Phil and Allie Dunnington have embarked on an adventure with a difference: going around the world in their Beech 18 and taking a hot-air balloon with them to fly in as many countries as possible
Back in the summer of 2014, balloonists and adventurers Phil and Allie Dunnington were visiting an aviation exhibition when they saw advertised for sale a lovely Beech 18, G-BKGM.
Both Phil and Allie had long harboured the idea of travelling around the world in a vintage aircraft, carrying one of their balloons in order to create a unique and exciting new adventure: to see how many far-flung places they could fly the balloon in.
Spotting the availability of the Beech, Phil quickly saw an opportunity to turn this concept into reality.
After a detailed inspection of the Beech, which included testing to see if a travelling lightweight balloon could safely fit into it for long flights, they purchased the aeroplane. A key component for the success of this undertaking for both Phil and Allie was that it needed to be accomplished in a suitable vintage aircraft with lots of character. A Beech 18 fitted the bill admirably.
G-BKGL was temporarily resprayed in the spring of 2015 to appear in a BBC One game show called Priz…
