Blockbuster balloons built in Shropshire as Lindstrand lands Aeronauts film deal
Hot air balloons built for a film starring Eddie Redmayne have been built in Shropshire after Per Lindstrand won a £250,000 contract.
The winning bid to the makers of The Aeronauts led to months of work for Oswestry company Lindstrand Balloons, from building an authentic Victorian craft to flying it during filming.
Film stars Redmayne and Felicity Jones even visited the Shropshire town to see the balloon building for themselves.
Mr Lindstrand, who rose to fame when he partnered Richard Branson in a series of world record challenges, today revealed his company’s latest success.
He said he was pleased the story of scientist James Glaisher and balloonist Henry Coxwell – who crashed into a field in Shropshire during their record setting flight in 1862 – had its own connection to the county.
The Aeronauts tells of the flight to try to understand how rain is formed.
The balloon set off from Wolverhampton and reached 29,000ft before crashing near Brown Clee Hill.
Made in Oswestry
Mr Lindstrand who himself set a solo world altitude record of 65,000ft in Texas, said the contract provided months of work for staff at his factory on Oswestry Industrial Estate.
"We bid for the contract, which was worth £250,000, and won it," he said.
“We produced everything, from the basket to the ring to the envelope, all created from authentic materials to create a Victorian style balloon.
"The ropes were all made from traditional hemp for instance.
"We had to make more than one basket to allow for any crashes during filming and we did 20 print runs of the envelope to get it spot on.”
Pilots
Lindstrand Balloons provided pilots for the filming of the Amazon film, which has disappointed some by choosing to make one of the heroes a woman.
Mr Lindstrand said: “One of our very experienced staff, John Rose, piloted the balloon.
"When they filmed the scene with Felicity Jones sitting up on the ring and Eddie Redmayne peering over the edge, John was lying in the bottom of the basket to hide from the cameras. "
The two stars made a flying visit to the factory, but Mr Lindstrand said: “It was top secret and no photographs were allowed.”
Although the real-life flight was made across the Staffordshire/Shropshire border, filming for The Aeronauts took place over Oxfordshire and in the studios.
