Worlds largest motorcycle hot air balloon sponsored by MCE Insurance

Worlds largest motorcycle hot air balloon sponsored by MCE Insurance

The innovative motorcycle, accessory and clothing retailer George White Superbikes, chalked up another incredible first last week by test flying their very own hot-air balloon. As George Whites sole provider of bike and scooter insurance MCE is a proud sponsor of the balloon.

The hot air balloon, built by Chester-based specialists Linsdtrand Balloons, will fly, weather permitting, at all rounds of the MCE British Superbike Championship and other selected events in the UK and Europe.

The first official appearance will be at round two of the MCE Insurance BSB series at Thruxton, Hants, home round to George White's Swindon Head Quarters. (April 17 18)

The 37m high x 47m wide balloon was one of the most complex ever made by Linstrand Hot Air Balloons, founded by Per Lindstand over 25 years ago. It is a bike and rider scaled up 23 times and takes about twice as long to prepare and inflate than a "conventional" balloon.

The pilot Chris Sanger-Davies says, "as one of the biggest shapes in the world you have to be aware of the size and scale of what is above you - but essentially it is still a hot air balloon and has the same characteristics as standard round balloons of similar lifting capacity, although it is much more weather susceptible."

The balloon will also be in action for day one (Saturday) of the George White Open Weekend held at its Swindon HQ over the weekend of April 24 and 25. On lucky visitor to the showroom will win a ride in the balloon over the store that will be visited by most of the MCE Insurance BSB front runners over the course of the weekend. On Sunday 25th April it will fly over the start to the annual London marathon - putting motorcycling in front of 46,000 runners and with BBC images fed to over 150 countries world-wide.

Some MCE Insurance BSB machine v GW Balloon facts:

Top Speed:

MCE British Superbike 185 MPH
George White Balloon 12 MPH

Fuelled up weight:
MCE British Superbike 206 KG
George White balloon Maximum take of weight 1700kg Fabric weight 562kg

Passengers:
MCE British Superbike 1
George White Balloon 4 + 1 pilot

Engine:
MCE British Superbike 1000cc
George White Balloon 23,000cc
Balloon burner 50,000 BTU. MK2 Jet stream double

Fuel tank:
MCE British Superbike 20litre capacity
George White balloon 406 litre capacity
240 litres of propane

Helmet:
MCE British Superbike average rider: M
George White balloon X*23L

Boot size:
MCE British Superbike average rider: 11.5
George White ballon 212

Average rider height:
MCE British Superbike 5" 11
George White balloon 138"

Back wheel diameter:
MCE British Superbike 65cm
George White balloon 15.5 meters

The balloon is constructed from 5500 individual fabric panels, over a period of 3 months using 8 specialist seamstresses, 2 design engineers, and over 50 miles of thread.