From a Chance Flight to a Life in the Skies
Allie Dunnington describes her first hot-air balloon flight in 2002 as "magical". While working as a tour guide in Myanmar, she met British pilot Phil, who offered her a spare place on a flight. Despite disliking planes, she found ballooning serene and picturesque, floating gently over temples without turbulence. This experience sparked a lifelong passion that would take her across the globe.
A Romance Born in the Air
During that initial flight, Allie had a sore throat and could barely speak, but she was drawn to Phil's personality. They exchanged email addresses afterward, leading to lengthy messages sent via satellite phone at great expense. After seven weeks of correspondence, they reunited in Germany, and Phil proposed on a sand dune in Dubai just days later. They married in Bristol in 2004, with Allie moving to the UK to join Phil in their international balloon consultancy.
Breaking Barriers and Setting Records
Phil encouraged Allie to train as a pilot, and she earned her licence in 2005. In a male-dominated field, she became the UK's first female hot-air balloon flight examiner, proudly asserting her independent passion beyond just following Phil. She founded the Women's Balloon Event in 2010 to promote aviation to women and girls, which ran for a decade. Over 17 years of commercial flying, she has witnessed emotional moments like mid-air proposals, including one over Tuscany where a passenger knelt in the basket to propose.
Tragedy and Triumph in Ballooning
Phil passed away suddenly in 2021 in Jordan from a rare form of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and Covid-19. Allie continued their consultancy and pursued her own record attempt, aiming to surpass Phil's 127 countries. She has now flown in 124 countries, completing every country in the Americas and becoming the first pilot to free-fly a balloon in Sumatra and Brunei. While not an official Guinness World Record due to witness requirements, it is informally acknowledged in the ballooning community.
Memorable Flights and Future Adventures
Allie recalls a thrilling flight in Tanzania's Tarangire National Park, where she saw 13 hungry lions prowling the night before and flew over them the next morning. Her recent trips included Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. She plans a long expedition around west Africa next year, aiming for 150 countries. Reflecting on her journey, she believes Phil would be proud, imagining him "sitting on a cloud, sipping a cider". She has tried other aircraft but finds nothing matches ballooning, which requires only an adventurous spirit to enjoy.
