Closing date for the March 2026 issue (No 467) is 27th February 2026
Latest Issue
Issue 466: February 2026
After a slow December several ‘good’ ads have joined the List during January – 3 small complete balloons – an almost new Ultramagic B26, Ultramagic H31 with 17 hours and a slightly older Ultramagic M56 with 127 hours. All these have been on ‘Stop Press’ for some time but have now transferred into the February issue. Similarly a price reduction on the 80L titanium cylinders advertised by Clive Bailey was on ‘Stop Press’ but now see the ‘Tanks’ section. Also new this month is an chance to buy a thriving rides business in beautiful New Zealand! Read all about it in our Business Opportunities.
Sold during January were Peter Meecham’s Cameron C-80, Jan Vonka’s Mk4 single and several items of tethering and refuelling kit plus scoop S163.
We thought that the only flying to have taken place over the past month would have been abroad – but one operator we hear managed to ‘grab’ one of the few ridges between ‘Lows’ on a frosty morning – well done! Rest of the month it rained!
The BBAC is holding its AGM and Members Day on Saturday 7th March at Greens Norton Community Centre, Northants at 1400 with various meetings and other delights taking place in the morning … Zebedee intends to be there!
Time for bed said Zebedee!
For several months we have been contemplating the future for our business, as has Chris Dunkley at Easy Balloons. Don’t panic! No immediate changes are planned, but being realistic the next few years will see us winding down and we thought we should spell out some timely truths and maybe encourage some youngsters into balloon maintenance & repair.
We have written a joint statement which we hope will trigger both business enterprise and some thoughts as to how you can ease the pain of your next repair …..
Scam Warning
WARNING!
We have been alerted by two of our advertisers to a scam which is currently doing the rounds. In each case the potential buyer agrees to buy an item and then sends a cheque in payment. However the cheque is for more than the asking price of the item. The ‘buyer’ then asks the seller to refund the difference. Because it sometimes takes a week or more for the bank to process a cheque, it can be some time before the seller realises the cheque has bounced.
We have heard of 4 advertisers who have received enquiries in the past week for equipment. They all involve a complicated routine involving (international) cheques and the fact that the enquirer is on honeymoon… beware !