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BBC1 Balloon lives on...

(September 2007)

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LO
looknorth
Scott W posted:
goldfish97 posted:
jrothwell97 posted:
tvarksouthwest posted:
It was given to a balloon preservation society, but I'm willing to bet it hardly ever gets inflated.


Googling the balloon preservation group reveals many seemingly unconnected websites.

This story from the BBC News website in 2002 concerning the balloon's last known flight links to a now-defunct University of Reading website. However, putting in 'Balloon Preservation Group+Sussex' into Google reveals

http://www.fullofhotair.co.uk/polomoche/bpg.html

So it appears it's in a shed somewhere, and it's safe to assume that it occasionally gets inflated or goes for the odd joyride.


Unforunately not, me being the balloon geek i am Cool and living in bristol (ballooning capital of europe), i kinda sadly know these things. I believe it was given to the BPG some time ago when it lost its air worthiness (so it can't fly). it was going to be tethered, but so far no sign. Sad


This is correct. The balloon is now owned by the Balloon Preservation Flying Group. I was fortunate enough to witness it's final flight (I am also a balloon geek from Bristol.)


I thought it lost its air worthiness after it went to bpg because they never inflated or flew it maybe it could have been looked after better in someone elses hands Rolling Eyes

is there any plans to make it air worthy and fly it at a balloon show or not Confused:
when i heard it was going to a balloon group i at least thought that displaying/flying it would be standard not keep it in is box Confused
ST
steddenm
Could they not do something with it like in Bournemouth? Down there they have a helium-filled balloon tethered to the ground on a winch and a metal basket underneath so you can go up and down. That was a crap description - here's the website:

http://www.bournemouthballoon.com/

I think Bristol had one at one point too? It'd look kinda cool somewhere popular like the new media village - the Salford one or somewhere like the museum of Science and Industry - but I expect Granada'd have something to say about that!! Doubt the balloon being seen on Coronation Street would go down to well...
SW
Scott W
looknorth posted:
Scott W posted:
goldfish97 posted:
jrothwell97 posted:
tvarksouthwest posted:
It was given to a balloon preservation society, but I'm willing to bet it hardly ever gets inflated.


Googling the balloon preservation group reveals many seemingly unconnected websites.

This story from the BBC News website in 2002 concerning the balloon's last known flight links to a now-defunct University of Reading website. However, putting in 'Balloon Preservation Group+Sussex' into Google reveals

http://www.fullofhotair.co.uk/polomoche/bpg.html

So it appears it's in a shed somewhere, and it's safe to assume that it occasionally gets inflated or goes for the odd joyride.


Unforunately not, me being the balloon geek i am Cool and living in bristol (ballooning capital of europe), i kinda sadly know these things. I believe it was given to the BPG some time ago when it lost its air worthiness (so it can't fly). it was going to be tethered, but so far no sign. Sad


This is correct. The balloon is now owned by the Balloon Preservation Flying Group. I was fortunate enough to witness it's final flight (I am also a balloon geek from Bristol.)


I thought it lost its air worthiness after it went to bpg because they never inflated or flew it maybe it could have been looked after better in someone elses hands Rolling Eyes

is there any plans to make it air worthy and fly it at a balloon show or not Confused:
when i heard it was going to a balloon group i at least thought that displaying/flying it would be standard not keep it in is box Confused



I've just looked at the CAA record and the airworthiness certificate expired nearly a year after the final flight, so it was while owned by the BPG.

According to their website, they are restoring balloons to either a standard where they can be inflated at shows or actually flown. It also states that they are "older balloons along with some very much loved and unique special shapes."

The group has restored a creme egg balloon, which was flown this year by them at several balloon meets. I don't know if the BBC balloon is on the list, but as it has flown so few flights, it could easily be restored to flying condition.
LO
looknorth
Scott W posted:
looknorth posted:
Scott W posted:
goldfish97 posted:
jrothwell97 posted:
tvarksouthwest posted:
It was given to a balloon preservation society, but I'm willing to bet it hardly ever gets inflated.


Googling the balloon preservation group reveals many seemingly unconnected websites.

This story from the BBC News website in 2002 concerning the balloon's last known flight links to a now-defunct University of Reading website. However, putting in 'Balloon Preservation Group+Sussex' into Google reveals

http://www.fullofhotair.co.uk/polomoche/bpg.html

So it appears it's in a shed somewhere, and it's safe to assume that it occasionally gets inflated or goes for the odd joyride.


Unforunately not, me being the balloon geek i am Cool and living in bristol (ballooning capital of europe), i kinda sadly know these things. I believe it was given to the BPG some time ago when it lost its air worthiness (so it can't fly). it was going to be tethered, but so far no sign. Sad


This is correct. The balloon is now owned by the Balloon Preservation Flying Group. I was fortunate enough to witness it's final flight (I am also a balloon geek from Bristol.)


I thought it lost its air worthiness after it went to bpg because they never inflated or flew it maybe it could have been looked after better in someone elses hands Rolling Eyes

is there any plans to make it air worthy and fly it at a balloon show or not Confused:
when i heard it was going to a balloon group i at least thought that displaying/flying it would be standard not keep it in is box Confused



I've just looked at the CAA record and the airworthiness certificate expired nearly a year after the final flight, so it was while owned by the BPG.

