Kubicek Balloons
| Type | Limited |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aircraft industry |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder(s) | Aleš Kubíček |
| Headquarters | Brno, Czech Republic |
| Area served | Global |
| Products | Hot-air balloons |
| Owner(s) | Aleš Kubíček |
| Employees | 30 |
| Website | kubicekballoons.cz |
Kubicek Balloons (in Czech Balóny Kubíček (pronounced Koo-bee-check), the complete official name BALÓNY KUBÍČEK spol. s r.o.) is a Czech manufacturer of hot-air balloons and airships, the only one in Central and Eastern Europe and one of the biggest in the World. The factory is located in Brno, but the production goes worldwide.
History
BALÓNY KUBÍČEK was founded in 1991 by Aleš Kubíček, the designer of first modern Czech hot-air balloon, made in 1983 in Aviatik club in Brno. Before founding his own company Aleš Kubíček made several balloons under wings of the company Aerotechnik Kunovice. Straight after the Velvet revolution, with plenty of experience of manufacturing balloons, he started his own privat company to manufacture lighter-than-air aircraft.
Today
Kubicek Balloons is a limited company, mostly owned by the founder Aleš Kubíček. Its headquarters is on Francouzská 81 in Brno city centre, where balloons were originally made. But in 2005 their production moved to a completely new factory facility in Jarní 2a in Brno-Maloměřice, currently the most modern balloon factory in the World. The company has 30 employees (in 2008) and produces circa 90 balloons per year, making it the world’s 3rd largest manufacturer of hot air balloons.
As well as producing standard balloon envelopes in 28 types and sizes they also build baskets, burners and a plenty of man carrying specially shaped balloons for advertising purposes e.g. 38 metre tall flying bear, sea container DHL, St. Gallen cathedral and the green heart of Styria.
Kubicek Balloons holds quality certificates for design, production and maintenance meeting European standards of EASA and was it amongst the first hot-air balloon manufacturers to hold a European type certificate for hot-air balloons.
Kubicek balloons is the only European producer who uses the unique high-tenacity polyester balloon fabric for envelopes, and it is all manufactured ‘in house’ by its sister-company Textil Kubíček in Černá Hora near Brno.
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| 12 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 23 | 12 | 14 | 34 | 42 | 48 | 52 | 68 | 77 | 89 | 90* |
* expectation
Fixed-wing aircraft
The company also produces the Kubicek M-2 Scout ultralight and light-sport aircraft, under the name Kubicek Aircraft.[1]
References
- ↑ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 62. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X