News archive 2009

PF 2010

WE REALLY ENJOY MANUFACTURING BALLOONS FOR YOU!

Kubicek Balloons wish all the pilots, crews, customers and friends very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

To cross the Black Sea in a balloon?

Kubicek is happy to announce that he is the official supplier of the complete balloon set for the very special event - the hot-air balloon flight over the Black Sea from Ukraine to Georgia.
The common project of our East-europeans dealers and partners is planned for coming season 2010 and we are developing and manufacturing the biggest envelope and specially designed basket for such extraordinary event.

More info you can find at the special website: www.bsbrun.com

A big criminal case finished in Georgia!

In January 2009 a hot-air balloon was stolen from Markus Pieper, a well-known German balloonist, World Champion (2004). According to German police report several gang members were arrested soon and some parts of stolen goods returned back to Markus. But the envelope and the burner were not found and German police suspected that they could be probably shipped to Georgia by escaped thieves.
Kubicek Company informed its dealer in Georgia, Revaz Uturgauri, about the incident and asked him to take care. Revaz got into the contact with strange guys offering the envelope for sale and thanks to the modern spy devices they were found and convicted. In December 2009, after 11 months, thieves were arrested in Tbilisi by Georgian police.
In present time the envelope and the burner are going to travel back to Germany and all the case comes to happy end. Good job, Revaz!

Mexican Memorable Flights

Three pilots from Czech Republic (Milos, Jindrich, Michael) and their crews took opportunity to participate at special events in Mexico in November. Being excellently served by Kubicek local representative, family of Julian and Monica we enjoyed memorable stay in the city of Tequila for a balloon rally there. Exciting flights over the agave fields and people crowds were substitute by different memorable flight - over the Teotihuacan Pyramides of the Sun and the Moon where we were (together with Mike and Betty Bauwens) guests in beautiful hacienda of another famous local ballooning family, Mr. Javier Merino Amezcua and Miss Mariel Merino, balloon ride operators in this fascinating area.
And, thank you Mike for that flight with Cheetah balloon, reaching the very top of the pyramide was absolutely perfect! You should return back to competition flying.

New destinations: Africa desert!

We are proud to announce a very new destination for Kubicek Balloons. We have another satisfied clients, this time in Namibia! Lowe and Marion are happy owners, they did the maiden flight now in November together with Felicity who helps a lot on both sides, thank you very much. We wish you Lowe many nice flights.

Kubíček Balloons are finally CAMO

After a long hard procedure we brought to a close our aspiration to be a CAMO (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation). We received an approval certificate no. CZ.MG.0036 ad we are now allowed to manage the Airworthiness of your balloons. In case of any further questions, feel free to contact us on a new special e-mail "hot-line" camo@kubicekballoons.cz.

Come in and welcome to 1^st class

Kubicek is dedicated to serving the ballooning world by listening to our customers and improving our products. One of the greatest hazards in flying passengers is getting the less athletic into the basket. Passengers don't expect to climb over the side of the bus before being driven into town so why do we expect them to climb up the basket before going for a balloon flight? A door is the answer.

Read about the doors for passenger baskets and much more in the pdf file.

Katka's 100^th balloon

One of our seamstresses, Katka, recently celebrated 10 years by Kubicek company. And she did stylish - just finished her 100^th balloon! It was a new special shape for Japan, Tom of "Tom and Jerry", what's not a surprise, because Katka is an expert for the shapes and she did already 18!
The Tom balloon of "Tom and Jerry" will be used for promotion of Saga Bank.

Boom of passenger business in Czech Republic

Passenger business in Czech Republic, and especially in Brno, is still on growth. All the operators are enlarging their squadrons, each one in his own style.

Balon.cz has bought three new balloons in different sizes but in identical design to be easy to recognize on the sky and make a good feeling of a big company. Envelopes sized BB26Z, BB34Z and BB60Z could carry 18 passengers together at one moment.

Madair started business for very pretentious clients and also for disabled with their new partitioned basket equipped with the door, two seats and a knitted "window" to allow also disabled to look out of the basket. Something special on the Czech market.

Balony.EU decided simply increase their loading capacity to shorten waiting periods for the passengers and bought the biggest complete set we are currently able to build. BB100Z envelope, K60TT double "T" partitioned basket, quadruple burner and ready to take comfortably 16 passengers per flight.

