New Projects
Brunei Darussalam
After a year of planning and working in close contact with the British High Commission, Glamco Aviation and the Jerudong International school Allie finally received official flight permissions on the last hour before the planned flight. On the day, many students, teachers and staff gathered on site where Allie gave a detailed explanation on how balloons operate (the country has never seen a hot air balloon!). Finally she took to the skies and managed a tight landing. It was an event never to be forgotten for everybody present!
The ‘STANS’ by balloon
After six years in the planning Allie managed to travel back to Central Asia and flew in three new countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Sadly, Tajikistan was not yet to happen but there is more to do in the region, so one day she will be back!
The trip was supported by the president of the balloon federation of Uzbekistan, Mr Tahir Saliev, and friends from Russia, Alex von Schiller, Sacha from Kazakhstan and Aibeg from Kyrgyzstan. Joining Allie from Brazil was pilot friend Lais Pinho with whom Allie already travelled to Paraguay a year earlier.
The trip started in Almaty in Kazakhstan where Lais and Allie took to the skies joined by 5 other local balloons. They enjoyed a warm welcome by the local tourism office and were interviewed by press and TV media. Please view some of the reels here on this link or check out Allie’s posts on her Facebook page: Allie Dunnington (@alliedunnington) • Instagram photos and videos
The following day the team travelled to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan where they were met by local pilot Aibeg. That evening Allie, Lais and Aibeg flew in fairly speedy winds along the high snow-white mountain ranges. Country nr. 117 firmly in the books!
Next was Uzbekistan and the team gathered in the capital Tashkent. From here followed a long train journey via Samarkand to the rarely visited but historic town of Shahrisabz. The mayor of the province kindly welcomed the group with a personal police escort!
The next morning was to see the first ever free flight of hot air balloons over the statue of Timur the Great – the founder of the united Uzbekistan and his ancient palace. Both Allie and Lais flew individual balloons and were warmly greeted on landing with local people offering them flowers, water and food. See Allie’s FB posts: (20+) Facebook
The last country Tajikistan was explored without a balloon but rewarded with spectacular mountain scenery at lake Iskander.
Africa by balloon
Having flown in all of Africa's southern and most of its northern territories, my next big challenge will be a long expedition (in several stages) starting in Nairobi heading to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi und Zambia. From there continue through Angola, DRC, Congo onwards via Gabon to drive through all the Western African countries.
For this longer expedition I am looking for team mates to join me preferably with ballooning and off-roading experience. If you happen to have any contacts in those countries, please do get in touch with me!
The trip is planned for winter 2025.
ON THE BEECH
The project Beech 18 and Balloon
June 2017- July 2018
After 5 years of planning, many frustrations and set backs, we finally embarked on the most epic journey of our life - flying in our vintage Beech 18 across the Arctic flying our light-weight balloon in Iceland, Greenland and Canada. The following year saw us cruising down via the Bahams to Cuba, Belize and as far as Panama before returning to the US. The Beech has now been sold to good hands in the UK. So look out for her!
