In January 1965, Teijin Company of Osaka, Japan offered the Aerostat Society enough fabric to build a 60 ft diameter balloon. Teijin I was 60ft in diameter, stood 75ft high, with a volume of 120,000cf. It was of ripstop polyester fabric, with a heavy aluminium and acrylic coating on the inside. It took 4 of us to lift the envelope. There were no horizontal seams. On the 12th of Oct 1965 , Teijin I had its first test flight at St. Paul's Oval. Several ascents were made, carrying up to six people.         A drunken bystander heard somebody call out "Pull us down". He pulled on a rope which opened two 84ft long zippers These were for deflated the balloon, and virtually divided the envelope into two halves. Although only 10 feet above the ground, the balloon crashed heavily, landing on Terry McCormack, breaking his shoulder and trapping him underneath. A fire broke out, burning Terry Golding. This was a serious setback, and many repairs and modifications were needed.		...........
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It was February 1966 before the balloon was even inflated again.  That April, Teijin I made its first successful free flight at Cargo with Peter and Brian McGee, and Cherry (Terry's wife).      In July 1966, several sponsors donated some large sums towards a balloon flight across Australia. The Aerostat Society decided to use Teijin I, as a training balloon, and later build a second gas balloon, (which would be called Teijin II), for the actual crossing of Australia.   So, the 2nd of July 1965 at Canowindra in Western NSW, they had one free flight. This would have been the first time a balloon ever flew at Canowindra. (Hundreds fly there now)  .............This was a most successful flight lasting 80 minutes and reaching 3,500 feet.