According to their website, they are restoring balloons to either a standard where they can be inflated at shows or actually flown. It also states that they are "older balloons along with some very much loved and unique special shapes."

The group has restored a creme egg balloon, which was flown this year by them at several balloon meets. I don't know if the BBC balloon is on the list, but as it has flown so few flights, it could easily be restored to flying condition.


I wonder if it will ever be seen again-I wonder whats wrong with it surley bpg should be preventing un air worthiness.I would like to see it fly somewere again.
LO
looknorth
[quote="looknorth"]
Scott W posted:
looknorth posted:
Scott W posted:
goldfish97 posted:
jrothwell97 posted:
tvarksouthwest posted:
It was given to a balloon preservation society, but I'm willing to bet it hardly ever gets inflated.


Googling the balloon preservation group reveals many seemingly unconnected websites.

This story from the BBC News website in 2002 concerning the balloon's last known flight links to a now-defunct University of Reading website. However, putting in 'Balloon Preservation Group+Sussex' into Google reveals

http://www.fullofhotair.co.uk/polomoche/bpg.html

So it appears it's in a shed somewhere, and it's safe to assume that it occasionally gets inflated or goes for the odd joyride.


Unforunately not, me being the balloon geek i am Cool and living in bristol (ballooning capital of europe), i kinda sadly know these things. I believe it was given to the BPG some time ago when it lost its air worthiness (so it can't fly). it was going to be tethered, but so far no sign. Sad


This is correct. The balloon is now owned by the Balloon Preservation Flying Group. I was fortunate enough to witness it's final flight (I am also a balloon geek from Bristol.)


I thought it lost its air worthiness after it went to bpg because they never inflated or flew it maybe it could have been looked after better in someone elses hands Rolling Eyes

is there any plans to make it air worthy and fly it at a balloon show or not Confused:
when i heard it was going to a balloon group i at least thought that displaying/flying it would be standard not keep it in is box Confused



I've just looked at the CAA record and the airworthiness certificate expired nearly a year after the final flight, so it was while owned by the BPG.

According to their website, they are restoring balloons to either a standard where they can be inflated at shows or actually flown. It also states that they are "older balloons along with some very much loved and unique special shapes."

The group has restored a creme egg balloon, which was flown this year by them at several balloon meets. I don't know if the BBC balloon is on the list, but as it has flown so few flights, it could easily be restored to flying condition.


I wonder if it will ever be seen again-I wonder whats wrong with it surley bpg should be preventing un air worthiness.I would like to see it fly somewere again.theres no mention of it on BPGs website and i cant find it on the CAA
SW
Scott W
It is listed on the CAA website as G-IBBC

As I understand it, the situation with the airworthiness is that the certificate was just not renewed when the BPG acquired it.

Also, it is a shame that it is not listed anywhere on their website as it is one of their best known balloons. It is listed on this website however. It is also interesting to see that this website doesn't list the balloon as out of service and that the BPG own and operate it.
RS
Reg Shaw
Can I really annoy you all by telling you I've been in that balloon ...?
JR
jrothwell97
Reg Shaw posted:
Can I really annoy you all by telling you I've been in that balloon ...?


*turns purple*

Please do elaborate.
PC
Paul Clark
jrothwell97 posted:
Reg Shaw posted:
Can I really annoy you all by telling you I've been in that balloon ...?


*turns purple*

Please do elaborate.

I second this - it's only right that we get to hear an anecdote about it!
LO
looknorth
Reg Shaw posted:
Can I really annoy you all by telling you I've been in that balloon ...?


How did you get in the balloon were you one of the crew or did you manage to get a flight in it since it was handed to BPG(in which case they are mixed messages on weather it flys or in a box somewere.
RS
Reg Shaw
looknorth posted:
Reg Shaw posted:
Can I really annoy you all by telling you I've been in that balloon ...?


How did you get in the balloon were you one of the crew or did you manage to get a flight in it since it was handed to BPG(in which case they are mixed messages on weather it flys or in a box somewere.


No, I was at the Fiesta the last year it flew. It's a nice balloon but was beginning to look a bit tatty up-close. Real shame, much as Heggessey claimed it was too distant from the audience (or whatever the excuse was), it was one of the icons that BBC1 was and has been known by for years. Shame that it has been retired, more of a shame it's off the telly.
JR
jrothwell97
Reg Shaw posted:
looknorth posted:
Reg Shaw posted:
Can I really annoy you all by telling you I've been in that balloon ...?


How did you get in the balloon were you one of the crew or did you manage to get a flight in it since it was handed to BPG(in which case they are mixed messages on weather it flys or in a box somewere.


No, I was at the Fiesta the last year it flew. It's a nice balloon but was beginning to look a bit tatty up-close. Real shame, much as Heggessey claimed it was too distant from the audience (or whatever the excuse was), it was one of the icons that BBC1 was and has been known by for years. Shame that it has been retired, more of a shame it's off the telly.


Imagine how much money BBC Worldwide could have made from offering flights in the balloon! It would have solved all the BBC's budget problems.

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