Special Shape balloon news

sun 28 September 2008
First inflation Airplane Happy

Below are photos are from the first inflation of “Airplane Happy”. The inflation happend on thursday 25 september at 2 pm. This Ballon has a volume of 2900m³ and weights 260kg. Registration is PP-XII.

mon 15 September 2008
Stork made first flight

Two weeks ago we presented the design visual of a flying stork. Now we're pleased to show you pictures from the first flight of this giant balloon which is 54m long. Congratulations to manufacturer/pilot Mauro Leandro Chemin from the company Victoria / Snap balloons. Sponsor for this project is cegonha.org.

thu 11 September 2008
Mr. Puwp is born.

Here are the pictures from the first inflation of Mr. Puwp which is manufactured by BR Special Shape and Aeromagic Balloons. The balloon will be piloted by Jairo Fogaça and is registered as PP-XFS.

mon 8 September 2008
Carlton Draught glass

Picture This Ballooning is proud to announce the maidenflight of the Carlton Draught special shape hot air balloon which took place on 3 September for a one and a half hour flight from Burnley to Essendon Airport. Designed and Built by Cameron Balloons of Bristol (UK) it is their 7th Cameron special shape. The national launch took place indoors at Melbourne Central where the balloon was tethered for 18 hours and witnessed by over 75.000 people who we estimate took around 25.000 photographs. Registration is VH-PSR.

sat 30 August 2008
Two new balloons for Brazil

Mauro Leandro Chemin from the company Victoria / Snap balloons is currently manufacturing two new special shapes. They will be ready at the end of september and can be seen at the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. Both balloon where designed by Mauro's 18 year old son Lucas Chemin.

The first one is called "Airplane Happy". This comic balloon has a volume of 2900m³ and weights 260kg.

The second one is flying stork ordered by DR. Karan from cegonha.org. This new shape will fly in several areas of Brazil. It has a volume of 5000m³, is 54m long and 24.7m high. Envelope weight is 370kg.

sat 23 August 2008
Brahma beer can

Another balloon manufactured by RVB Balloons in Brazil. This time a flying can to promote Brahma beer. The balloon will be operated by RVB balloons and has a volume of 3000m³. Registration is PP-XGA.

tue 19 August 2008
The Barneveld baby-chicken

This Cameron balloon is a gift from Ben Bläss Fortis Fonds for the city of Barneveld which is famous for his chickens. Last friday the balloon made a flight from the castle in Barneveld. The balloon is donated to Ballonteam Wessel and will be flown with volunteers and people with an intellectual or physical restriction. This baby-chicken has an active volume of 3400m3, is 25,8m high and weighs 236 kg. Registration is PH-EGG.

sat 16 August 2008
Flying heart in Germany

Schroeder Fire Balloons has manufactured this heart shaped balloon. The heart has a volume of 4000m³ and is registered as D-OZZZ.

fri 25 july 2008
Tallest special shape from Kubicek

Pilot Yashar Modiri from Sweden will fly the newest special shape from Kubicek soon! Yellow Santa is the tallest balloon they have ever built. Including Santa's funny cap it is 46,5 m high. It was the first great success of their new cutter. 1850 different parts so fast and easy.

The volume is 3600 m³ and will carry pilot plus 3 or 4 persons. Yes, passengers allowed, Kubicek special shapes are covered by standard Type Certificate since last year. So no restrictions like for experimental machines. Registration will be SE-ZLZ

fri 11 July 2008
Test flight in Brazil

Two days ago the "Farmer Pig" and "Lady Bug" made their first flight. Thanks to Marcos from RVB Balloons for the pictures. Registration is PP-XKW for the pig and PP-XLK for the lady bug.

wed 9 July 2008
First inflation of Dan, le fou du roi

The photo's below are from the first inflation of the new balloon with the name: "Dan, le fou du roi". Congratulations to Daniel Larivière with his new balloon. Registration is C-FUON.

sun 8 June 2008
Maurieske is born

This afternoon pilot Marc Verhelst official presented his new balloon called "Maurieske" in Antwerp. It's a private balloon which can carry 4 passengers. Registration is OO-BMH. The balloon wil be used for participation at balloonfestivals all over the world.

