This morning Lindstrand Balloons successfully test flew its latest invention - a balloon with a glass-bottomed basket - from Oswestry. The company, which employs 30 people at a factory in the town, is one of only two in the UK to manufacture hot air balloons, and one of the biggest balloon makers in the world.
 | | The balloon flies over Oswestry |
Until now, all its baskets were built with tough marine plywood floors, but for apparently years balloonists have been crying out for transparent basket floors which would allow pilots and passengers to see what's directly below - instead of having to lean out of the basket. But it's always been a problem as the floor has to take the weight of passengers, as well as providing strength to the rest of the balloon basket, and be resistant to scratches that would soon make the transparent surface opaque. Now, using technology first developed by NASA, Linstrand Balloons has come up with the answer. The company has built a prototype basket using a material called Lexean, a clear plastic 20 times stronger than marine plywood, and then coating it with an anti-scratch treatment used in motorcycle helmet visors.
 | | A conventional balloon basket floor |
Sales director Mike Webb said: "We have been trying for years to produce the first balloon manufactured glass bottom basket and now, thanks to Lexean we have arrived at a ballooning holy grail." The new basket was attached to one of the company's balloons and test-flown from Oswestry School's playing fields - and BBC Shropshire and a team from BBC Midlands Today were there to see the tests. It flew for about 20 minutes before coming safely into land. | "We have arrived at a ballooning holy grail." | | Mike Webb, Lindstrand Balloons |
Lindstrand Balloons expects demand for the new basket to be high, but with a new balloon and basket not giving much change from £15,000, they don't suit every pocket! The company doesn't just produce conventional balloons and equipment for them - it's also been responsible for some strangely shaped flying objects, such as the sitting dog in these pictures. Other specials include a bunch of tulips, a racing car, a drinks can a battery and a salami sausage wrapped in plastic!
 | | The new balloon basket (r) is test flown |
The company was founded in 1991 by Per Lindstrand, who many will remember as Richard Branson's partner in several world record ballooning attempts. Originally from Sweden, he has captured every absolute record for hot air balloon flight. In 1987 he crossed the Atlantic with Richard Branson in the Virgin Atlantic Flyer, setting new distance records, and the following year he made a successful solo attempt on the altitude record, flying his Stratoquest balloon to 65,000 feet over Laredo, Texas.
 | | Balloon and basket over Oswestry |
In 1991 the Pacific Flyer completed the longest flight in lighter-than-air history, crossing the Pacific from Japan to northern Canada, carrying Per and Richard Branson once more. Linstrand Balloons is one of two Linstrand companies based in Oswestry. The other, Linstrand Technologies, specialises in innovative uses of fabrics in, for example, inflatable buildings and helium airships. A recent contract has been the roof for a new bus station at Heathrow Airport, London. Click below to see our picture gallery from the flight | 