Big Daddy & Little Boy

Extending of Kubicek range of types spreads on both ends. Look this new our currently biggest size BB100Z (10.000 m³ / 350.000 cuft) ready to carry pilot plus 18-20 passengers per ride in Bavaria, Germany together with smallest BB9 (900 m³ / 31.500 cuft) for very personal airborne experience.

Good shape!

Austrian Nationals met in a good shape our demo Xtreme Racer some weeks ago.

New Czech team coach Bill Arras does his job quite well, doesn´t he?

More info see here: http://www.bpgasballoontrophy.at/SMS09/

The international meeting of aeronauts in Belarus

Beginning of July found our demo balloon in Belarus. Nice meeting in luxury skiing resort (real ski lifts over the built up piste in a completely flat country - see www.logoisk.by!)

New friends met together with all Kubicek east EU dealers from Russia (Stanislaw), Gerogia (Revaz), Lithuania (Romas), Ukraine (Sergeiy) and Belorussia (Dimitriy) who appreciated presentation of a new light sport basket and news on XR type. And yes, military parade in presence of Mr. President in Minsk was impressive as well.

Express delivery for Dutch ministery

The Dutch minister for Agriculture and Fishery Mrs. Gerda Verburg and the Kubicek dealer for Holland Mr. Niels Kon, presented two new Kubicek balloons for Holland. The minister wished the balloons many happy flights and soft landings by spreading some champagne over the baskets. After the full ceremony the minister was one of the first passengers in the new BB60Z balloon. With a windy start and landing she experienced her first balloon flight ever over the Dutch landscape. The balloons will be used to let Dutch inhabitants explore and experience the beauty of the landscape.

The two balloons are a BB40Z and a BB60Z, the balloons were designed in two days, after 6 visuals the production started. The balloons were produced by Balony Kubicek in only 5 weeks! When the minister was in Brno for a meeting with all European ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries she even visited the balloon factory. Together with Mr. Niels Kon, Mr. Michael Suchy, Mr Radim Polacek she experienced the modern production process of Balony Kubicek.

eXtreme Racer is winning in Hungary

Another success of our competition balloon BB20XR. The delivery of new racer OK-2667 in shortened time just before the Hungarian Nationals 2009 (Balaton crossing) was worthwhile, because thanks to achievement of the pilot and his crew our balloon stands again on the 1^st place on international competition.

22 balloons in competition:
1. place - Pavel Kostrhun
7. place - Petr Kubíček
8. place - Pavel Dillinger

Flytec 6040 - new flight instrument for hot-air balloons with GPS

Currently we offer a new model of Swiss flight instrument for hot-air balloons. The name is Flytec 6040 and it combines features of older balloon model 3040 and proven concept of 6020/6030 for paragliders. The features contains the Altimeter and variometer, the wireless thermometer (with the same transmitter like a 3040 model) and first of all new GPS for position and speed, with CTR alarms, altitude alarms and flight recording. Everything on graphical display.

[More information in Flytec presentation (3.43 MB)]

Svalbard. The Northermost adventure of Lierne baloon

Did you know that Norwegian Airsport federation celebrated 100 year Anniversary recently? And new balloon Lierne took part of the celebration on Svalbard. Unbelievable flying in amazing coutryside on N 78°14'. As Poa Ekeblad has written:
Rune, myself and Otto Jacobsen have made a number of flights with the Lierne balloon on Svalbard. In fact, Rune made the maiden flight the night between thursday and friday (16-17 April). The sun was below the horizon for an hour, but it never became dark.

[More beautiful photos on Norwegian federation website and TV record Norge rundt]

Ignis burner of VI. series - innovation for better performance in altitude flights

Follow the story about cooperation between our chief-designer and experienced pilot and dealer - the "Petr and Peter's story": A complaint about Ignis burner from one pilot flying over the Alps arrived to the factory. After week or two of intensive work, when frequent burning heard from the backyard of the factory, Petr Kubicek announced intention to test the burner in an altitude. Peter Flaggl kindly invited us to to do the test flight in his destination in Stubenberg, Austria. Peter is pilot who carry passengers over the Alps each winter in a number of altitude flights and has a great experience with it. He wishes to help and have a look how the innovation works. They both enjoyed the flight as you can read from Petr's description:
Some weeks ago I had an extraordinary flight experience during a test flight of Ignis burner modification for better performance in altitudes over 5000m / 16 000 ft (see photo). Because I have had not enough experience and necessary equipment for such a flight, I have asked for help an expert in this field Mr. Peter Flaggl from Austria. After a successful test (the burner was excellent!) Peter have showed me how to descent with BB37Z similarly to an competition envelope. I'm very glad for every flight with such experienced pilot - Peter many thanks for your selfless help and admirable experience!

