GTS Flexible has considerable experience with the supply of specialist materials for balloons.

Helium Filled Lighting Balloons. The problem: You are making a major film that is set in the grandeur of the magnificent Brasserie Lipp in Paris. There is not enough natural light for filming and so you need to produce a powerful and diffused source of artificial illumination, but are not allowed to fasten anything to the historic panelled ceilings or build gantries, and you cannot have the lights reflected in the mirrored walls. What do you do?

The answer: Fabricate helium filled cylinders of white fabric that float to the ceiling. The cylinders, which are three metres in length and one metre in diameter float at ceiling level without the need for any fixings and cast an even white illumination from their 4Kw internal light sources. The film was "Surviving Picasso", a Merchant Ivory film starring Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Balloons For The Exploration Of Rainforest Canopies: A balloon was required for the exploration of rainforest canopies that was both lightweight and strong. The envelope was made from tough fabric reinforced plastic material (supplied by GTS Flexible) that was UV degradation resistant. It contained 350 cubic metres of helium and was designed for low drag and maximum manoeuvrability.

The airship was powered by a small electric motor from lightweight batteries. A nickel-hydrogen battery, with an energy rating of 55 Whr/kg was used that was trickle charged by flexible solar panels mounted on the airship envelope. This power system allowed the airship a flight speed of 10 knots, sufficiently high for flying in calm or light breeze conditions for at least two hours.