Balloons and Beyond

10/10/2024

We are unharmed! But what a mess! We are on generator power. We lost power about 2:30 am. At around 4:30 we had a break in the rain so I went out and plugged in the generator and fired it up. We are surrounded on three sides by water. We received 12inches of water and the lake was already flooded. We had the top of a pine tree next door break off and land on our roof. The top of a cypress tree broke off and landed on our little fishing boat. We had a large tree fall accross our driveway. Gina and I tied a tow strap and have pulled it out of our way so we can get out of the driveway. We had a couple of fences fall in the back yard and we will have to replace. Our burn can that we use to dispose of our yard waste is under water so that will not be used for a while.

BUT ! ! !...
WE are all unharmed and from what we can tell there is no damage to our home. I have enough propane to keep the generator running for a few days. So now we just need to start cleaning up.

10/10/2024

Jeff Thompson
Well we are just after Midnight here. Our power has gone off and back on twice now. Airports around us are reporting wind gusts of 76-79 MPH. It is raining (HARD) and the wind off the lake is pounding the back of our home. No idea of the scope of the damage outside since it is pitch dark out there. Currently there are millions (literally) of people out of power across central Florida. We are about two hours away from the worst, according to the forecast.

10/09/2024

It is going to be a long night!

09/13/2024

Good Morning ALL,
I would like to ask for your help. I have been super fortunate to be a very small part of something SUPER SPECIAL in the balloon world. You may or may not have heard about Aviation Ranch. This is a super special place for balloon enthusiasts. You can learn more on their website and I encourage you to visit. The part I am asking for help with is the Maverick Division. This part of the Aviation-Ranch is devoted to the future of the sport. They have already begun to promote the next generation of pilots. Just a few short weeks ago they presented two young pilots with a gift of a lifetime! They presented a brand new inflation fan to a young pilot in desperate need AND.... They gifted an entire balloon system to a young gal who has attended the BFA kids camps for the last three years. When I say an entire system I am talking about a beautifully refurbished basket, Envelope, Fan, Trailer and Radios ready to fly! Imagine the impact on these two young ballooners.. Here is what I am asking. IF YOU CAN, please donate to this amazing program. Even if it's only 5 bucks! Any donation will help the future sport of Hot Air Ballooning. Any of my friends who are in the balloon world will tell you our future needs our support! Here is where you can go and see a video of the presentation and make a donation if you can. https://aviation-ranch.com/maverick/ Thank you for your help. While I miss flying terribly I am happy to still have a small supporting roll in the Balloon World. While you are on the Aviation-Ranch.com site you can also become a member of the site (AT NO COST) and receive the ranch newsletters so you will know what is happening and the future events at the ranch.

THANK YOU ALL in advance. Jeff

08/04/2024

Do not try to contact us or send anything via this Fakebook Meta thing. I do not understand it, I do not like it. I do not know how to use it and I do not know how it works. I only get on facebook about once or twice per month so I will not respond to anything in a timely manor. We have a website. Use it. Balloons-andbeyond.com

04/10/2024

While you were sleeping.. The FlipFlopFantasies balloon kit has dropped another 5K. It is now down to 45K for a complete rig! Balloon, Fan, Radios, Trailer and MORE.. Hook up your vehicle and go fly! Less than 150 hours on the entire outfit. Everything is brand new. Check it out on HAB
FULL SYSTEM PLUS (REDUCED)
hotairballoonist.com
https://hotairballoonist.com/forum/topic/6856-full-system-plus-reduced/

This is the famous Flip Flop Fantasy balloon. This is a Lindstrand envelop. The envelope has 106 hours. The bottom end only has 12 hours. Envelope is 90K Envelope has Nomex scoop and first panel. Top 5 panels are Lindstrands Hyperlife fabric (Top 1/3) and Hyperlife Parachute. Comes with a bunch o...

03/04/2024

Looking for a complete system? This one is super clean and has a ton of extras. Just hook up your truck and go fly!

This is the famous Flip Flop Fantasy balloon. This is a Lindstrand envelop. The envelope has 120 hours. The bottom end only has 12 hours. Envelope is 90K Comes with a bunch of extras, Special Shape Balloon. Basket with DOOR Fully wrapped trailer Radios includes a great selection of souvenirs incl...

02/09/2024

After 47 years a “Blue Max” pin finds its way home! Thank you Beth Freeman! Both these are in my safe!!

