Hot-air balloon adventurer Phil Hossack is preparing for a happy landing when he receives the Freedom of the City of London at the historic Guildhall on May 29, 2008. An ex-championship pilot, Phil represented Great Britain in several 1990s World Championships and was one of the founding members of the British Association of Balloon Operators. He is the founder and chief pilot of outdoor aerial advertising expert, Skypower (http://www.skypower.co.uk), and of Cameron Flights Southern and Go Ballooning the UK’s premier provider of hot air balloon flights. A 90 foot union jack balloon will go up at noon over the Guildhall to mark the ceremony. Phil formed Camerons Flights Southern and Skypower over 20 years ago when commercial ballooning was still in its infancy, and now the Wiltshire-based company provides balloons for film productions, concerts, product launches and stunts, and acts as a consultant to local authorities and private organisers of balloon festivals. Over the years, Phil has flown everything from roadworthy cars to double beds through international airspace. Go Ballooning and Cameron Flights Southern is one of the largest passenger operators in the country, with a large fleet of balloons going up, up and away every day (weather permitting) from more than 100 launch sites, offering champagne flights with jaw dropping views. Phil joins the ranks of other distinguished pilots, such as record-breaking balloonist and explorer David Hempleman-Adams, in receiving the Freedom in recognition of his role as an ambassador for British ballooning around the world. The ceremony will also celebrate the first hot air balloon flight in the UK made by Vincent Lunardi from the Honourable Artillery Company in the City of London in 1784. One of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies, the granting of the Freedom of the City of London dates from 1237 and is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement. The Freedom bestows such privileges as the right to herd sheep, carry a sword and be drunk and disorderly without fear of arrest, but Phil intends to use his award as an opportunity to raise the profile of British ballooning: “Britain leads the way in ballooning – from world-record attempts and competitions to spectacular advertising stunts and breathtaking pleasure trips. I feel privileged to follow in the footsteps of pioneering ballooner Lunardi and hope that I rise to the challenge of helping the sport of ballooning to ‘take-off’, and enable more people to experience the magic of lighter than air aviation,” comments Phil. A cross-London flight is on weather standby, with up to 20 balloons preparing for lift-off in June, which Skypower hopes to make an annual charity event. The company also funds and runs training schemes to give promising pilots the chance to fulfil their potential, with many past pupils now enjoying private or commercial success. |