An SMS from Peter Flaggl arrived later that evening: Ignis of 6th series is without any problems in the altitude now, problem is solved. Peter

Kubicek Aircraft company presents: M-2 Scout

Another sister company in Kubicek Corporation was founded. First presentation of the M-2 Scout ultralight was on Aero 2009 exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Have a look at the proud father Ales and his son Petr (left seat already :-) You can read more at www.kubicekaircraft.com.

Sky Express!

How to satisfy client really fast? Make a balloon with digital printed logo and nonstandard colours in a week only!

The whole story day by day

American week in Czech

Beside the US president Barack Obama another American delegation arrived to Czech last week - Kubicek US dealers.
We were proud to introduce factory to Mike Bauwens and Betty, Ken Tadolini and Patsy and as a VIP and Media representative to Rick Jones. We hope they all enjoyed historical sights and the training. Betty was sucessfull on politican field as well. She spend some time talking to our Prime Minister when walking in Prague. :-)

March - the month of records

In March two exceptional flights of Kubicek balloons were registered. Revaz Uturgauri set two new national records in Georgia and two weeks later Petr Kubicek achieved the longest flight duration in Czech Republic ever.

With the Kubicek shirt on

Julian Aparicio Fedez and Monica Rivero did a great job in February. Thanks to their certification experience and input invested in negotation with the Civil Aviation Authorities in Mexico, they managed Type Certification for Kubicek BB type in their country. Many thanks and congratulations! Ordering first Kubicek balloon to Mexico they qualify to become our offical sales representative. See also "standard job" of their company - balloon festival in Mexico.

New type BB40Z

Maybe you noticed in actual price-list a new sized envelope BB40Z. In last days we successfuly finished the certification process by the test flight and currently your orders could be accepted. :-) The size of BB40Z envelope is in fact 3.990 m³ only. It should be interesting volume for European pilots if new EASA regulations will require qualification "commercial pilot" (CPL) for sizes above this volume.

Sergii Skalko officially accredited representative for Ukraine

Last week we had a big visit from Ukraine in the factory. Exactly two visits. With the team of Ukrainian officers we disscussed the certification of our balloon in Ukraine, while our dealer Sergii Skalko with his team passed the training in technical and maintenance course. As a conclusion he took over from Ales Kubicek the plaque with his name, confirmed that since now we have a official sales representative and authorised maintenance station in Ukraine.

E type balloons of Kubicek brand are coming!

The new Easy series of balloon envelopes have been designed to bring back to the launch field some of the simplicity of bygone age, at prices* that we thought had passed long ago. These envelopes have 12 slightly bulbous gores that look perfect in either a multitude of colours or with artwork. The standard build has a limited amount of Nomex in the mouth and scoop; however upgrades of Nomex and rotation vents are inexpensive options. Available in 70,000 cuft (BB20E), 77,000 cuft (BB22E) and 91,000 cuft (BB26E) volumes these envelopes are built from the highest quality long lasting Triumph polyester fabric and with all the care that you would expect from a manufacturer of bespoke aircraft. Remarkable to note is the weight as well, it is reduced for 10, 15 resp. 20 kg for appropriate size!

* List prices in January 2009: BB20E (70) - 9.300 EUR, BB22E (77) - 10.000 EUR, BB26E (90) - 11.150 EUR.

Keep your ballooning simple and Easy.

Unsteady currencies

With regard to turbulent trends on financial markets and swiftly changing exchange rates do not rely on the published price-list only. For very actual prices, reductions, special offers and nonstandard conditions, please contact your dealer or factory sales dept.

Production results of 2008 - still growth

We had a bussy end of the year in a factory. Good weather last week allowed us to inflate a number of new envelopes (see gallery) and so we are proud to announce another record in number of manufactured balloons of Kubicek brand in one year - there were 92 of them! They were delivered to 27 countries all over the world. We want to thank all our dealers and customers to keep Kubicek Balloons among 3 world leaders in hot-air balloon manufacturing.

Kubicek Balloons wishes to all of you HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009.