The question is regularly asked ‘how did the Midlands Air Festival start?’ Well basically the event came out of a chance conversation between Trevor Graham and James McDonald at a rain soaked Ballooning event!
Trevor is a CAA flying director and air display commentator and has had decades of experience at both air shows and major hot air balloon festivals all over the UK and abroad. James McDonald is a respected hot air balloon pilot and has run a number of balloon events in the UK.
Trevor Graham
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James McDonald
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Trevor had harboured an idea for some years, to organise a major balloon festival combined with a significant air display, so during the long hours waiting for the rain to subside, the idea seemed to firm up and James expressed an interest in joining Trevor on the ballooning side to make it happen.
Another chance conversation with one of Trevor’s colleagues brought Ragley Hall to the pair’s attention as a potential venue and soon a site meeting was arranged. It was immediately obvious that the historic estate had everything the blossoming event needed and a date for the first Midlands Air Festival was agreed on!
Meetings and presentations were arranged with the local authorities, Police, Fire & Ambulance, traffic departments and of course the Civil Aviation Authority. All of whom were enthusiastic as they recognised that one of the few new land based aviation events was being created, at a time when the air show industry was in decline.
Before they got to show day, it was realised that the creation of an expert and complex management team would be required so gradually over the next few months an event organiser and team were commissioned to cope with all of the public facing operations, a site manager was appointed to cover the show ground logistics, an expert traffic management team was brought in along with a professional fire, rescue and medical team. To complete the arrangements, Trevor headed up the flying management team and James handled administration, finance and all ballooning activities.
The stage was set and the first Midlands Air Festival in 2018 which was a resounding success. The outstanding weather meant perfect flying conditions for well over a 75 hot air balloons to fly on every available opportunity, with a superb 6 hour air display on each day. The unique Friday evening ‘Nightfire’ event dazzled the audience too, with night time pyrotechnic air displays, balloons illuminated by their burners and a giant fireworks finale. The show has grown in size and stature to this day, becoming a major aviation event in the air display and ballooning calendar.
