Special Shape Hot air Balloons
Kubicek Balloons have become world leaders in making special shape balloons for clients around the world. Each special shape balloon are designed to meet the high EASA standards to ensure it complies to being an airworthy aircraft as well as a beautiful balloon.
A special shape balloon is only limited by your imagination and our skilled designers enjoy making products and characters come to life. Kubicek have great experience in designing thousands of shapes not just Hot air Balloons but Inflatables too.
These type of envelopes can be broken down into three categories which have been described below.
Appendages on Envelope
The most simple of special shape balloons are based on a traditional shape balloon with additional add-ons added to the side of the envelope. These appendages can be shaped to match a product or character the balloon is designed to promote and can make your balloon very appealing to the eye. The operation of the balloon is similar to a normal balloon as the general shape is the same.
Product Replica Special Shapes
These balloons are designed to match the product down to the smallest detail. With Digital printing available on Kubicek fabric the product can be made to look exact. Attention grabbing whenever the balloon is flown they are guaranteed to get you noticed. Depending on the complexity these type of balloons may require a different deflation systems than the standard parachute including a Rip Panel. This is explained in the design process of each balloon.
Character Special Shape Balloons
Character shapes demand attention at events and are often the most loved wherever they go by all ages. Character shapes can either come as a company mascot or as a character dreamed up by the client. These balloons can use a standard shape design with add-ons and artwork or be a complete bespoke balloon specially designed.
How are special shape balloons made?
Unlike a traditional balloon each special shape balloon needs to be uniquely designed. This is to both meet what the balloon is meant to look like aesthetically and to ensure the balloon is safe to fly while keeping the shape. If you look closely at most special shape balloons you will notice the main body of the Balloon is actually based on a traditional shape balloon and this is to give the balloon volume to help provide lift. Some balloons don’t need the traditional shape balloon as the shape itself can hold Sufficient volume, shapes like Cubes, Cans and spheres for example. However all shapes in order to keep its shape will have baffling inside the balloon to direct the air into the extra parts of the balloon to keep the shape and to stop the balloon distorting in the air.
Are special shape balloons more difficult to fly?
While Kubicek will design a special shape hot air balloon not only to match a product or idea of a customers they will also design a balloon to be as easy to fly as possible. However the more difficult or complex the shape more skill is required to fly the balloon by the pilot and crew.
What special shapes can Kubicek do?
Our motto is if you can think it, we can build it. For a special shape to work it requires a sufficient volume in the design to lift the balloon. This means however there are some limitations to designing a special shape. A bicycle will not be a good shape as it is too thin with no volume for the hot air to lift the balloon.
How much does a special shape balloon cost?
Each special shape hot air balloon is very different to one another so it is difficult to give an exact cost. Prices generally range from £20,000 through to £100,000+ for seriously complex designs. Our Design team are very happy to design a Balloon to provide you with an exact cost and visual of what the balloon can look like before building the balloon.
