BBC - Balloon fiesta 2010: Thursday special shapes and glow

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Page last updated at 19:56 GMT, Thursday, 12 August 2010 20:56 UK

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Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2010

It had been hoped a mass ascent of the special shaped balloons would be possible on Thursday evening but adverse weather conditions meant the colourful envelopes had to remain tethered within the fiesta arena.

Some 150 balloons of all shapes and sizes are attending this year's fiesta, which is marking the 50th anniversary of the advent of modern ballooning.

Among the shapes were this motorbike, the Churchill dog and Monster balloon.

Crowds numbering tens of thousands attend the fiesta each year, hoping to see the perfect mass ascent or catch the spectacle on camera.

There's an art to the science hot air balloon inflation... being safety conscious and having plenty of patience are key.

Once air has been fanned into the fabric envelope it is heated with powerful propane burners, which lifts the whole balloon.

This gnome balloon is itching to take off but will have to wait for better weather conditions during fiesta weekend...

Balloon burners inflate envelope after dark

After dark, more balloons are inflated for the first of two night glows, weather-permitting.

Bright burners illuminate the balloon envelopes bringing vibrant colour to the evening event.

The balloon burners are fired in turn to music - pilots rehearse the routine and the effect can be spectaular.

The theme for this year's glows is Best of British, in honour of three important anniversaries being marked at the fiesta: 50 years of modern ballooning, 100 years of aeronautics at Filton and 70 years since the Battle of Britain.

BBC Bristol's Peter Rowell compered this year's event and is bringing his afternoon radio show live from the fiesta site on Friday.

Those who stay for the whole night glow are treated to a firework display - the launch site for this year's has been moved to give the public a better vantage point.

Some 50,000 people watched Thursday's night glow. Image: Graham Bloomfield.

A second night glow is planned for Saturday - organisers will be closely monitoring the weather forecast to determine whether it can go ahead... Image: Graham Bloomfield.

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