Repeater pilots at IBBF Mallorca 2025: experience, community and flying as a family
The second edition of the IBBF promises to thrill once again from 22 to 26 October 2025 in Capdepera, one of the most spectacular settings on the island. Following an unforgettable first edition in 2024, this year the festival will not only increase the number of balloons and flights, but will also welcome back a distinguished selection of returning pilots: those who joined us for the festival's debut and are returning for the beauty of the island, the warmth of the audience, and the great success of the event.
Our returning pilots: a community in the air
The following pilots, already well known to the local public, will once again take to the skies above Mallorca:
Matthias Schlegel
Anja Müggler
Stefu Wälchli
Frank Holthofer
John Viner
Alain van den Heede
Jeff Lawton
Andres Tapias
Malgorzata Gomolka
Jean Marc Guerin
Guido Gebauer
JM‑Neus Lladó
Christoph Meyer
Each one represents a flying style, a personal story, and an emotional connection to the festival. Their return is much more than a second participation: it is an act of continuity, commitment, and affection.
An experience that goes beyond flying: professional teams and families
The IBBF is not just an aeronautical event, but a true international travelling community, in which technical teams, co-pilots, ground crew and entire families travel alongside the pilots.
Many of these teams are made up of experienced professionals who have been working together for years at festivals across Europe. Others include family members: partners, children, siblings or parents, who help with logistics, balloon inflation, road tracking or simply sharing the journey as part of a joint adventure.
This mixed environment, combining technical expertise and family life, creates a unique atmosphere at the IBBF Mallorca. At the launch sites, it's not just efficiency and coordination that you see: there's a sense of affection, teamwork and a shared passion for flying.
The festival also encourages this sense of community: communal breakfasts, morning briefings, dinners among pilots and social activities allow bonds to be forged between participants from different cultures and generations.