fri 6 June 2008
Lady Bug balloon

After the Farmer Pig and Wally the fish RVB Balloons presents another flying animal. The Lady Bug balloon is currently being manufactured for Bob Romaneschi from Arizona (USA). The testflight is sheduled for end June.

sat 24 May 2008
Wally, the clown fish

Two days ago another special shape manufactured by RVB Balloons made his test flight in Porto Feliz (Brazil). We present you the first pictuers from "Wally", the biggest clown fish in the world. He has a volume of 3000m³, is 30,2m long and 25m tall. The balloon is now traveling to it's owner and pilot Steve Woller in Wisconsin (USA). Registration is N-990WW.

fri 23 May 2008
Farmer Pig for Brazil

The Brazilian company RVB presents their newest special shape "Farmer Pig". The form Idealized by Pilot Luiz Paulo Assis proprietor of Air Fly will make his premiere this August in Saint Jean sur Richelieu and at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October. Registration will be PP-XKW.

wed 14 May 2008
Mr. Pig is coming

Mr. Pig is a clever and Sharp character, that fascinates people with its look… This Special Shape is the first of a series developed by the Brazilian pilot Jairo Fogaça, in partnership for the project and construction with the AEROMAGIC BALOONS designer, that will be under the brand BR SPECIAL SHAPES.

This balloon should participate at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (USA). The balloon is registered as PP-XFS.

sat 3 May 2008
Balloon with small add-on

Beside real special shapes we also list balloons with add-ons. Here is a new Cameron N-133 with a small add-on. The first official inflation took place on the 1st May in Waddinxveen, The Netherlands. The maidenflight was a day laterThe balloon is named like the pilot's parrot 'Tommie". Registration is PH-PAP, from PAPegaai what is dutch for Parrot. Thanks to the Toyota van Leeuwen Team for the information and pictures.

mon 31 March 2008
New special for Belgium

This clown with the name "Maurieske" is the rebuilt of a retired balloon. Owner and pilot Marc Verhelst will make the maidenflight at the balloonfestival in Olen on 19, 20 and 21 July. Registration will be OO-BMH.

wed 19 March 2008
Balloon with stairs

Mees van Dijk from Balloonteam Wessel has sended the visual from his new balloon which will be delivered this spring. It's a Cameron Z-77 with 3 add-ons in the shape of a stair. The registration will be PH-MAD.

wed 20 February 2008
Giant bee in Brazil

Marcos from RVB sended me pictures from the testflight from last weekend of his latest new creation. The balloon is 18m tall, 28m long and can carry 3 persons. Owner and operator of this new balloon is Francisco Naccarato. registration is PT-ZMF.

tue 19 February 2008
UEFA cup balloon

Bob Garnett took this picture from the UEFA cup hot air balloon during its maidenflight in Chateau D'Oex. The balloon is manufactured by Cameron and registered in Switzerland as HB-QNN.

The balloon will make visit the following cities.

Zurich 21.02.2008 - 24.02.2008
Berne 28.02.2008 - 02.03.2008
Lausanne 06.03.2008 - 09.03.2008
Innsbruck 20.03.2008 - 23.03.2008
Linz 27.03.2008 - 30.03.2008
Klagenfurt 03.04.2008 - 06.04.2008
Salzburg 10.04.2008 - 16.04.2008
Graz 24.04.2008 - 27.04.2008
Lugano 01.05.2008 - 04.05.2008
Lucerne 08.05.2008 - 11.05.2008
Vienna 05.06.2008 - 29.06.2008

wed 2 January 2008
First private special shape in Quebec

Daniel Larivière from Quebec (Canada) has ordered a new private balloon. It's currently being manufactured. The French name will be "Dan, le fou du roi" which means 'Dann Jester of the King". Delivery is sheduled in June.

tue 11 December 2007
New balloon for switzerland

Benjamin Senn sended the pictures from the first inflation of his new balloon. Profix MIDI is a normal shaped balloon with a happy face on one side. Manufacturer of this new red balloon is Ultra Magic. Registration is HB-QNI.

mon 22 October 2007
Flying apple for Austria

James Woodey made these pictures from the testinflation of this bigg apple.

