Balloon Meets »
Strange times – The 5th Leap Meet, Feb 2020 – Peter Dowlen reports
I am writing this in strange times, we are in lockdown and, as I sit here in glorious April sunshine, I am reminiscing back to the very last balloon event, held in normal times, in the UK. I am speaking, of course, about the 2020 Leap Meet, held in Llandovery, South Wales, at the end… Read More ›
Technical »
Guide to CBL, T&C, LBL, Sky & Colt Fuel Gauges.
Now here’s a thing. During the Corrie meltdown Bishy of Zebedee fame decided that a Biffa out of his ram-jammed full barn would be a good starting point for something to do. His missus Elaine loved the idea as it got him out the house and Celia thought it divine as a load of old… Read More ›
Random »
The Ridgeway – Finishing the Job
There were four of us did the Ridgeway. Stuart, Nick, Polly and myself along with Simon the Telly on the first day. Now a few days before we started Polly tore a claw out, skylarking in the woods, and was put on R&R so missed the first day. Gutted? We all were apart from Simon… Read More ›
Projects »
Re-kindling the Flames – a ripping yarn
Now before you go thinking that this should have come out before the article on the Joe Philp Fun Day, it should, but couldn’t as the whole thing was top secret. Visitors to the workshop were sworn to secrecy if they twigged what was being mended. Now the event is over we can finally release… Read More ›
News »
News 14.08.2023
~ Cripes loads of updates
~ Cameron Alugas Cylinders
~ Cameron Flight Manual update
~ Harvest Away
~ Bishy’s Biffa out
~ And in a similar vein
~ New kid on the block
~ When I see an elephant fly
~ Flydoo – Now here come the French
~ Secrets of the Worthingtons
~ While we are on the subject…
~ Ride Business News
~ Dishing the dirt
~ Dark Barn went Airship
~ Things that make us smile – a lot
~ Pete’s ‘Never will be really finally’
General »
Edward Oates and his Dunkirk Story
Jane’s dad was one of the last of the Dunkirk Veterans. If you have seen Chris Nolan’s film ‘Dunkirk’ and read his story then you will probably recognise some of the scenes. He was of course rather matter of fact about the event but clearly it was pretty harrowing. He never really spoke about his… Read More ›
Old & Rusty »
It’s called “work in progress” by Steve Roake.
Bikes have always been my freedom. Right from the word go and my 1977 Puch Maxi “S”, they have allowed me to go places and do things. The Puch propelled me to British Aerospace in Weybridge where I did my apprenticeship in aeronautical engineering. Following on with a 1975 “N” reg Honda C90 step through…. Read More ›
Ballooning »
The Great BBAC Licence Swindle – Head above the parapet
The Great BBAC Licence Swindle – Head above the parapet Having largely failed to get any meaningful discussion or response from the British Balloon and Airship Club (BBAC) Flying Committee’s commitment to remaining fully aligned with EASA and without any clear intention to prepare for the departure from EASA on 31st December this year, after… Read More ›
Easy Balloons »
Welcome 14.08.2023 – a return
Well what can we say? Time is trundling on and we need to get the Easy Balloons website back up to full strength so here we go, a mid-month edition with some bits and pieces that have gone unfinished for quite a while! First off, many will note that we have changed our opening days again. We are now open doors on Wednesdays on account of John’s good lady being poorly and him being a carer, plus lots of stuff non-ballooning that needs doing this end. That does not mean that we are not working other days if stuff is left with us, or if it is of an urgent nature. [more…]
Cloudhoppers »
Hopping with dinosaurs
Spurred on by a desire to discover when I first flew a Cloudhopper I have found a couple of my missing logbooks whilst sorting out old OS maps and, co-incidently, following a visit to the re-opening of the Oxford University Natural History Museum talk swung to a rather magical and, on the face of it,… Read More ›