01/20/2024

The new cups are IN!!!
We are thrilled at how these cups came out. Here are some animations of the cups

10/10/2023

WE HAVE SPOTS LEFT! if you have ever wanted to get your balloon on a custom balloon cup NOW IS THE TIME! We have only three spots left on the current cup. Here is the link. https://balloons-andbeyond.com/2023-balloon-cup/ You submit your information about you and your balloon. Attach a good photo and then purchase a case of cups! We will create a digitized verson of your balloon and send you the file for any uses you wish. Then when the cups come in we ship out our case to you right away. Are you going to be one of the last three??

09/07/2023

I officially place the order with the cup company this afternoon. Production is next! The new Custom Balloon Cup will be here in just a few weeks. More soon.

09/04/2023

The artwork is DONE! What a week. I had to take each balloon for the new Custom Balloon Cup and spend (on average) 10 hours tracing each panel, gore and color to create a digitized version of each of 14 balloons for the cup. Then I had to go balloon by balloon and write down the Panton color for each color of the balloon. Create a master CDR file for each and then export that file into an AI (illustrator) format so I could make a PNG file for each. Then I had to create the cup layout and save that file in an AI format and then upload 41 files to the server for production! BUT it's done! I have everything in the hands of the manufacturer and should get a proof back any day! Once I look over the proof and make sure that everything is perfect I will approve the print and off it goes!! Here are the balloons on the 2023 Custom Balloon Cup.

09/02/2023

Balloons-andBeyond.com makes targets! And markers!

08/30/2023

Looks like we may be doing a second cup! We have had so many pilots submit photos to get their balloon on a custom cup that we are seriously considering a second run of cups! Those of you who have submitted a photo already, but did not purchase a case of cups simply send us a note [email protected] to tell us that you are still willing to purchase a case of cups to be on the next custom balloon cup. Those who have not submitted a photo but are still interested in getting your balloon on a cup and are willing to pre-purchase a case of cup go to this link, https://balloons-andbeyond.com/2023-balloon-cup/ and fill out he form and submit a good photo for us to digitize. Please read carefully all the information on the pages. Share this link on Facebook or with your other balloon friends who may be interested in getting their balloon on a new custom balloon cup. We will keep everyone informed should we have enough pilots for another custom balloon cup!

08/29/2023

Our cup is FULL!! We are digitizing balloons as fast as we can. We should have our artwork layout done by the end if this week and then it is off to the manufacturer to have them made! We will post photos of the balloons soon! Thank you to everyone who pre-purchased their case of cups to be on the 2023 Custom Balloon Cup! More soon!

08/29/2023

ONE SPOT LEFT!
We have room for only one more balloon on the new Custom Balloon Cup 2023! If you want your balloon to take the last spot on the cup here is what you must do. Fill out the form with your name, shipping address and submit a good high resolution photo for us to digitize for the cup. Then pre-purchase a case of cups (500). Here is the link to the page with all the details.
https://balloons-andbeyond.com/2023-balloon-cup/ Who is going to take the last spot? We are currently digitizing the balloons who have already purchased their case. Once the artwork is done we will submit the design to the manufacturer and the last spot will go unclaimed! So check out the page above and see if you may want to get your balloon on the cup!

08/25/2023

OK Balloonist. The Balloons-andBeyond Balloon Cup order form is now OPEN! We have spots for 13 balloons to be on the new custom Balloon cup. If you have ever wanted your balloon to be on a custom cup now is your chance. Do not delay! Once we have 13 balloons the chance to have your balloon on a custom cup will be closed. check out balloons-andbeyond.com for more information about custom balloon cups or go here to see how to get your balloon on the next order of custom cups. https://balloons-andbeyond.com/2023-balloon-cup/ and Thank you for all you do for the Balloon World.

How this works Welcome Fellow Balloonist! As many of you know we are signing up the balloons for the next custom Balloon Cup. The 2021 version is just about sold out and we are looking for 13 pilots who would like to have their balloon digitized and placed on the next run of Custom Balloon Cups. Her...

03/12/2023

Now available on Balloons and Beyond. Balloon Competition Targets. Two Types. Standard X style and Triangle targets.

https://balloons-andbeyond.com/product/official-competition-target/

https://balloons-andbeyond.com/product/triangle-target-kit/

https://balloons-andbeyond.com/video/Comptarget-1.m4v

https://www.balloons-andbeyond.com/video/Tritarget-2.m4v