NATCHEZ — A team of British hot-air balloonists stopped in Natchez Thursday on their cross-country trip, hoping to set a record for most states flown in within a calendar month.
They unveiled a new banner Thursday, which displayed across the balloon reads the hashtag, “#flyeverystate.”
Andrew Holly, who owns the Exclusive Ballooning company, said the goal of reaching each of the 48 continental states was lofty.
“Flying every state would be fantastic,” Holly said, “But it takes a little of a miracle with the weather.”
In order for a flight to count toward the Guinness World Record, the balloon must spend five minutes at an altitude 1500 feet over the state’s territory.
Since arriving in Kentucky Saturday, the team has been grounded for three days, only crossing off Kentucky and Louisiana so far. Winds in Natchez were too high Thursday to allow them to achieve enough altitude to add the Magnolia State to their list of accomplishments. Their next stop will be Arkansas.

Though Holly said the team would love to be able to apply for a spot in the Guinness World Record book, the primary goal of the adventure is to enjoy a month-long road trip with his team.
“I love to road trip and fly, and thought it would be amazing to do the ultimate road trip right across the states,” Holly said. “And it’s proving fantastic.”

Holly said the trip has provided him an opportunity to visit his friends across the states, whom he has met on his numerous travels for competitions and hot-air balloon conventions.
“The workload is so high with driving and flying, we’re not going to stop for four weeks,” Holly said. “But we love it.”
The company is also shooting a documentary about trip’s flights and sights, and hopes to produce six episodes for a TV miniseries.
“We’ve been here three days, and probably already have a 30-minute program,” Holly said.
Holly’s company, is a UK-based, hot-air balloon advertising firm. The team has flown balloons in London, Paris and California, flying themed balloons for companies such as Disney and the Financial Times.
After their tour of the continental U.S., Holly said the company planned to visit Madagascar, Italy and Japan later this year.
Holly said he would be back in Natchez in October for the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race.