Many of us had Lockdown projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, for Bristol born balloon pilot Andrew Holly it was not re-decorating a room or studying a new language. Andrew decided to start building his own balloons. For many years Andrew’s Balloons have been seen around the world, with his company Exclusive Ballooning operating well know special shapes such as the Scottish Cup, Wallace and Gromit Rocket and of course the animals of the SkySafari.
But in 2020 Andrew started the journey of starting up a new company to become a certified aircraft manufacturer, no easy task for sure, just because it is a hot air balloon does not mean it is any less regulated than any other aircraft. And so, in the year in which the diamond anniversary of Ed Yost’s first flight of a modern-day hot air balloon, Diamond Hot Air Balloons was born.
Diamonds first balloon was manufactured in almost secrecy DB-SN-001 a 50,000 cubic feet envelope was constructed at Diamond Balloon’s Breadstone, Gloucestershire facility, being revealed to the public at the Isle of White Balloon Festival in August 2022. The envelope which has the Ace of Diamonds playing card design on it is said to stand for a new perspective in tarot card reading. August 2022 also saw Diamond Balloons attend the very well-known Bristol Balloon Fiesta with DB-SN-009 G-SPRY of Chameleon Spray a Bristol based paint spraying company along with their first special shape in the form of DB-SN-005 G-OMIB for Lee Hooper of Spirt Operations a Bristol based organization specializing in Hot air Balloon events throughout the world.
Since then, Diamond Balloons have gone from strength to strength at Longleat Sky Safari 2023 Exclusive Ballooning launched its latest envelope in house colors a Diamond S77 G-UNGY, joining the equally comical registrations of G-UNKY a UltraMagic S-50 and G-OOEY a Kubicek BB22Z in Exclusives distinctive Red and White house livery. Receiving type certification on the 14th of July 2023 saw Diamond Balloons become the first aircraft manufacturer to receive certification since the United Kingdom to Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s exit from the European Union.
“This is a very proud day for our amazing team. We set out to achieve the dream of building an aircraft from a blank piece of paper and here we are with a fully certified, commercially ready product that not just ticks the boxes, but far exceeds the quality expectations of those who have seen and flown them.
We are now focused on the bright future we have before us and seeing the skies sparkle with Diamonds.”
Recently a number of companies has turned to Holly with his expertise in aerial advertising along with now envelope construction to build their new balloons including Corsham Patio Supplies, Avanti Gas, and Ascension Cider Company. South West based precision engineering firm Renishaw who Exclusive Ballooning operated a Kubicek BB30 for over a decade until Diamond S120 DB-SN-004 G-MEAS
As well as a number of advertising balloons Diamond has been busy designing and flying a number new additions to the sky safari fleet including Pico the baby Peacock, Barcode the Zebra, Johnny Panda and Winny the Wolf, which are sure to be seen at ballooning events across the world.
Holly’s ambition is to bring to quote their website “choice in the marketplace with a high quality British built product.” In such a challenging economical and financial period of time has be applauded, whilst we expect the number of envelopes a year won’t match some of the other major names in the balloon manufacturing industry, the innovation and creativity of the Diamond Balloons designs especially the special shapes of the sky safari is something we all will look forward to seeing year on year.
Report by Matt Sudol
© South West Aviation Photographers 2025