Come and see the latest news in the world of special shape balloons: new balloons, special events, ...
Information and suggestions are welcome!
saturday 31 July 2010 - Super FMG
Here are some pictures from the first public appearance of the Super FMG hot air balloon which is registered as G-CGNA.
A movie of the first inflation is on facebook.
   
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thursday 15 July 2010 - Slick the dragon
Palletways has unveiled a 61 ft tall hot air balloon featuring its new mascot Slick the dragon, which will also feature on the company’s livery. It's manufactured by Lindstrand balloons and will appear at 100 events across Europe over the next two years in a bid to boost brand recognition. Registration is G-PLLT.
   
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 monday 12 July 2010 - Tu-balloon
Of the profundities of the "ocean of ideas" appears a new project of AIRFLY: Tu-balloon. The balloon will be registered as PP-ZCC, have a volume of 3.400m3 and will have a height of 29 meters. His first appearance is foreseen in December of 2010. For more information contact Air Fly Balloons via info@airflyballoons.com or sale@airflyballoons.com
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friday 9 July 2010 - Super FMG
The Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival (aka Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau or FMG) announced that a new regional icon is on its way to Gatineau! SUPER FMG, a brand new special shape hot air balloon, which will also become the Festival’s trademark, will take its maiden flight this summer in the Outaouais.
This super-hero fits in a class all of its own from several points of view. For one thing, it is the first project in the history of hot air balloons to have been made by two companies known by everyone in the world of hot air balloons: Marcos Bonimcontro of Brazil’s RVB Balloons designed it, and Bristol, England’s Cameron Balloons built it. This 122,300 cubic foot balloon will measure 19.6 metres in length and 20.7 metres in height, and will weigh 260 kg. Altogether, 2,675 metres of cloth and 26.75 km of thread will have been used to make its 1,264 panels.
SUPER FMG will visit several places in Quebec, Canada, the United States, and even Europe in the coming months, drawing the world’s attention to the Festival. More information at www.balloongatineau.com.
The balloon will be registered as G-CGNA and is currently being transported to Canada where there will be a press realease with pictures within the next weeks.
 
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 wednesday 7 July 2010 - The kangaroo balloon family
Last weekend the kangaroo balloons where ready and this week they made a short testfligt in Brazil. Now the whole family is transported to Belgium where they will participate at some balloonfestivals. The weekend of 16, 17 and 18 July they will make their first public appearance at the balloonfestival in Olen, which is the webmaster's hometown. A weekend later they go to the balloonfestival in Eeklo which is the biggest balloonfestival in Belgium. Below are some pictures of the testflight.
  
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wednesday 15 June 2010 - The 3 wise monkeys
"The 3 wise monkeys" is Aeromagic's newest special shape. This beautiful balloon embodies the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". It has a volume of 3300m³ and is currently registered as PP-XLT. This balloon is for sale and can be yours for $49000. Contact Ricardo de Almeida for more information.
   
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 wednesday 9 june 2010 - World Cup Mexico soccerball
Pictures from the first flight of the latest new special shape, which happened next to the Azteca Stadium in Mexico on the day of the first game of the Mexican soccer team. This soccerball is manufactured by Nova Era and will be used to promote the World Cup which will be held in Mexico in 2011. The balloon will be piloted and owned by Javier Merino Filho.
  
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friday 28 May 2010 - Bud select 55 beer bottle
Pictures from the test inflation of the latest new balloons manufactured by Cameron Balloons USA.
These balloons will be flown by Phil Glebe and Gary Moore. Registration is N-554AB.
  
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wednesday 26 May 2010 - Earth balloon
Again news from RVB Balloons in Brazil. Last weekend Marcos made the testflight with the "Earth Balloon". This globe has a volume of 2500m³ and will be operated by Doug Grimes, Albuquerque NM.
  
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thursday 20 May 2010 - Betty Jean, the butterfly
Here is the design of Bob Romaneschi's newest project. Betty Jean is a giant butterfly and is inspired by Bob's mother's love of Butterflies and the passion he shares with his wife Devonne for great Special Shape Balloons!! Some small implementations will be added/changed to the design and then she will be ready for production. First appearance is sheduled for fall 2010.
  
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 saturday 15 May 2010 - New Kubicek shapes
Two new shapes manufactured by Kubicek Balloons have left the factory last month.
The first one is the head of Burger King. The balloon is designed very precisely according to the only one original statue of Burger King, placed in the U.S.A. Kubicek used combination of digital print, Airbrush painting and sewn-on artwork to keep the visage so typical. It will be operated in Spain and registered as EC-LEZ.
The second one is a flying Stork based on a BB34Z balloon ordered by Morgan Braden which is used to promote services of Dr. Komadina, as written on the cap. Registraion is N-342SK.
  
