The most sought after ‘complete rig’ over recent years has been a “90” up from the “77” of the old days ….
Well this month, moving over from ‘Stop Press’ to the main list are two of them – and a 77 (for us oldies?!) plus a very attractive Kubicek 70 from Crispin. Glen Everett is selling the 90s on behalf of a friend – one of them already ‘positioned’ in Mondovi’, the 77 is Kim’s prized LBL Union Flag design. Meanwhile David Usill has sold the bottom end of G-WOTW, so the truly international envelope is now for sale alone. Could suit a “country collector” to mark his (or more likely her!) flights made abroad ….
Now would also seem a good time to pick up a “ballooning ready” Landrover Defender with offerings from both David and Kim.
Skywaltz in India remind us that they are still looking for commercial pilots for the UK winter season at various locations in India. See Situations Vacant.
Inflation has taken its toll recently, so the Zebedee price of both tank straps and tether rings in Zebedee’s Box has increased slightly.
A sad ending to this intro reports the death in June of no less than 5 former UK balloon pilots. We will leave the detailed ‘obits’ to Aerostat, but wish to record our goodbyes to the following, all known to us at Zebedee :-
- Roger Barrett (90, and former Aerostat editor, BBAC Committee Chairman and P1 on my first training flight in Dante!).
- Roger Jessett (also 90, pilot/owner of G-AYTN ‘Prometheus’ and accomplished pianist witnessed by us on an impromptu performance at Jean Costa’s chateau near Paris in 1974!).
- Steve Moss (London Region, photographer whose balloon slide show at a BBAC London gathering set to Pink Floyd’s “Time” will always be remembered).
- Dee Shapland (private pilot Cornwall, hopper enthusiast)
- and finally most tragically, Nick Godfrey, (pilot J&B balloons), recently selling much equipment through these pages, whose second passion was hiking which is how he lost his life a couple of weeks ago in the Pyrenees.
Zebedee sends condolences to all family members and friends of the above.