Although the only new additions for the Zebedee List this month come from ‘Stop Press’, there have been many price reductions and changes – and deletions where items have been sold – that we feel the List has ‘bounced back’ after a few disappointingly quiet issues.
Zebedee has added a few lesser items – flying suits, a couple of fan cage ‘halves’ and two David Clark aviation headsets.
William Treacy’s balloons have been sold and remain in the Republic of Ireland. Kim’s ‘disabled’ basket has gone to Italy. Glenn Board has decided to keep his hopper and sell his 77 Racer.
July is ending as it started – a windy, cold and showery month with very few flyable slots with early August not promising an improvement! Metz hasn’t faired much better with crews returning early following rain & fast conditions. The number of flyable slots was down – as were the number of British balloons in attendance – a ‘low of 68 we hear compared with twice that in the classic ‘pre Brexit’ days before a tougher line on ‘Class 2’ medicals and many G– mainland European based balloons fleeing to European registers.
We were pleased to see that after a long wait Deborah & Mike Scholes eventually took off from Sussex (New Brunswick) on 20th July in their Refire sponsored Cameron Roziere R-77GB G-ZOZO for their attempt to fly the Atlantic – but disappointed when 19 hours later they decided to land at Meelpaeg Lake, Newfoundland due to a ‘technical fault’. Sad yes, that the flight was abandoned but good they made the brave decision to land whatever the problem – which also showed the very wise decision to take off a couple of hundred miles inland so such a go/no-go decision could be made before ‘coasting out’ and the much more difficult ocean landing & retrieve … We wish them well if a second attempt is made ….
Once again Zebedee will be attending the Bristol Balloon Fiesta from the Thursday until Saturday and able to deliver any pre ordered items. We look forward to seeing you there.