The Sonic The Hedgehog hot air balloon (originally created to coincide with the launch of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in Europe, and not to be confused with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon) could be taking to the skies again for the first time in over 15 years.
The news has been tipped to us by SonicHAB over at SSMB, who has stated that:
Sonic has undergone some cosmetic surgery and is planned to be flying at the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta this October as his first free flight since 1999.
This would not only be the balloon’s first proper flight since the 90s, but also the balloon’s first appearance stateside.
The balloon itself has been around for years, and had its maiden flight way back in 1993 when it attended a hot air balloon fiesta in Switzerland, then appearing at several different gatherings all over Europe (I even got to see it fly for a few years when it visited the Bristol Balloon Fiesta a few times).
Whilst the balloon’s flight certificate expired back in 1999, the company looking after it (Irish Balloon flights) has brought the balloon out of storage several times in the past to make appearances as an attraction at numerous country shows and festivals as a non-flying balloon.
See some footage of the balloon on one of its outings here:
http://youtu.be/zcAxzjnFEsU
Also… Gotta love the registration on it… G-SEGA. Brilliant.
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