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Friday 2nd March
Maes-y-llan

Did You See?

Oswestry's Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons Ltd, the world's largest manufacturer of airships, tested some of their new balloons on the Maes-y-llan this morning.

Although always spectacular, this is not an unusual event.  Back in July 2005, Lindstrands claimed a world first - a balloon with a glass-bottomed basket - thanks to technology borrowed from US space agency NASA and test-flew it from the Maes-y-llan.  Have a look at the BBC Shropshire website to see what happened and look at the gallery to see the images of Oswestry from the air.

This is not Oswestry School's only connection with hot air ballooning.  Colonel Fred Burnaby, Old Oswestrian, in honour of whom Burnaby house is named, was an adventurer and hot air balloonist.  In 1882 he made only the second crossing of the English Channel in a balloon, making him the first balloonist to cross the Channel solo, resulting in a book called 'A Ride Across The Channel And Other Adventures In The Air'.

More images from Wednesday 7th and 14th March have been added.

Many thanks to Mr Arnott for the pictures from the 14th.