Balloon Works FIREFLY 8
183 on the U.S. register across 4 versions the FAA records separately. Built from 1983 to 2005; half of them date from 1996 or earlier. Colorado has the most (17). 28% are registered to companies, flight schools, clubs and other organisations; the rest to individuals, who are never named here.
About the FIREFLY 8 from the FAA's model table
- Type
- Balloon · Balloons
- Power
- None
- Common engines
- None None (161), Ama/Expr Unknown Eng (9)
- Seats
- 1
- Maker on the register
- Balloon Works
- Registered
- earliest certificate August 9, 1983; newest October 2, 2026
Where they are owner's state
Colorado17Virginia14New Mexico14Michigan14New York10North Carolina9California9Utah7Florida7Nevada6Arizona6Texas5
Who owns them registrant type
Individual113 (62%)Corporation27 (15%)LLC21 (11%)Co-owned19 (10%)Partnership2 (1%)Government1 (0.5%)
Versions as the FAA records them · click one to list only those aircraft
| Version | Registered | Built | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIREFLY 8B-15 | 123 | 1992 to 2005 | 67.2% |
| FIREFLY 8B | 37 | 1983 to 1991 | 20.2% |
| FIREFLY 8 | 18 | 1990 to 1999 | 9.8% |
| FIREFLY 8-24 | 5 | 1976 to 1988 | 2.7% |
When they were built by decade · 72 with no year on file
Registrations by year certificates issued since 2010, including changes of owner · 2026 is the year so far
Registration status
Valid183 (100%)
Airworthiness certificate class
Standard170 (93%)None on file10 (5%)Experimental3 (2%)
Biggest operators companies, schools and clubs
Wicker Basket Balloon Center4Island Balloons INC4Sky Adventures INC3Blue Ridge Hot Air Balloons LLC3Kpalmair LLC2Aerostat Promotions LLC2Star Ballooning LLC1Smileys Dream Ballooning LLC1Skylifter LLC1Sky Adventures1Silver Lining Ballooning LLC1Reach For The Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation1
Fleet pages: Wicker Basket Balloon Center · Island Balloons INC · Sky Adventures INC · Blue Ridge Hot Air Balloons LLC · Sky Adventures
Accident history NTSB records · 26 cases since 1982, 1 fatal
2013-05-11CEN13CA278 · FIREFLY 8B-15 N3171L · accident near Anthony, KS · no injuries
2011-09-17CEN11CA654 · FIREFLY 8 N3181A · accident near Mingo, IA · serious injuries
2004-10-09DFW05CA002 · Firefly 8B-15 N2563W · accident near Piedmont, OK · no injuries
2001-09-02DEN01LA158 · Firefly 8B-15 N2575P · accident near Colo. Springs, CO · serious injuries
2001-06-23FTW01LA154 · Firefly 8B-15 N72524 · accident near Celina, TX · serious injuries
2000-08-06FTW00LA224 · FIREFLY 8 N9091R · accident near Tulsa, OK · serious injuries
1998-10-05DEN99LA023 · FIREFLY 8B-15 N3290G · accident near Albuquerque, NM · serious injuries
1998-03-27NYC98LA085 · FIREFLY 8B-15 N31226 · accident near Elk Garden, VA · serious injuries
The 8 most recent of 26 cases where the NTSB's make and model match this family's versions. Rates per registered aircraft, phases of flight and causes are coming with the analytics stage. Each aircraft's own page also shows its record.
Questions people ask answers refresh every morning
How many Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 aircraft are registered in the U.S.?
183 as of October 2, 2026, counting 4 versions the FAA records separately.
Which state has the most Balloon Works FIREFLY 8s?
Colorado, with 17.
Who owns the Balloon Works FIREFLY 8?
28% are registered to companies, flight schools, clubs and other organisations; the rest to individuals and co-owners, who are never named on this site.
Aircraft newest certificates first · 123 FIREFLY 8B-15 (all versions)
| Tail no. | Maker and model | Owner and base | Certificate | Registered | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N32850 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Hot Air Enterprises Lc Payson, Utah |
Standard | 2003-09-26 | Valid |
| N911AB | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Legros Aviation Services Crowley, Louisiana |
Standard | 2002-12-02 | Valid |
| N7227S | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Indiana |
Standard | 2002-06-20 | Valid |
| N25823 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2001-12-20 | Valid |
| N3290W | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 2000-12-04 | Valid |
| N72524 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Co-owned owner Texas |
None on file | 2000-10-19 | Valid |
| N2057F | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Grand Junction Balloon Port Fruita, Colorado |
Standard | 2000-09-15 | Valid |
| N3084B | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 2000-04-04 | Valid |
| N7083K | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner New Jersey |
Standard | 1999-11-29 | Valid |
| N2578V | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Virginia |
Standard | 1999-09-02 | Valid |
| N2554Q | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 1999-08-09 | Valid |
| N70420 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Ohio |
Standard | 1999-08-02 | Valid |
| N7010U | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner New York |
Standard | 1999-06-21 | Valid |
| N2568S | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Colorado |
Standard | 1999-05-18 | Valid |
| N72214 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Island Balloons INC Lanexa, Virginia |
Standard | 1998-11-04 | Valid |
| N3286R | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Oregon |
Standard | 1998-08-19 | Valid |
| N238ZA | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Georgia |
Standard | 1998-05-01 | Valid |
| N3078E | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Co-owned owner North Carolina |
Standard | 1998-03-09 | Valid |
| N31226 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Tennessee |
Standard | 1996-11-06 | Valid |
| N3288P | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Capt'N Cutty INC Allenton, Michigan |
Standard | 1996-08-27 | Valid |
| N71087 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 1996-05-07 | Valid |
| N3290S | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 1996-03-28 | Valid |
| N25556 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 |
Individual owner Colorado |
Standard | 1992-06-24 | Valid |
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