right and I thank them all for it! As the weather was fairly cold and windless, quite a few either did a free flight or tethered. I made G-BEJB, BHND, CMAB, CMJG, DIPZ, ISOB & SIPP, so I’m happy with my lot. On checking my records, I see that I haven’t been to this event since 2020 because of Covid cancellation or bad weather when the event was being held.

My log follows and I include my first sighting for interest. The Nimble I think was G-AXMD but this needs confirming. If so, it was already fairly old when I first saw it in 1990, all those years ago.

Some pictures can be seen at;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/albums/72177720322982034

52nd Icicle (Refrozen) Balloon Meet:
(G-AXMD) tbc, Omega O-20 (06), Folly Dog Leg, Hungerford 10/11/1990
G-BBOX, Thunder & Colt Ax7-77 (011), Folly Dog Leg, Hungerford 17/04/1999
G-BCDL, Cameron O-42 (115), Ashton Court, Bristol 11/08/2018
G-BEJB, Thunder & Colt Ax6-56A (096)
G-BHEU, Thunder & Colt Ax7-65 Srs.1 (238), Attingham Park, Atcham 18/09/1993
G-BHND, Cameron N-65 (582)
G-BIBZ, Thunder & Colt Ax3 Maxi Sky Chariot (290), Manor Farm, Pidley 27/04/2024
G-BPGD, Cameron V-65 (4969), Ashton Court, Bristol 12/08/2005
G-BRMU, Cameron V-77 (2109), Middle Wallop 13/04/2002
G-BWHD, Lindstrand LBL-31A (292), Cardington 15/02/1997
G-BYMW, York (001), Donnington Grove Country Club, Newbury 05/01/2019
G-BZPW, Cameron V-77 (6245), Chambley/Bussières 30/07/2001
G-BZXR, Cameron N-90 (10124), Chambley/Bussières 23/07/2017
G-CCJH, Lindstrand LBL-90A (906), Ashton Court, Bristol 11/08/2024
G-CCXF, Cameron Z-90 (10593), Northampton 21/08/2005
G-CEYD, Cameron N-31 (3558), Lakeside Lodge, Pidley 28/04/2018
G-CIET, Lindstrand LBL-31A (1035), Chambley/Bussières 28/08/2017
G-CIJJ, Cameron O-31 (11858), Ashton Court, Bristol 14/08/2016
G-CJEI, Ultramagic M-77 (77/398), Ashton Court, Bristol 14/08/2016
G-CJHV, Lindstrand LTL Series LT-31 (007), Longleat 15/09/2018
G-CJIH, Lindstrand LTL 1-105 (016), Ashton Court, Bristol 14/08/2016
G-CJRO, Cameron Z-105 (12055), Ragley Hall, Alcester 19/05/2018
G-CJWY, Cameron O-31 (12071), Chambley/Bussières 28/08/2017
G-CKXA, Cameron Sport-70 (12209), Ashton Court, Bristol 11/08/2018
G-CMAB, Ultramagic M-90 (90/206)
G-CMJG, Cameron C-70 (12563)
G-DIPI, Cameron Tub 80SS (1745), Ashton Court, Bristol 12/08/1989
G-DIPZ, Thunder & Colt 17A Cloudhopper (1245)
G-FUND, Thunder & Colt Ax6-56A (376), Ragley Hall, Alcester 19/05/2018
G-GAGE, Cameron Z-105 (12038), Ashton Court, Bristol 11/08/2018
G-ISOB, Cameron O-31 (12026)
G-READ/EI-BYI, Thunder & Colt 77A (1158), Warren Farm, Savernake 03/01/2009
G-SAWS, Ultramagic M-90 (90/210), Ragley Hall, Alcester 03/06/2022
G-SIPP, Lindstrand LBL-35A (891)
G-UMBS, Solo Aerostatics DE-12/70 (001), Steventon 17/04/2021
G-WHAT, Thunder & Colt 77A (1911), Great Missenden 19/04/1992

Flying locally or on airways:
EI-GPN, Avions de Transport Regional ATR 72 600, Aer Lingus Regional (1300)
G-CEGU, Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior (28-7715165)
G-RAFS, Thruster T.600N-450 Sprint (0041-T600N-097)
G-REXB, Textron Aviation King Air 260 (BY-427)