The balloon is registered in Austria as OE-SAP and will be operated by the Ballonclub Apfeldorf Puch.

fri 19 October 2007
New shape for the USA.

Ian J. Berry (aka TZ Aviation) made this picture from Don Edwards new balloon at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The balloon called "Paddy" is manufactured by Sundance Balloons and made his maidenflight on 20 September in Orlando, FL.

Registration is N-1091R.

sun 23 September 2007
New shapes in Brazil.

Two new shapes have had there test flight. Both balloons are manufactured by Amazon Balloons and will participate at the yearly Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

On Youtube is a video available from the first inflation of the Nightmare House.

The Farm Chicken has registration PP-CKN, the Nightmare House PP-HOU.

mon 17 September 2007
New shapes from Kubicek.

Some new shapes had their airborn in front of the Kubicek factory some time ago. A cement storage bin and a flying forklift truck.

The Silo Fixit balloon is 38m high, has a diameter of 14m and is flown in Switzerland. Registration is HB-QMX.

The new Forklift is for Stratos ballooning in Germany. Registration is D-OSBF.

fri 10 August 2007
New shape for Luxembourg

A couple of weeks ago the Youz balloon made his first flights in Luxembourg. The balloon is manufactured by Schroeder Fire Balloons in Germany. The balloon is registered as LX-BYZ and operated by Cercle Luxembourgeois de l'aerostation.

thu 26 July 2007
Flying condom

Pictures from the first inflation of the Dutch condom balloon. The balloon is registered as PH-GGD and operated by Sky Promotions.

thu 19 July 2007
New Cameron shape for Australia.

This morning the newest shape for Australia was inflated at the Cameron Balloons factory in Bristol (UK). This giant lightbulb is for the promotion of AGL, Australia's largest energy company.

Operator is Picture This Ballooning who operate several other special shaped balloons. Registration is VH-CNE (Carbon Neutral Energy).

wed 20 June 2007
Flying duck for France

On 9 May this new Lindstrand balloon made his maidenflight in Dordogne, France.
The balloon is registered as F-GUCK and operated by Montgolfière du Périgord.

tue 12 June 2007
Pandy's testflight

Several days ago Pandy the Panda made his testflight. Registration is N-307PB.
Again a fantastic balloon manufactured by the Brazilian company RVB (Aeromagic US).

fri 8 June 2007
Another new one in Brazil

This nice balloon is manufactured by Amazon Balloons in partnership with Rubic Balloons and was built in only 3 weeks. It represents the mascot from the Pan American Games which are held in Rio this year. This multi-sport event is held every four years between competitors from all nations of the Americas.

mon 28 May 2007
Flat Earth Garden of Dreams

The Flat Earth Garden of Dreams hot air balloon will travel to 15 cities throughout North America over the next 6 months as part of a goodwill ambassador tour. It's official debut was last weekend at the 2007 Freedom Weekend Aloft in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

The new hot air balloon was designed specifically to represent Flat Earth. Built by Cameron Balloons US in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the special shape balloon features digital artwork and multiple appendages. Natural elements like butterflies, blue sky, grazing cows, apples and tomatoes emphasize the natural ingredients of the Flat Earth crisps product line. More information on Flat Earth, a division of Frito-Lay, can be viewed at www.impossiblygood.com

The fabric envelope showcases a complex digital design and appendages that playfully jut out from the conventional hot-air balloon shape. The design features one 21 foot tall Flat Earth logo, two 14 to 20 foot tall monarch butterflies, a 25-foot tall apple basket, two 14-foot tall tomatoes, a classic barn, and 5 cows grazing and two horses on a vivid blue and green background. The balloon was hand constructed using more than 3,500 square yards of rip-stop nylon and using 9.3 miles of thread, It took 100 hours to hand weave the balloon’s basket.

