British Balloon Museum and Library

14/10/2026

Can you guess what this item is?

See if you guessed right here: https://ow.ly/rF6j50ZVr4C

09/10/2026

🎉📬 Happy World Post Day! 🌍✉️

Today, we celebrate the magic of letters and connections that transcend borders!

Back in 1902, the organising committee for the Beckenham coronation celebrations decided to organise a balloon flight for which a specially overprinted postcard commemorating the coronation would be available, to be conveyed by balloon and sent to the addressee once the balloon had landed.

Two such postcards were overprinted with the inscription “Beckenham Celebrations Despatched from the clouds by balloon post, coronation day, Aug 9th 1902”. Three bags of mail, or possibly 3 bundles consisting of as few as 100 cards per bundle, were conveyed and dropped from the balloon over 3 different regions of Kent at Leeds Castle, Godmersham and South Foreland, just before flying out to sea - the balloon eventually landing in Calais.
Onboard the balloon were Dr Barton, a leading medical practitioner of the parish and M. Gaudron, the aeronaut. It is believed that fewer than 10 cards of either type have survived from this flight.

Find more ballooning history here: https://ow.ly/wqro50ZVvpC

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06/10/2026

*** R E M I N D E R ***
Our Annual Luncheon is Sunday 25th October at the gorgeous Donnington Valley Hotel in Newbury. Don’t miss out on hearing from our wonderful speaker Allie Dunnington!

If you haven’t already, please do book a seat by the end of this week and we look forward to seeing lots of you there!

BBM&L AGM and Annual Luncheon 25th October 2026By robin.batchelor / September 1, 2026 The British Balloon Museum & Library are holding their AGM and Annual Lunchon Sunday 25th October 2026 12:00 for 12:30pm at the Donnington Valley Hotel, Newbury RG14 3AG. Website: www.donningtonvalley.co.uk or call...

05/10/2026

On this day, 5th October 1907: The British Army Dirigible No. 1, named Nulli Secundus, was flown from Farnborough to London.

After passing over Buckingham Palace and the War Office, and circling round St. Paul’s Cathedral, Colonel John E. Capper and Samuel Frederick Cody attempted to return to Farnborough, but strong head winds forced them to moor the airship in the grounds of Crystal Palace.

The flight covered a distance of 40 miles (64 km) and took 3 hours and 25 minutes.

Find out more about the history of lighter-than-air flight via the link in our bio or copy and paste the link here: https://ow.ly/kCv450Zzvaz

02/10/2026

This is a Cameron Hopper Servo-30 special shape, serial number 3077, named Servo Connectors.

There is a very unusual video of this balloon taken from inside, on our website on the collection page - watch it here:
https://ow.ly/fpG150ZSJAN

A Cameron Hopper Servo-30 special shape, serial number 3077, named Servo Connectors. Logbook not held by BBM&L.There is a most unusual video of this...

01/10/2026

Today, October 1. marks the start of the annual Great British Long Jump. An event started in 1984 and has been popular ever since encouraging pilots to fly as far as they can in one single flight during the month of October when the Autumn sun is less likely to produce thermals.
The longest flight so far is 338 miles!
Read more... https://bit.ly/3VqQFqm

28/09/2026

Check out our Oral Histories page; find it on our website under the Collection tab. Find loads of personal stories from the world of ballooning.

Ian Ashpole and Jennifer d’Alton discussed their experiences in the ballooning industry. Ian shared his early inspirations, including the French film ‘The Red Balloon’, and his first flight with Mike Moore in 1975. And his collaboration with notable figures like Lauren Bacall.

Hear the full interview here: https://ow.ly/fcBe50Zt6U5

22/09/2026

This print of the first hydrogen balloon flight is one of twelve produced by the Royal Aeronautical Society to mark its centenary in 1966.

The original steel engraving by Pombart Sculp, circa 1784, depicts the first hydrogen balloon flight on 1 December 1783.

Find out more and find more items from the collection here: https://ow.ly/htMQ50ZPFfA

16/09/2026

Sending a very big thank you to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting us in saving the history of ballooning.

We were formed in 1979 to preserve the many items associated with ballooning.
With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we will now be able to protect ballooning heritage for generations to come.

Find out more about us here: https://ow.ly/JT9F50ZKBFm

15/09/2026

G-AYAL “Nimble” standing proud with the iconic Longleat House in the background during the Saturday morning tether at Icons of the Sky 2026.

With BBM&L on tour coming to an end for this year we still have one more special appearance planned. Stay tuned for more soon!