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sunday 25 April 2010 - Brico Plan-it
 A normal shaped balloon with a small add-on for Belgium but registered in France as F-HCND. This one is manufactured by Ballons Libert, which is the only balloonmanufacturer in Belgium. They also manufactured the replica with registration LX-BBC. The balloon will be piloted by Geoffroy Delfosse from Air Times.
  
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wednesday 21 April 2010 - Crazy Crab
Crazy Crab was inflated for the first time this week. He is available to participate at festivals and after Albuquerque the balloon will be for sale. For more information contact Luiz Paulo (Brazil). Registration will be PP-XKP.
  
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wednesday 14 April 2010 - Sno-bird
Again Ballooning news from Victoria Balloons from Brazil! Every balloonist that went to the ABQ Fiesta, has already met Diane Karlsson from PlanoPin.com. In 2010 she will be selling pins and flying her own special shape at the Fiesta. This Sno-Bird loves to travel and also collects pins. The Balloon will be registred in the USA and has a volume of 3200 m³
  
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friday 9 April 2010 - George White Superbike
This evening Lindstrand's newest production made his maidenflight. The bike will be flown by Lindstrand’s on behalf of George White who are using it to promote their support and involvement in the British Superbike Championships. The balloon is 37 metres high and 46 metres wide. Registration is G-CGJV.
 
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sunday 21 March 2010 - Generali Arctic Observer replica
Next month Jean-Louis Etienne will undertake the first-ever balloon crossing over the Northpole in a Roziere balloon manufactured by Cameron Balloons. The teammembers of the Generali Arctic Observer expedition also ordered a hot air balloon which represents a replica of the Rozière balloon. The past weeks the team made some testflights with this replica. Registration is F-HDGF. More information can be found at www.jeanlouisetienne.com
  
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wednesday 17 February 2010 - Sponge Bob hot air balloon
Again ballooningnews from Brazil. Nova Era Balloons has started with a new project. Every year they build one or more special shaped balloons. This year the first one is Sponge Bob which will be ready in June. More information and pictures later.
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sunday 7 February 2010 - Montgolfier replica
Kubicek Balloons manufactured this Montgolfier replica for the company Roleski who is the biggest manufacturer and seller of mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup and sauces in Poland. Some technical information: volume 2.850 m³, height 21,28 m, diameter: 16,9 m, weight 182 kg. Krzysztof Rekas is the pilot of this nice balloon which is registered as SP-BDH.
  
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friday 1 January 2010 - The kangaroo balloon family
Happy newyear !!! The first special shape project is a big one. Victoria balloons is currently manufacturing the Kangaroo family. Two hot air balloons in the shape of father and mother kangaroo, each with a volume of 3400m³, together with a smaller hot air modelballoon which represents the baby kangaroo. The balloons are available for events around the world and more information can be found at www.kangarooballoons.com.
  
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friday 18 December 2009 - Libra "Lucky Box"
 Picture This Ballooning is pleased to have just launched the first ever Australian designed and manufactured special shape hot air balloon - the LIBRA "Lucky Box" - to promote a well known Australian brand of tampon. It is part of a national promotion "Rags to Riches" where the public can win money by finding golden tampons in LIBRA boxes. It was built by Kavanagh Balloons, Australia's only manufacturer. The maidenflight was on monday 14 December 2009 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Regsitration is VH-LUB.
  
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sunday 29 November 2009 - Crazy Crab
Luiz Paulo Assis from Brazil presents his new special shape project "Crazy Crab" wich will have a volume of 3000 m³. It will be built by Air Fly and first inflation is planned for March 2010. This balloon wil be available to participate at festivals. Luiz already manufactured the Mushroom when he was owner of Air Adventures and manufactured the Farmer Pig in partnership with RVB.
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saturday 5 September 2009 - Tom cat
Some time ago Kubicek Balloons had an inquiry to build a Tom character from the Tom and Jerry series. The shape is based on BB20E envelope and has a total volume of 2.400 m3. Tom is operated in Japan, under registration JA-A1348, and will be flown for Saga bank. It was already airborn on August 14th but difficult to publish because the copyright holder is very strict, each photo has to contain the "Tom and Jerry" logo.
 
