British Balloon Inflation Day
   

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The British Balloon Museum's Inflation Days

Modern hot-air ballooning as we know it, started back in the 1960's; in 1965 the British Balloon & Airship Club (BBAC) was founded, and 90 people turned up to the first meeting at the Royal Aero Club in November of that year.

The sport grew in popularity, and by the late 1970’s several pilots, of both gas and hot-air balloons, realised that unless something was done, all their contemporary equipment would eventually be cast aside or left to gather cobwebs in the dark recesses of garages and barns as they progressed to bigger and better balloons.

A dedicated band of balloon enthusiasts held several informal meetings and eventually The British Balloon Museum & Library (BBM&L) was formed and registered as a charity in the Autumn of 1980. Its aims were collection, preservation and displays of items relating to lighter than air flight.

Every two years, the BBM&L hold an Inflation Day. The balloon and airship envelopes are carefully unwrapped and inflated, and sometimes flown. These popular days allow the public to see a wide variety of specially shaped balloons charting advertising back over quarter of a century.

Having had an inflation day in 2008, then 2009 will be an exceptional year. To help celebrate the 100 years of the Newbury Show of which 25 have featured hot air balloons, the BBM&L have accepted the kind invitation to inflate many of the 100 balloons collection at West Woodhay Charity Garden Show. Most will stay on the ground during the day, inflated but tethered, so there will be a great opportunity to see many of these colourful and rare balloons close up. There will be some who will ‘hop’ across the field a few feet above the ground. It will be evening time before balloons will be able to fly free when any thermic activity and winds generally die down. It will, of course all be dependant on the weather.

A few of our balloons are pictured on this page - if you click on any one of them you will see a larger picture; just use the "back" button on your browser to come back to this page.

 

 A special note to balloonists:

Free flying will be invited (weather permitting) for all 4 slots over the 2 days, subject to the relevant mandatory paperwork. There will be free gas and free camping on site.

Entrance will be by ticket bought in advance; the standard entry fee to this Show is £7 per person, but if you register your balloon to tether or fly, you will only pay £15 for 4 tickets. For your registration forms contact James Dobson on jdobson@jdobson.ads124.co.uk

 
 

In Aid of the Berkshire Community Foundation, six local Churches, the Newbury Agricultural Show & other local Charities: © West Woodhay Garden Show, 2008