1987
Year
C-GXSY — 1987 Balloon Works Firefly 7
C-GXSY is a 1987 Balloon Works Firefly 7 based in Saint John, New Brunswick, listed on the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register (serial F7 388).
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Category
New Brunswick
Based
24
On CA register
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The aircraft
Year built1987 · 39 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.753 kg · 1,660 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.Saint John, New Brunswick
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.Moncton
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 388
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.C08351
Registration
Registration typePrivate, Commercial or State. Commercial means the registration permits use for hire or reward, like charter, flight training or 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 isn't the year it was built.16 July 1997
Where C-GXSY is, and how to track it
C-GXSY transmits ADS-B under the 24-bit address C08351. 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 spend most of their time on the ground. If a tracker shows nothing, it's probably just parked.
The owner of record and the certificate history are on Transport Canada's own lookup: see C-GXSY on the Transport Canada register →
How rare is C-GXSY?
The Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 is rare in Canada. There are 24 on the register.
- 1 of the 24 is in New Brunswick.
- Half of them were built before 1980. C-GXSY is newer than most.
- Canada has 67 Balloon Works aircraft of all models.
- 18 aircraft are based in Saint John. See them all →
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Other Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 in Canada
C-FHFX 1990 · C-FGFF 1989 · C-GIPI 1988 · C-GBWG 1987 · C-GRJX 1981 · C-GRVR 1981 · all Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 →
Own this aircraft?
You can list C-GXSY here for free. We already have the year, make, model, serial and engine from the register, so most of the form is filled in for you. Buyers contact you directly and we take no commission.
List C-GXSY 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.