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friday 4 September 2009 - Duo hopper "Büsi"
Here is the new dup hopper from Benjamin Senn. It's a Ultra Magic M-56 SS and registered as HB-QOP. First flight was on 21 July 2009 at Tenniken, Switzerland.
   
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thurday 3 September 2009 - New Festo upside down balloons
Last week the new Festo upside down balloons made their first flights. Here are some pictures supplied by Andrew Kaye. Both balloons are like the older upside down twins manufactured by Cameron Balloons Ltd and operated by Rien Jurg. Registration from the inverted balloon is PH-IIH.
  
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friday 21 August 2009 - Flying led light
Last wednesday a new special made his maidenflight at the International Balloonfiesta in Barneveld (The Netherlands). This giant led-light will be used to promote the benefits of led lighting. Registration is PH-LOT. Photo's made by dutchballoonregister.nl
  
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tuesday 28 July 2009 - Testinflation Stinky
Some weeks ago we displayed the designvisual of Stinky the skunk. Last week the balloon was test inflated in Brazil. This nice balloon is registered as PP-XGA and has a volume of 3000m³.
  
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tuesday 21 July 2009 - Disney Pixar's Up Balloon
A week ago Exclusive Ballooning launched the Disney Pixar's Up Balloon. This morning the balloon was tethered in Disneyland Resort Paris. The balloon is very special for many reasons - firstly, a digitally printed envelope with 480 individually sewn balloons making a total of over 7,000 fabric components. The house that sits underneath it has been specially designed and built to conceel the basket. The scoop (the fabric section between the basket and the balloon or envelope) has been designed to be able to retract in order to aesthetically recreate as accurately as posisble the balloon as it appears in the movie. Registration is G-UPOI.
  
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wednesday 1 July 2009 - Stinky the Skunk
RVB Balloons is currently manufacturing Stinky the Skunk. First inflation is planned half July. His first appearance will be at the International de montgolfières de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
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monday 15 June 2009 - Flying fire engine
Thomas Siebel from Siebel Balloonings presents his new balloon in the shape of a fire engine. It's manufactured by Cameron Balloons and made his test flight in Bristol on 12 June. This car is 25m long, 20m high and weights 318kg. Registration is D-OMAY (2).
  
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monday 11 May 2009 - Lady Joker
Philippe Lusley announces his new special shape designed by “Cieldeloire”, a non profit organisation in France. The balloon called “Lady Joker” will be manufactured by Kubicek Balloons and have a volume of 3400m³. The delivery is scheduled in middle of May. This funny balloon will be available for meetings around the whole world. Registration will be F-HCDL.
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saturday 2 May 2009 - Liseberg Hare
This flying Rabbit is manufactured by Kubicek Balloons and made his test flight on 23 April. The sponsor of the balloon is Liseberg, the biggest amusement park in sweden who has this rabbit as
their mascot. Some technical information: volume 3.800m3, total height 35m, ears are 14m, registration is SE-ZLK. The balloon is operated by Peak Experience Gravity Sports.
  
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friday 1 May 2009 - Blue Square Bet
Exclusive Ballooning unveiled the first special shape the UK has seen in five years. The world's largest blue square debuted at Tower Bridge on April 26th for the London Marathon. The maiden flight is planned for this weekend at the Bath Balloon Fiesta. It's manufactured by Lindstrand Balloons and has a volume of 3400m³. Registration is G-CFXI.
  
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thursday 23 April 2009 - Balloon with 3D artwork
A normal shaped Kubicek balloon type BB26Z with 3D artwork for Luxembourg. Below the first visual and the final result. This balloon is owned and operated by New Spirit Incentive & Events and piloted by Carlo Arendt. The first flight will be within the next weeks. Registration is LX-BAM.
  
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tuesday 21 April 2009 - Monki
Koen Audenaert from Cameron Balloons Belgium send this visual and pictures from the test inflation of his new balloon. Monki is a Z-250 and has a volume of 7000m³. Registration is OO-BEN. Next sunday this monkey will make his first flight at the balloonfestival in Waregem (Belgium) where I (the webmaster) will also participate with Funny Bunny.
  
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wednesday 15 April 2009 - shapes for sale
Always wanted to own a special shape? Have a look at the for sale page.
The last balloons added are a flying heart based in Holland and the duo "Matenco" and "Kotenco" based in Australia.
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friday 20 March 2009 - Tic Toc
 Pilots Eduardo Pound and Ronaldo Morales from Brazil are building a new balloon which will make his first appearance at the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. The balloon called TIC TOC will have a volume of 3000 m³. More information later.
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