The balloon is registered as N-40562 and piloted by Bill Baker and Bennett Schwontkowski from Corporate Balloons, Ltd.

fri 25 May 2007
Pandy the panda

Pandy the Panda is Aeromagic's newest creation currently in production. Owner Shelley Caraway is looking forward to showcasing her balloon in support of the BFA Youth Program, which she chairs. Pandy is scheduled to debut at the International de montgolfières de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in August 2007.

Registration will be N-307PB. More information at www.pandaballoons.com

thu 26 April 2007
new shape in production

We have seen fantastic shapes over the years from Brazilian balloonmanufacturers.

The design here is from Amazon Balloons, who are currently working on this fantastic balloon. This August the balloon should be ready to fly.

tue 24 April 2007 - 3 shapes for belgium

Three new special shapes have made their appearance in Belgium in the last month.

OO-BUQ "Strawberry" Cameron N-105 SS First flight: 28 March 2007 Operator: Airventure Ballooning

OO-BQZ "Darth Vader" Cameron Head One 105 First flight: 22 April 2007 Operator: Pearl Balloon

OO-BQJ "La Réplique II" Ballons Libert First flight: 23 April 2007 Operator: Belgian Balloon Club

tue 27 February 2007 - Little Pirate is back !!!

The pictures below where made this morning in ABQ after 3 days of work.
In truth just the base of the balloon was damaged together with some internal catenaries.

mon 8 Januari 2007 - Kubicek box for Switzerland

Here are the first pictures of the Orange box manfactured by Kubicek Balloons. The balloon is registered as HB-QMB and has a volume of 3400 m³.

Due to change of hosting, the online database is temporarily NOT AVAILABLE.

wed 16 December 2006 - Strawberry for Belgium
This is the design for the newest special balloon for Belgium. It's a cameron N-105 with add-ons and will be owned by Veiling Hoogstraten. Lenny Cant from Airventure Ballooning is going to operate this nice strawberry.

Registration will be OO-BUQ.

wed 15 November 2006 - New Cameron for Japan
Again a new special shape manufactured at Cameron Balloons UK. This one is for Japan and made his first flight at the Saga Balloon Fiesta in Japan. The balloon's name is "Ebisu". Registration is JA-A1266.

Ebisu is the Japanese god of fishermen, good luck, and workingmen, as well as the guardian of the health of small children. He is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune, and the only one of the seven to originate from Japan. Ebisu is sometimes referred to as the brother of Hiruko, a Japanese sun god.

sat 4 November 2006 - Cameron MSN Buddy for Spain
The lastest new special manufactured at the Cameron factory in Bristol is this MSN Buddy.
Operator of this balloon is Escuela de aeroautas de aerodifusion located in Madrid, Spain.

Registration is G-WLVE.

fri 3 November 2006 - Rayovac battery for brazil
Below are pictures from the test-inflation of the Rayovac battery from Brazil. Note the top of the battery on the last picture.

mon 30 October 2006 - new shape for RE/MAX

Sale Away, the newest addition to the RE/MAX Balloon Fleet, has made his debut at the 2006 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. More than 27 times taller than a standard RE/MAX yard sign, and large enough to envelop five average-size American homes, the Sale Away Special Shape Hot Air Balloon is joining the fleet of more than 90 RE/MAX Balloons making appearances across the globe.

The balloon is manufactured by Lindstrand Balloons and registered as N-504RM.

wed 27 September 2006 - new shape in production

At this moment Amazon Balloons has a new shape in production for the company Rayovac.

This 30 meters high battery will be ready in November and will give extra power to the Brazilian ballooning. Pilot of this 2500m³ balloon will be Antonio Marques.

thu 31 August 2006 - First pictures LG Chocolate phone
The first three pictures are from the testinflation nearby the Cameron factory in Bristol on 25 August.
This morning Anulfo González from Flying Circus inflated the balloon for the first time in Spain.
Registration is EC-JXK. Thanks to James Woodey & Anulfo González for sharing these pictures.

tue 29 August 2006 - Stroud & Swindon House
This flying house made his first appearance two weeks ago at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. It is manufactured by Lindstrand Balloons UK and registered as G-CDWV. Thanks to James Woodey for the pictures.

