Gary Mortimer

Hot air balloon

Hot air balloon

The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...

 Pilot and current holder of the South African Hot Air Balloon Altitude record. The record was set on 9 May 2005 when he flew to an altitude of 30334 feet (9,245.8 m) with DJ Lev David

Lev David

Lev David, is a writer, radio producer and radio presenter, and media consultant. He is both founder and chief executive officer of Say Yay Media, having previously founded and headed the consulting branch of Lev David Media.David studied economics at the University of Natal , before working for...

, on a flight in the KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....

 region of South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

.

He is currently living in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands and working on projects involving Unmanned Aerial vehicles UAV

Unmanned aerial vehicle

An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...

 using the Attopilot autopilot from Dean Goedde.
Lived in the Somerset village of Dowlish Wake

Dowlish Wake

Dowlish Wake is a small village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated south of Ilminster and north-east of Chard in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 293 and is home to several thatched houses....

 and educated at Wadham Community School

Wadham Community School

Wadham School is a school for children aged 13–18 situated on a site on the outskirts of Crewkerne in Somerset, England. - School site:...

 Crewkerne

Crewkerne

Crewkerne is a town in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil and east of Chard in the South Somerset district close to the border with Dorset. The civil parish of West Crewkerne includes the hamlets of Woolminstone and Henley...

Served in the RAF 1984-1988

Chivenor No. 63 Squadron RAF

No. 63 Squadron RAF

-In World War I:No. 63 Squadron was formed on 31 August 1916 at Stirling, Scotland as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The squadron was intended to operate as a day-bomber unit over the Western Front in France, and was therefore equipped with de Havilland DH4 aircraft; however at the last...

RAF Prestwick

RAF Prestwick

RAF Prestwick is the home of the "Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre ", and is located within the NATS air traffic control facility at Prestwick, in Ayrshire, Scotland....