1978
Year
C-GXWU — 1978 Balloon Works Firefly 6B
C-GXWU is a 1978 Balloon Works Firefly 6B, listed on the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register (serial 6731).
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Category
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Based
4
Of this type in Canada
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The aircraft
Year built1978 · 48 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.476 kg · 1,049 lb
Where it's based
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.Vancouver
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.6731
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.C083B5
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.3 February 1998
Where C-GXWU is, and how to track it
C-GXWU transmits ADS-B under the 24-bit address C083B5. 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-GXWU on the Transport Canada register →
How rare is C-GXWU?
The Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B is very rare in Canada. There are 4 on the register.
- Canada has 67 Balloon Works aircraft of all models.
Not for sale right now
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Other Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B in Canada
C-FTIU 2004 · C-GZOY 1985 · C-GZZI 1985 · all Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B →
Own this aircraft?
You can list C-GXWU 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-GXWU 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.