Balloon crash family looks to finish flight | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Relatives of a woman killed in the Carterton ballooning tragedy want to finish her flight by taking a balloon ride at the coming festival.

Masterton's Val Bennett, 70, was one of 11 who died when a hot air balloon struck powerlines and plunged to the ground at Clareville on January 7.

Her son Gavin Bennett and his wife Nicky, who gave her the tickets for her birthday, said they were considering taking a flight at the Trust House Balloons over Wairarapa festival, which will open with a tribute to the crash victims.

The four-day festival would run in Masterton and Carterton from March 8 and feature more than 30 balloons, said Balloons over Wairarapa organiser Jonathan Hooker.

Nicky Bennett said the couple had discussed with Mr Hooker about boarding a balloon at the festival, although their flight was yet to be confirmed.

"We just want to finish what was started - it's about finishing that flight," Mrs Bennett said.

"Gavin has a little anxiety about the risks, which is fully understandable, but I have zero hesitation about going up. I agree with [Carterton Mayor] Ron Mark. There's absolutely no reason to be afraid."

Mr Mark earlier vowed to take a flight at the festival in tribute to the victims and local ballooning community.

Meanwhile, the first Wairarapa balloon flights since the tragedy were completed in Masterton on Waitangi Day as part of the MG National Rally 2012.

The MG Car Club held the rally, which featured about 85 cars, with participants coming from as far as Australia, the UK and the US. The ballooning activity had been postponed from Sunday because of the weather.

Convener Ross Armstrong said Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell took his first flight aboard one of four balloons that ascended from Hood Aerodrome.

Rally participants chased the balloons to capture a playing card from each to make up a poker hand, Mr Armstrong said, with a club flush winning the event.

"We were a bit worried about the weather for a while but there wasn't a lot of wind and the balloons were up in the air for about an hour. It was superb," he said.

Mr Daniell said he was nervous but once off the ground had enjoyed the revelation "of what an amazing place we live in".

"But, more importantly, it was a privilege to help mark the way forward after a tragedy that took so much from so many."