Hello and welcome to our latest blog, and the first in a new series! For this one we are looking into some of the ballooning world’s hidden gems.

In this series we’re shining a spotlight on some of the fantastic people, businesses and products that help make the ballooning community what it is. Some of these names you may already know, whilst others may have quietly been supporting the sport for years without always getting the recognition they deserve.

Our first hidden gem is Northamptonshire-based balloonist Jane Austin.

Many people will know Jane through her husband, head of the BBAC DTO Andy Austin. Or through her impressive models balloons such as the special shape “cup cake”. Or maybe through her famous baked goods!  However Jane has become well known in her own right for producing high-quality custom ballooning equipment and repairs. She’s also a talented seamstress who has been self-employed for the last four years, combining years of experience with a genuine passion for our sport.

If you’ve spent any time around a launch field, there’s a good chance you’ve already seen some of Jane’s work without even realising it. Her range of ballooning products continues to grow! They now includes drop line bags, tether line bags, pole covers, pole bags, cylinder covers and envelope repairs. Every item is made with care and designed to stand up to the demands of regular ballooning, making them both practical and long-lasting.

One of our favourite things about Jane is that she never seems to stop coming up with new ideas. More recently she’s started producing 3D-printed dust covers for tanks and burners, adding another useful product to her ever-growing range. It’s great to see someone looking at everyday problems and creating simple, effective solutions for fellow balloonists. The new range of dust covers also come with an optional fuel reminder add on so you can be certain if your tank is full or empty at a glance!

Jane’s talents don’t stop on the launch field either. Away from ballooning she creates beautiful bespoke soft furnishings. These include Roman blinds, cushion covers, piped cushions and many other made-to-order items.

Perhaps what really sets Jane apart is her approach to customer service. She is always friendly, approachable and happy to help, whether you’re looking for a standard product, need an envelope repair or have a bespoke idea you’d like bringing to life. Her prices are very reasonable, her workmanship is excellent and nothing ever seems to be too much trouble. We recently needed a small repair on our training balloon, Jane mentioned she had the capacity to do the work that week and within 48 hours it was done. The standard of work was incredible as was the service.

People like Jane are exactly why we wanted to start this Hidden Gems series. Behind every successful balloon meet, every launch and every flight are people quietly supporting the sport with their skills, creativity and willingness to help others. Jane is a brilliant example of that.

If you’re looking for quality ballooning equipment, need something repaired or simply have an idea you’d like discussing, we’d highly recommend getting in touch with Jane. Supporting small businesses like hers helps keep skills, knowledge and innovation thriving within our amazing ballooning community.

Check Jane out here – https://www.facebook.com/jane.austin.rosette.s

If you know of another hidden gem that you think we should feature next, please drop us a message.