Airborne Artistry: The Greatest Add-on Special Shapes of All Time (Part 1 of 2)

Hot air balloons come in all shapes and sizes, but some designs go far beyond simple creativity; they push the boundaries of engineering. Among them, add-on special shapes stand out for their unique construction - built from a traditional teardrop “round” envelope but transformed with intricate appendages like arms, legs, or other larger, complex features. Some designs push the limits of what’s possible in balloon manufacturing, requiring expert craftsmanship and clever engineering to ensure they not only inflate properly but also remain stable in flight.

Welcome to our new two-part blog series sharing the greatest add-on special shapes of all time. In this blog, we’re diving into the most legendary add-on special shape balloons in history, not just for their visual appeal but for the sheer complexity of their build and the skill required to fly them.

Let’s begin…

20. Erinmore Pipe

Reg: G-PIPE
Type: CAMERON N-56
Year: 1980

Pipe dream! At number 20, the Erinmore Pipe is a classic UK special shape balloon designed to resemble a classic tobacco pipe, specifically the type associated with the Erinmore brand.

You can see from the type, that this balloon is officially an N-56 (holding 56,000 cubic feet of air), not a unique type seen with more complex special shapes. For example, CAMERON SONIC-90.

Credit: Ballooning Pictures UK

19. Mr Clown

Reg: D-OLAF (ex G-LAFF)
Type: CAMERON TR-84 S2
Year: 2010

Coming in at number 19 is this cheeky clown! Holding 84,000 cubic feet of air and operated by Siebel Ballooning of Germany, Mr Clown features many colourful add-ons including bright red nose and green top hat.

Credit: Ben Bläss

18. Chic-I-Boom

Reg: N-905CB (second version 1996 N-7162L)
Type: CAMERON N-105
Year: 1983

Designed in the early 80s by Jacques Soukup and Kirk Thomas, "Chic-I-Boom" is a striking balloon crafted by Cameron Balloons in Bristol. Inspired by Brazilian singer and actress Carmen Miranda, the balloon features her iconic likeness, complete with a vibrant red turban overflowing with an assortment of fruit, including bananas, apples, oranges, pears, and grapes.

Credits: Ballooning Pictures UK

17. Virgin Jumbo

Reg: G-UMBO (other versions 1989 G-BRDP & G-OVAA)
Type: COLT JUMBO
Year: 1986

Not your usual jumbo jet! Crafted by Thunder & Colt, this 77,000 cubic foot envelope was meticulously designed to replicate the iconic nose of a jumbo jet, complete with stubby wings, suspended jet engines, and a full tail section adorned with the Virgin logo.

In January 1986, the original Virgin Jumbo made its debut in Château-d’Oex, Switzerland. At a time when special shape balloons were a rarity, the Virgin Jumbo quickly became a fan favourite, with its cleverly designed add-ons creating the illusion of a plane while still being built around a traditional round envelope. A simple balloon to operate.

Credit: Ballooning Pictures UK

16. Rat Cheese

Reg: PT-ZKN
Type: SS-30-RC
Year: 2018

Next up is an RVB Balloons creation named Rat Cheese. An ingenious design with the rat’s head hanging down level with the basket staring down on spectators upon take off, with large ears, whiskers, and a long orange tail extending from its back.

Credit: Ben Bläss

15. Fox

Reg: D-FUCHS / D-OFOX (second version 2002 Kubicek OE-ZOX)
Type: CAMERON FOX-90
Year: 1994

This fantastic special shape from Germany is a giant Fox’s head - with his large pointy ears and silver glasses, this clever looking character gives off serious “wise old professor” vibes. The artwork on the eyes is also remarkably detailed.

The second Kubicek version built 8 years after the original is still airworthy to this day.

Credits: Ballooning Pictures UK

14. Master Yoda

Reg: G-CIIE
Type: CAMERON Z-56
Year: 2015

Enter Master Yoda! Nine years after the 2007 debut of the Darth Vader special shape, a much smaller Yoda balloon was created to join the saga. It’s a 56, compared to Darth being a 105 - Yoda may be smaller, but he’s no less impressive.

The attention to detail is remarkable, capturing his wise and iconic features with precision. While some character balloons struggle with proportions when built from round envelopes, Yoda’s face is perfectly sculpted, making this design truly stand out.

Image: MJ Ballooning

13. Crazy Crab

Reg: PP-XCC
Type: AF-SS-09
Year: 2010

Say hello to Crazy Crab, named Claw'D! This design really catches your eye, brilliantly built around a standard round balloon with bold eyes and 8 large crab leg add-ons. An AirFly shape from 2010.

Credit: Claw'D - the Crazy Crab Balloon (Facebook)

12. Radio 1 DJ

Reg: G-OIFM
Type: CAMERON DUDE-90
Year: 1992

The Radio 1 “Dude”, a UK classic of the 90s, was an instantly recognisable special shape. Its envelope formed a DJ with exaggerated facial features, including a wide, grinning mouth, a prominent nose, oversized sunglasses with text “One FM” and large, black headphones, featuring the Radio 1 logo.

A closer look at the lips reveals they are three-dimensional, reminiscent of the pop art style seen in Chic-I-Boom at number 18. Unlike modern special shapes, where such details are often reduced to flat prints, this feature adds depth and character, really bringing the design to life.

Credits: Ballooning Pictures UK

11. Mercury Communications

Reg: G-BVBX
Type: CAMERON N-90M
Year: 1993

This unique balloon was created to promote Mercury Communications in 1993, standing out as a complex add-on special shape with multiple large appendages.

The balloon features three giant hands extending from its envelope: one in a businessman’s suit and cufflink, one a female hand, and another clutching a phone card. Its complex design posed challenges, especially in pressurising such large add-ons below the balloon’s equator. Cameron Balloons solved this by integrating internal ‘jets’ to channel hot air into the hands. A semi-circular hoop of ‘memory metal’ at the top kept these jets open during inflation and once the balloon was upright.

Read more on blog post "Mercury Rising".

Image: MJ Ballooning

Thanks for joining us for part 1 of Airborne Artistry: The Greatest Add-on Special Shapes of All Time! See you next week for the incredible top 10 list.

See you then.