All Puffed Up with No Place to Go

Media Release
Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
Embargoed until 05 April 2007

All Puffed Up with No Place to Go

People with asthma encounter all kinds of breathing obstacles. And so do their hot air balloons. The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation is concerned that its new aircraft “Puff” could run out of steam before his maiden voyage at the “Lift off Levin” balloon fiesta at Easter. Puff is sponsored by Contact Energy and Mitre 10.

Puff has encountered a number of difficulties since his inception, and things aren’t getting any easier for the seven story tall balloon. Puff was made to order for the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s Balloon

However, still only half-sewn, Puff caught wind of the Levin balloon fiesta, and sent word to pilot ‘Denis the Balloonman’ Hall that he wanted to attend – no matter what it took to get there.

The nice people at Kavanagh Balloons gasped for breath. Their Australian countrymen cried “No, it can’t be done.” But the legendary Phil Kavanagh, owner of Kavanagh Balloons, is no stranger to ballooning challenges. (In 1985 Mr Kavanagh co-piloted a balloon flight across the Himalayan mountains and in 1993 was awarded a World Record for his flight to 7,199 metres.)

Not too proud to sit at a sewing machine on the factory floor with his fellow workers, Mr Kavanagh took up the challenge and personally helped construct the beautiful golden yellow balloon Puff in record time. Mr Kavanagh sent ‘Denis the Balloonman’ daily updates on Puff’s progress because he knows Puff is an important fundraising and educational tool for the Foundation.

By last Friday, Puff was laden on the balloon truck, somewhere in a launch field in Mount Kuring-gai, 27kms north of Sydney, ready to begin his journey to New Zealand.

As you can imagine, getting through Customs is no easy feat for a balloon in a hurry, despite Puff’s extraordinary beauty. Now, although safely in New Zealand, Puff’s appearance at the fiesta is dubious. Puff still requires a certificate of Air-worthiness and sign off from the Civil Aviation Administration.

Plus, don’t tell the kids, but at this point Puff is still naked, and Denis the Balloonman is busy painting his banners at a secret location somewhere in Horowhenua.

Upcoming hurdles for Puff include the completion and drying of his banners, a trip to Hastings and back for administrative sign-off, and survival of a Friday test flight. And while Puff has friends in some pretty high places, he can’t do much about the weather!

“We don’t have time for anything to go wrong” Denis the Balloonman says. “Every second counts when you’re gasping for air.”

What do you think? Has puff got enough puff?

ENDS

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