Cirencester Park
CIRENCESTER PARK: Used intermittently mainly for hot air balloon meetings and pleasure flights
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
Location: Just W of Cirencester town centre
Period of operation: Unknown?
NOTES: We have Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide' for pointing out this location. He attended the 1973 meeting.
Between the two of us a bit more information has been revealed. The 1973 event was the Air-Britain 25th Anniversay Balloon Meet, and at least two helicopters attended this event. One was G-BAGJ, an Aerospatiale SA.341 Gazelle, and the other a Bell 206B Jet Ranger, G-BAZN.
Note: Graham has sent us this picture he took of G-BAZN on the 17th of June 1973, the Bell 206B Jet Ranger, apparently being operated by Somerton Rayners Helicopters for pleasure flights.
At that time it was still registered to Autair, from 01.06.73 to 08.08.73, although Somerton Rayners Helicopters later acquired G-BAZN and had it registered to them from 08.08.73 until 21.06.83.
He also sent us two pictures of the double-decker Cameron 500 balloon G-BCFZ which appeared here for the 1974 meeting. Until I saw these pictures I had no idea there had been 'double-decker' hot air balloons. Was this the only example?
Graham also traced a picture of G-AXOL, the Phoenix Currie Wot, taken here on the 16th June 1974. Part of a PA-28 can be seen in the background, so perhaps a Fly-In had been staged?
About a week later, on the 15th/16th June 1974, the Daily Express International Balloon Meeting was held here. In more recent years Virgin Balloons have used the site for passenger carrying flights. A search around the inter-web reveals many pictures.
As always in this 'Guide', if anybody can kindly offer more advice, this is most welcome. Plus of course, pictures are always appreciated.
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