Cameron Balloons

Cameron Balloons is a company established by Don Cameron in 1971 in Bristol, England, to manufacture hot air balloons. Previously, Cameron had constructed ten hot air balloons with others under the name Omega. Production was in the basement of his house, moving in 1972 to an old church in the city. In 1983 Cameron Balloons moved into its current premises in the former Robinsons paper bag/printing factory (built in 1887 in the Bedminster area of the city). In 1989 the company received the Queen's Award for Export.
Output has grown to around 500 balloons per year. As of December 2007, Cameron Balloons accounted for 1,073 of the 1,553 hot air balloons registered with the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.
Cameron Balloons is also famous for its special shapes, the first being Robertson's Golly, constructed in 1975. Most special shapes are made for commercial advertising, but some have been bought privately. Notable amongst these private buyers is the late Malcolm Forbes of Forbes magazine, who commissioned a number of special shapes, including Harley-Davidson motorbike, Sphinx, bust of Beethoven, French Chateau, Pagoda and Minaret.
The company also makes airships, helium balloons and static inflatables. It has been involved in record-breaking balloon flight attempts including trans-Atlantic, altitude and distance records.
During the 1990s, the company strengthened its position via a string of acquisitions. First, Cameron acquired its main British competitor Thunder & Colt in December 1994. Then, it bought the smaller Sky Balloons, which had been formed by former Thunder & Colt employees after the company's sale. Finally, Cameron acquired two-thirds ownership of Lindstrand Balloons, which had been formed by Per Lindstrand after he left Thunder & Colt in the early 1990s.
Cameron has integrated the Thunder & Colt product range into its own catalogue, while Sky's products have been discontinued. Lindstrand Balloons continues to operate as an independent company with separate management and its own designs and products.

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A-105 | C-80 | N-133 | O77

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Cameron A-105

Cameron A-105, registration PH-OCE, built 1992, serial number 2862
Goffert, Nijmegen, Netherlands, 8 July 2000

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A-105 | C-80 | N-133 | O77

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Cameron A-530

 

Cameron A-530, registration PH-BBL, built ????, serial number 12143
Nijmegen, Netherlands, 3 August 2021

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A-105 | C-80 | N-133 | O77

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Cameron C-80

 

Cameron Concept C-80, registration PH-MOI, built 1998, serial number 4469
Nijmegen, Netherlands, 27 February 2021

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A-105 | C-80 | N-133 | O77

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Cameron N-133

Cameron N-133, registration PH-NYM, built 1995, serial number 3581
Berendonck, Wijchen, Netherlands, 30 May 2001

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A-105 | C-80 | N-133 | O77

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Cameron O-77

Cameron O-77, registration PH-BBG, built 1986, serial number 1304
Nijmegen, Netherlands, 1989

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A-105 | C-80 | N-133 | O77

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