Lindstrand Balloons
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace engineering, Balloon manufacturing |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Per Lindstrand |
| Defunct | 2015-04-15 |
| Headquarters | Oswestry , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Hot air balloons, Rozière balloons, aerostats |
Number of employees | 19 (at closure) |
Lindstrand Balloons was a producer of hot air balloons and various other aerostat types. Founded in 1978 by Swedish aviator and aerospace engineer Per Lindstrand, the enterprise began in Oswestry, England, initially under the name Colt Balloons, later rebranded as Thunder & Colt Balloons before adopting the Lindstrand Balloons name. The company gained recognition for its advanced engineering capabilities, featuring comprehensive testing and manufacturing operationsTemplate:Fix/category[citation needed].
The hot air balloons crafted by Lindstrand Balloons were piloted by Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson during their groundbreaking voyages, including the pioneering 1987 crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and the 1990 flight over the Pacific Ocean. Following these achievements, Lindstrand developed three Rozière balloons used by Lindstrand, Branson, and other aviators in their attempts to complete a global balloon circumnavigation, though these efforts did not succeed. Per Lindstrand was a key figure in enabling these expeditionsTemplate:Fix/category[citation needed], serving as pilot on all such flights.
Ownership structure
During the late 1990s, ownership of Lindstrand Balloons shifted when Cameron Holdings and its proprietor Don Cameron acquired a two-thirds interest in the company. Cameron obtained this controlling share from Rory McCarthy, a British industrialist linked to Richard Branson who had initially invested to support Branson’s series of record-setting balloon journeys. The remaining one-third stake remained with founder Per Lindstrand until 2003, when he divested his shares to Cameron Holdings.
Although under Cameron’s ownership, Lindstrand Balloons maintained operational independence with its own management team and continued to produce unique designs and products distinct from Cameron’s other ventures.
Lindstrand Technologies Separately, Per Lindstrand runs an independent firm specializing in the design and manufacture of gas balloons, innovative architectural structures, specialized equipment for aerospace applications—including an advanced parachute developed for the Beagle 2 Mars lander—and state-of-the-art inflatable constructions such as aircraft hangars, fire containment plugs for road tunnels, and flood defense systems.
On 15 April 2015, reports emerged that Lindstrand Balloons had ceased operations, resulting in the loss of 19 jobs. Factors cited for declining balloon sales included a strong pound and concerns over terrorism threats in the Middle East.[1][2][3]
See also
References
- ↑ "19 jobs go as Oswestry hot air balloon factory closes".
- ↑ "Lindstrand Balloons' Oswestry factory closes". BBC News. 15 April 2015.
- ↑ "Sir Richard Branson's sorrow as Oswestry balloon company folds". Shropshire Star. 18 April 2015.