fri 25 August 2006 - new Bofrost icecream
A new Bofrost icecream balloon for Stratos Ballooning (Germany). This one is manufactured by Kubicek Balloons and has a volume of 2.850 m3. Registration is OK-5550.

thu 10 August 2006 - Flying Sculpture for sale
Erik Nyberg from Ballongfirman Far & Flyg (Sweden) is selling his balloonequipment. All is listed on his site www.balloons4sale.se
Also his 3 special shapes are beeing sold. The Kiosk and Icecreamclown already found a new owner. At this moment the Flying Sculpture, also called The Head, is still for sale. The envelope is manufactured by Thunder & Colt in 1984 and has 193 hours.

sat 5 August 2006 - LG Chocolate phone
This is the second phone-shaped balloon for LG in Spain. The balloon is under construction at the Cameron factory in Bristol (UK) and will be used to promote the new "Chocolate LG Phone". In September the balloon will travel to Warstein (Germany) to participate at the yearly balloonfestival.

fri 28 July 2006 - Flighthouse is ready
Here are the pictures from the testinflation in Brazil. After this inflation the balloon was send to Barry and Terri in Pennsylvania. The guys from Aeromagic will travel with this balloon until October. Current registration is PP-XLL(2).

sun 16 July 2006 - Flying ribbon

On 4 July this flying ribbon made his first flight in Torres (Brazil). The balloon is manufactured by Amazon Balloons and will be piloted by Randy Oates from Air America. With a volume of 3100 m³ this balloon can carry pilot + 3 passengers. Registration is PP-XMY.

fri 14 July 2006 - Buddy the monster

Aeromagic Balloons is proud to present the designvisual of their latest project "Buddy the monster". The balloon will have a volume of 3000 m³ and will be registered as PP-XLK(2). First festival will be at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Canada.

thu 13 July 2006 - Artwork new special shape

Some pictures from the artwork of a new shape that is currently being manufactured. More information about this nice balloon will be published later.

thu 6 July 2006 - New and improved Mr. Peanut

The new and improved Mr. Peanut Special Shape Hot Air Balloon program was launched in 2006, by Johnvince Foods, in celebration of the Planter's brand 100th Anniversary. This world renowned icon, with his smiling face and monocled eye, will be touring across Canada, drawing eyes skyward and raising funds for the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation of Canada.

This is the third incarnation of this popular shape. Unlike its predecessors, this Mr. Peanut has artwork on both sides, shorter cane and can carry the pilot plus two passengers. It was built and type certified by Aerostar International in the U.S.A. The balloon is operated by the Skyworks Balloon Company based in London, Ontario. Registration is C-FPNT.

fri 30 June 2006  - New Honda Asimo

Begin this year the Honda Asimo balloon (HB-QSQ) was destroyed by fire in Château-d'Oex. Below are pictures from the new balloon which was tested several days ago nearby the Cameron factory. This one is registered as HB-QLK. Thanks to James Woodey for the pictures.

wed 28 June 2006  - New crazy special shape for Germany

A new Kubicek special shape is born. The project was not easy. It's the most complicated shape Kubicek has ever manufactured. It looks easier than their 4 years old cathedral, but the non-symmetrical shape and offset head caused troubles and that's fairly easy to show: the balloon consist of 1.800 panels, 1.500 of them are quite unique!

Other details: registration OK-6382, volume 3.000 m³, height 35 m, max. width 19.6 m, weight 273 kg.

thu 15 June 2006 - Funny Bunny goes to Canada

This summer we will make the first big trip oversea with our own "Funny Bunny".

From 12 to 20 August you can admire our balloon at the International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Canada. More information about the festival can be found at www.montgolfieres.com

There are 14 guest special shapes invited. Two of them, the lighthouse and Buddy the monster, are stil being manufactured and will make their first flight at the festival.

wed 14 June 2006 - Italian orange

After 15 years there is an innovation in the world of the aerostatica in Italy. A huge special Shape balloon, in the form of a half orange, will soon decorate the Italian airspace. It has been since 1990, the year of the world championship football, that there was an Italian special shape.

