Ballooning Handbook by Don Cameron

Ballooning Handbook by Don Cameron was first published in Great Britain by Pelham Books Ltd, 44 Bedford Square, London, in 1980.

It was set, printed and bound by Fakenham Press Limited of Fakenham, Norfolk. This copy is the hardcover, bound in dark cloth with gilt titling and decoration on the spine.

The British Library cataloguing data files Ballooning Handbook under hot air balloons and piloting, and the contents bear that out.

The chapters work through the modern hot air balloon and its controls and instruments, then flying techniques: choosing a take-off site, laying out and inspection, briefing the ground crew, inflation, pre-take-off checks, take-off, control in flight, fuel management, gusts and crosswinds, flight in thermal conditions, landing and emergency procedures.

A chapter on advanced flying covers altitude flying, distance and duration, record-breaking and night flying.

Ballooning Handbook is a hands-on manual written for people who fly, giving a clear picture of how hot air ballooning was taught and practised at the start of the 1980s.

Ballooning Handbook will appeal to balloon pilots and ground crew, aviation enthusiasts and collectors of flying and air sports books, and anyone curious about the craft of lighter-than-air flight.

Condition – Good

Hardcover in dark cloth with gilt spine lettering, without dust jacket. Shelf wear is present, with scuffed board edges and rubbed, lightly frayed spine ends.

There is slight sunning and light foxing, including a few small spots along the inner gutter at the contents page and toning to the page edges.

The front free endpaper carries an inscription and has been glued down to the front pastedown. The text block of this copy of Ballooning Handbook is otherwise clean.