Postcode fly-over outlook
Compare the live wind path, direction and distance with a full postcode or postcode area, then see an easy five-balloon likelihood rating, likely towns and an estimated arrival window when a fly-over looks plausible.
About the tracker
Bristol’s balloons,made easier to follow.
Balloons Over Bristol is an independent, mobile-first companion for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta—built to demonstrate how the public flight-tracking experience can become clearer, richer and far easier to use.
What it already does
Built around the questions visitors actually ask
One maintained feature list powers both this page and the shorter tracker summary, so new public features stay reflected here as the site develops.
The ascent that matters now
Open on the current ascent while balloons are airborne—or the most recent ascent otherwise—without a weekend of old landing reports obscuring the flight people are trying to follow.
Find and follow one balloon
Search by a familiar balloon name or registration, choose the closest match and temporarily isolate that flight on the map. Clear the filter to return to the latest ascent instantly.
Recognisable names and photographs
Replace obscure flight codes with names people actually recognise and match confirmed balloons with Bradley’s own photographs, including regular visitors and popular special shapes.
Live weekend totals
Turn public landing reports into a glanceable event summary: different balloons, reported landings, miles travelled, cumulative flying time, ascent slots and average flight distance.
A phone-first, installable experience
Designed for quick use in a field or at home, with clear touch controls, compact mobile layouts and simple instructions for adding the tracker to an iPhone or Android home screen.
A local labour of love, built for real event use
The tracker was designed by Bradley James, who wanted the excitement of a mass ascent to be clearer on the small screen most visitors actually carry.
It brings together recognisable balloon names, Bradley’s own photographs, ascent filters, weekend totals and a visual wind path. Small details—from the changing heritage balloons in the header to the photo guide—are there because the Fiesta is more than dots on a map.
This public prototype is intended to prove that the tracker can be more than a separate enthusiast project. It is designed to become a polished official service if selected: shared through the Fiesta’s social channels, announced to visitors, embedded into its website and presented under an agreed official identity.
Independent, transparent and designed around official information
This is an unofficial independent website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, operated by or connected to Bristol International Balloon Fiesta or its organisers. Live flight information uses publicly exposed BBF Official Flight Control records. Wind paths and postcode results are estimates, never flight or safety advice. Official launch decisions, timings and visitor information always remain with the Fiesta’s own channels.
Back to the sky
Open live tracker