Kenneth Karlstrom
Kenneth originally started ballooning to fund his university
drinking sprees - the university were sponsored by
the local brewer Pripps.
Anyone brave enough to fly the sponsored
balloon received free drinks - that was it!! - 25 years later as a tee
totaller for some 15 years, Kenneth says he cannot
remember his early days learning to fly and listening to him recounting
some of his stories, I can understand why!
He has flown in Kenya, Sweden, U.S.A, Italy, France,
Denmark, Finland, Ireland, South Africa and England.
Asked to choose his most memorable ballooning occasion
he sites the incredible flight across Stansted Airport.
Kenneth actually received permission to fly across the
runway keeping 747's circling above
"It was one of the strangest flights of my career,
commented Kenneth, believe it or not, it was so quiet going across the
runway, we could hear a pin drop. The whole of air traffic control saluted
and waved us by! The passengers thought it was marvellous, I have never
had as many kisses on departure in my life."
Kenneth has more
than 3000 hours flying experience with
large hot air balloons and holds various balloon licences including
category A, B and C.
His "C" rating puts him in the very exclusive club of
only 12 pilots in the UK.
He has competed in various world ballooning
championships including 1981, 1983 and 1985 and is fluent in three
European languages, German, English and Swedish.
Kenneth is a C.A.A. (Civil Aviation Authority) examiner
and instructor.
He list his hobbies as golf, scuba diving, squash,
exotic holidays and anything aviation.
Channel and landed quite by chance next to the site of the first aviation
fatality.
