Closing date for the June 2026 issue (No 470) is 28th May 2026
Latest Issue
Issue 469: May 2026
Although envelope sales are on the low side at the moment, baskets, radios and trailers have found new homes in April.
For May we have various price reductions however from our ‘Stop Press’ section, handsome special shape G-SLYY the Ultramagic 105 Fox was sold before going into print here! We expect another complete hopper ad soon, so keep an eye on “Stop Press” …
Zebedee’s Box has seen a few changes this issue reflecting the end of our cushion floor stock and Stubai’s decision to not produce 5t karabiners. We can now offer an ISC version but these are strictly for tethering only as they are not oval as certified on envelopes.
Very welcome news comes from first Glen Everett (Kent based but willing to travel) offering tank PRV/PPTs, burner maintenance and inspections – then Dan Wade who is setting up a workshop in Sackville, Beds offering tank PRV/PPTs & inspections. See Suppliers. Both Easy Balloons and Zebedee intend to continue trading for the foreseeable future but we are happy to see new maintenance organisations forming. Anyone for sewing ?! We encourage further repair stations to contact us especially on the sewing front.
The 18th BBML Inflation Day excelled on 25th April with a calm, sunny day (all day!) at Pidley, Cambs with non-stop inflation of around 90 balloons between 0830 and 1700 including shapes and many long lost envelopes bringing memories to the several hundred visitors. These included many pilots not seen for years too. The stories flowed with “I flew that in its day” or recounting incidents they had had with some of the balloons. All good banter! Well done Tim Turner as organiser, his army of girls “on the gate”, Angela at the BBML caravan and LAAS as sponsor and of course David Hopkins for providing free use of his land once again for the event. Despite the stated “this is the last at Pidley” at the morning briefing, David announced that 2028 can be here after all at prize giving time!!
Zebedee has reduced the price of several of its “dead” or “tired” balloons this issue and added a couple more in the hope that yet more long unseen envelopes will appear at the next event ….!
Finally a non-LTA announcement that well known former balloon pilot and Icicle organiser Mike Drye has produced a picture book of Britten-Norman Islanders & Trislanders – civil and military – from around the world. Hardback 110 pages, published by BN Historians, ISBN 978 0 9503912 8 1 and available from Zebedee £25 + £5 UK P&P (see Zebedee’s Box).
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 !