1988
Year
C-GIPI — 1988 Balloon Works Firefly 7
C-GIPI is a 1988 Balloon Works Firefly 7 based in St-Jean, Quebec, listed on the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register (serial F7-434).
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Category
Quebec
Based
24
On CA register
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The aircraft
Year built1988 · 38 years old
Airframe typeWhether Transport Canada classes it as an aeroplane, a helicopter, a glider, a balloon or a gyroplane.Balloon
Max take-off weightMaximum take-off weight: the heaviest the aircraft may legally be when it starts its take-off roll, including fuel, people and baggage. It's the number that decides what licence and ratings you need, and what it costs to park.752 kg · 1,658 lb
Where it's based
BasedThe city or airport Transport Canada holds as the aircraft's base. Where the field holds a four-letter code like CYXE, that's the airport's ICAO identifier.St-Jean, Quebec
Transport Canada officeThe Transport Canada regional office that administers this registration. It follows the owner's address, so it isn't always the nearest office to where the aircraft actually sits.Dorval
Identity
Serial numberThe manufacturer's own number for this individual airframe, stamped on a plate. Unlike the registration, it never changes — it identifies the aircraft across every country it's ever been registered in.F7-434
ManufacturerThe full legal name of the company that built it, which is often not the name on the tail. A Cessna 172 built in 2022 was made by Textron Aviation.The Balloon Works
Built inWhere the aircraft was manufactured. Most of Canada's fleet was built in the United States.U.S.A.
ICAO 24-bit addressA unique 24-bit number your transponder broadcasts with every Mode S and ADS-B message — flight trackers key on it rather than the tail number. Canada's block runs C00000 to C3FFFF, which is why Canadian aircraft nearly all start C0 to C3. Transport Canada assigns it against the registration, so it changes if the aircraft is re-registered.C05B57
Registration
Registration typePrivate, Commercial or State. Commercial means the registration permits use for hire or reward — charter, flight training, aerial work. It describes the registration, not who owns the aircraft.Private
AirworthinessThe standard certificate: the aircraft conforms to its approved design and is maintained by a licensed engineer. No restrictions beyond the type's own, and it's what buyers and lenders expect to see.Certificate of Airworthiness
Basis of registrationThe rule the aircraft is registered under. Most are registered against a type certificate, meaning they're a factory design approved by the regulator; amateur-built and ultralight aircraft come in under their own standards.CAR Standard 507.02, 507.03 - Type Certificate
Type certificateThe approval number for the aircraft's design, issued to the manufacturer. Every aircraft built to that approved design shares it, so it's a good way to confirm exactly which variant you're looking at.A14SO
Registered sinceWhen the current registration took effect. A recent date usually means the aircraft changed hands or was re-registered — it is not the date it was built.7 April 2006
Where C-GIPI is, and how to track it
C-GIPI transmits ADS-B under the 24-bit address C05B57. Trackers key on that address rather than the tail number, so it finds the aircraft even on flights flown under a different callsign. Transport Canada assigns the address against the registration, so it changes if the aircraft is re-registered.
Most private aircraft are on the ground most of the time — if a tracker shows nothing, it is very likely parked rather than missing.
How rare is C-GIPI?
The Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 is rare in Canada — there are 24 registered on the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register — see every one.
- 2 of the 24 are in Quebec.
- Median year built for the type: 1980 — C-GIPI is newer than half of them.
- One of 67 Balloon Works aircraft on the Canadian register, across every model.
- 19 aircraft are based in St-Jean — see every one →
Not for sale right now
C-GIPI is not listed on MarketPlane. If it ever is, we can tell you — one email, then nothing. No account needed.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 in Canada
C-FHFX 1990 · C-FGFF 1989 · C-GBWG 1987 · C-GXSY 1987 · C-GRJX 1981 · C-GRVR 1981 · all Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 →
Own this aircraft?
List C-GIPI on MarketPlane.ca — free, no commission, and Canadian buyers contact you directly. We already have the year, make, model, serial and engine from the register, so the form opens mostly filled in.
List C-GIPI freeCanadian Civil Aircraft Register, current to September 17, 2026. Aircraft data reproduced and distributed with the permission of the Government of Canada. MarketPlane.ca is not affiliated with Transport Canada.