Roy Battersby reports the sale of his Ultramagic M-56 during May whilst Richard Parry tells us that a collector has snapped up 1983 Cameron O-65 G-SMIG, once part of the wide ranging collection of sponsored balloons operated during the ‘glory days’ of the energetic members of the Hong Kong Balloon and Airship Club.
Rob Jemmett’s Cameron basket moves over from ‘Stop Press’ for June and a new ad for G-TIBF a Kubicek BB34Z from Geoff Lescott. Lawrie Ellis’s Yaesu radio and instruments sold immediately after featuring in ‘Stop Press’ on our website homepage!
Once again we have to congratulate James Macdonald and his team for a super Midlands Air Festival at Ragley Hall at the end of May. The Saturday morning ‘bimble’ around the park as part of 126 balloons flying in calm, sunny conditions was truly magic. Balloons flew on 4 occasions with only the Sunday spoilt by the return of windy, then wet weather for June ….
Bad news from Italy is that Paolo Bonanno sadly had a fire recently in his Famous workshop where so many envelopes, burners, quick releases and other high quality ballooning equipment has been produced over the years. The fire was caused by a sizeable ‘on charge’ lithium-ion battery – so powerful and widely used in the modern world, but so potentially dangerous when charged, particularly indoors and out of sight. Beware !
Last but certainly not least, many congratulations to the three pilots of the Atlantic Explorer balloon who made a perfect landing in Luxembourg yesterday morning after their epic crossing of the Atlantic in an open basket in record time. Well done indeed!