The Zebedee List

Following a few good ballooning days in early June and the successful Midlands Air Festival at Ragley Hall trading has taken an upturn of late.

Two complete balloons sold from the List last month as did the usual crop of smaller items.

Additions for July start with a tip-top complete Cameron A-140 with many extras including a bespoke 4-wheel trailer. Although 10 years old it has only 39 flights / 77 hours, reflecting Tony’s use of the balloon for Alpine adventures although it would also suit a commercial operator conducting exclusive passenger flights. It has been very well looked after and stored and comes at around half price of the same equipment bought today.

Also aboard this month are a special shape ‘Guinea Pig’ envelope, a 90 envelope which is starting to show signs of porosity and a 105 envelope which although has a limited ARC till 2022 is probably near the end of its flying life. There is also a price reduction on G-OINN envelope, the addition of 2 fans – one an as new 13hp, the other a sturdy 8hp, a box trailer and a 1970s Cameron 77 basket, had woodworm (now treated) suitable for non flying duties.

Zebedee has been very busy with repairs of late and would like to remind customers that it saves us time (and therefore you money) if you note the location of damage you see in the field by referring to tape numbers and how many panels up or down. It looks very different when it is a heap in the workshop!

Within hours of the paper version of this month’s Zebedee List being printed, news reached us that the cut-off date for the transition to the BPL for UK pilots has been extended yet again, till December 2023. This is so that a CAA review can take place of both balloon and sailplane licensing now the UK is out of the EU and EASA. The BBAC will be part of negotiations. This extension means that training for the next couple of years will be split between those wanting a UK PPL(B) and those on the UK BPL procedure. For the UK PPL(B) Zebedee can continue to provide the BBAC 2006 Pilot Training Manual, BBAC 2005 Pilot Training Record and Pilot Log Book. Those training for a UK BPL must do everything via the BBAC DTO (David Court training@bbac.org) with the exception of Pilot Log Books which are the same as those above. We cannot supply the BPL Pilot Training Record or BPL Pilot Training Manual, both updated in the past couple of years.

James McDonald and his team deserve congratulations for the Midlands Air Festival by organising as close to a ‘normal’ public balloon meet as possible in 2021 in the current circumstances. Yes there was ‘test & trace’, masks, a limited public and a novelty ‘briefing by radio’ brought in when a lack of phone signal scuppered the original on line plan!

Sadly several other ‘usual’ meets will be curtailed to secret last minute fly-outs (Bristol), night glows (Longleat),delayed till 2022 (50th Irish Championships, Birr) or cancellation (Chatsworth). We believe ‘Metz’ is still happening but this scribe sees enormous hassle for any of the usual high number of Brits who attend with the combined effect of Covid & Brexit. No record ‘line-ups’ this year …..?!