The man behind this idea is Antonio Biasioli, the famous European reporter in the world of the aerostatica. Pilot of the new balloon team "Arancia Ballooning" is Donatella Ricci who also is President of the FITA, Federazione Italiana dell'Aerostatica. The retrieving of this giant citrus fruit (3,400 m3) will happen by crew chief Caroline the Noble, who has many years of experience from ballooning in Belgium. The Cameron orange initially flew under Swiss flag. Now it is registered in the UK as G-CDXW. You can admire the orange at the most important Italian meetings and on some foreign events.

thu 8 June 2006 - Maskot again ready to fly

Do you remember this "man in box" balloon? It was the first special shape manufactured at the Kubicek factory (registration OK-2003). The balloon represents the mascot of the 1992 Albertville Winter Games. Since several years this balloon was out of service, but last week it was reregistered in Belgium as OO-BOV.

tue 6 June 2006 - First inflation Mister Bup

Since several weeks the Cameron team has been waiting for good weather to do the first inflation of Mister Bup. Last friday the big moment finally arrived. This giant Turtle will soon be at his home in Belgium from where it will travel around the whole world. Registration is OO-BUP.

thu 1 June 2006 - VT4 Football

This new Ultra Magic Football is manufactured for a Belgian Television channel called "VT4".
Operator of this one is Danny Bertels Ballooning. The balloon will make a publicitytour in Belgium to promote the current footballgames. The balloon is registered as OO-BNF and has a volume of 3000m³.

thu 1 June 2006 - American Rocket

This special balloon is built on a Lindstrand 69X airframe and made his first flight on April 20 at the Kentucky Derby Festival Great Balloon Race. The balloon is piloted by Scott McClinton who also owns the "Air Ball" and "Touchdown" special shape. The American Rocket is registered as N-29XR.

wed 17 May 2006 - New Kubicek balloon

Kubicek Balloons manufactured this normal balloon with a chimney on the top.
"Smoky" is operated by Ballonteam Jena from germany and is registered as D-OOKB.

thu 13 April 2006 - Mickey in the Grand Canyon

On Tuesday morning April 11 at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time, the Disney "Happiest Balloon On Earth" waslaunched from a bluff 3,800 feet below the rim and about 700 feet above the river in Grand Canyon West at a site called "Quartermaster". The flight was conducted as part of a media program supporting Disneyland's 50th Birthday.

The balloon, basket, tarps and fans were delivered by helicopter in an operation that started at 6:00 a.m. Crews, camera teams and pilots were delivered to the launch location. All told, 11 trips in and out were required to position everything and then another 11 to remove equipment and crews. A second helicopter, shooting HD TV was utilized as well.

Scott Spencer from Lighter Than Air America it the chiefpilot from this very beautifull balloon. Registration is N-306MM.

Thanks to "Walt Disney Parks and Resorts" for using the pictures below.

mon 3 April 2006 - Flying ribbon

Below you can see the design of the balloon that's currently being manufacured at Amazon Balloons. This flying ribbon with a height of 30 meters will be used in the fight against cancer.
Air America will operate this balloon in the USA and Canada.

sat 1 April 2006 - Mister Bup

Today Lenny Cant published the design of his special shape called "Mister Bup". The balloon will be ready within a month and will be registered as OO-BUP. More techincal information can be found in the online database.

fri 3 March 2006 - New Cameron balloon for Australia

This very nice balloon was manufactured by Cameron Balloons for the start of the new Formula 1 season. Balloon Sunrise located in Yarra Glen, Victoria (Australia) will operate it. It was first registered in the Uk for inspection as G-CDSP but was soon transfered to Australie as VH-FGP.

sat 14 January 2006- New Kubicek shape: Stratolini

Below you see the latest new creation from Kubicek Balloons for Markus Haggeney of Stratos Ballooning (Germany) . This normal balloon type BB20 O with add-ons will make his maidenflight this weekend at Fire and Snow (Mauterndorf). Registration is OK-5050.