Brewery blimp breaks loose

Press, 22 July 1986, Page 2

Brewery blimp breaks loose

What goes up must come down — Dominion Breweries is hoping the adage proves true for its runaway helium blimp. The blimp, a heliumfilled balloon measuring about 5 metres by 2 metres, escaped from the Bower Tavern in North New. Brighton about 1 p.m. yesterday.

Workmen were securing the balloon to the tavern as part of a promotion planned by the brewery for nine of its hotels. A 4001 b breaking strain rope held the balloon in place — briefly. The rope snapped about three-quarters of the way up its length and $2500 worth of helium blimp disappeared into the clouds.

Southerly winds sent he blimp heading northwards, and it is thought to be somewhere between Christchurch and

Kaikoura, probably along the coast

The brewery hopes to ge the blimp back, said a marketing services assistant, Mr Colin Wightman. Experts say the pressure at 10,060 feet will cause the blimp to lose helium, through an escape valve, and descend slowly.

In the meantime Dominion Breweries has informed the Ministry of Civil Aviation about the runaway.

“I just hope no-one hits it” Mr Wightman said. “At 5 metres by 2 metres with three red fins and sporting company logos, the blimp should be obvious to passing pilots and birds.”

To encourage balloon spotters to report the runaway . blimp, the brewery has offered a recovery fee — of five dozens cans of beer.