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 ›
The Ups and Downs of the Great British Balloon Licence – Chris Dunkley
Its been a cracking day, the winds light and variable and the temperature still t-shirt. My dog and I have walked miles and watched a balloon float gently across the sky, albeit very slowly, and land almost where we cut into the woods. Pleasant happy waves exchanged with the retrieve crew. A degree of considered,… Read More ›
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 ›
Corrie Virutrolic nasty thing and the Balloon Clubs
With the lockdown having been extended into June, throughout the UK the regional balloon clubs have issued guides and notes to pilots and many planned events and get-togethers cancelled or are being revued on a rolling basis. Within the clubs, from early on, members had all agreed that flying was going on hold and, following… Read More ›
The No Ice Re-frozen Icicle 2020
The Icicle has been part of balloonings’ heritage since it first started and over the years has become the national institution that reminds us that better is yet to come as the evenings draw out and the sun shines warmer. It’s a chance to meet up with friends old and new, check out the latest… Read More ›
Vortex Burner
It has always puzzled me that the manufacturers, and it does seem to include all of them to one degree or another, seldom promote their new, or existing come to that, products in a meaningful way. Ballooning I grant you is a pretty close-knit community so perhaps they feel there is no need, word of… Read More ›
Peace and Love, what’s in your basket Tom Cobbly? – Minimum Equipment?
Now one and all, just chill. Its bad but not that bad. Having nearly arrived before the balloon, riding the flexirigids like whotshisface in Dr Strangelove, I can say, hand on heart, that a pilot restraint is not a bad thing especially if you don’t have turning vents…Yee Ha! Anyway having boiled me brain trying… Read More ›
John’s Balloon – Building the Dream
It all started a long time ago. Needles has been after building his own balloon for ever. Thing was, “Love to do it, but what is the point?” he oft asked. Fair comment, he doesn’t have a licence and, over the years, if you add up all the panels, patches and rebuilds he has done… Read More ›
2019 Icicle Warms up nicely
What a way to start the year. An Icicle that flies all the slots. The benchmark for 2019 is now set high. We had actually got a couple of flights in with the trusty ’56 on the Thursday and Friday before the Icicle stole the weather for the weekend. Despite rumours to the contrary I… Read More ›
The Day I Flew inside Liverpool Cathedral – Robin Batchelor
In our very late December News we reported on the trial inflation of a balloon inside Liverpool Cathedral. The inception and instigation of this wonderful happening was all due to the efforts of dear old Birdman Batchelor and here is his story of what happened come the day the event proper took place. Images courtesy… Read More ›