diff --git a/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/CMakeLists.txt b/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/CMakeLists.txt
index 628c36075e..ef190544ae 100644
--- a/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ add_subdirectory(airframes)
 px4_add_romfs_files(
 	rc.airship_apps
 	rc.airship_defaults
+	rc.balloon_apps
+	rc.balloon_defaults
 	rc.boat_defaults
 	rc.fw_apps
 	rc.fw_defaults
diff --git a/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/airframes/18001_TF-B1 b/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/airframes/18001_TF-B1
index dc91414f8a..bd6294e165 100644
--- a/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/airframes/18001_TF-B1
+++ b/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/airframes/18001_TF-B1
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 #
-# @name ThunderFly stratospheric balloon TF-B1
+# @name ThunderFly balloon TF-B1
 #
 # @type Balloon
 # @class Balloon
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@
 # @board bitcraze_crazyflie exclude
 #
 
-. ${R}etc/init.d/rc.fw_defaults
+. ${R}etc/init.d/rc.balloon_defaults
 
 if [ $AUTOCNF = yes ]
 then
-	param set BAT_CAPACITY 2500
-	param set BAT_N_CELLS 2
+	param set COM_PREARM_MODE 2  # always in prearm state
+	param set CBRK_IO_SAFETY 22027
 
 	param set SENS_BOARD_ROT 8
   param set MAV_TYPE 8  # MAV_TYPE_FREE_BALLOON
@@ -27,5 +27,5 @@ then
 fi
 
 
-set MIXER TF-AutoG2
+set MIXER IO_pass
 set MIXER_AUX pass
diff --git a/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/rc.balloon_apps b/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/rc.balloon_apps
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..baccef641c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/rc.balloon_apps
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# Standard apps for balloons
+#
+# NOTE: Script variables are declared/initialized/unset in the rcS script.
+#
+
+#
+# Start the attitude and position estimator.
+#
+ekf2 start &
diff --git a/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/rc.balloon_defaults b/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/rc.balloon_defaults
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dfc0f55fa4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d/rc.balloon_defaults
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# Balloon default parameters
+#
+# NOTE: Script variables are declared/initialized/unset in the rcS script.
+#
+
+set VEHICLE_TYPE fw
+
+if [ $AUTOCNF = yes ]
+then
+	#
+	# Default parameters for balloon UAVs.
+	#
+	#
+	# FW takeoff acceleration can easily exceed ublox GPS 2G default.
+	#
+	param set GPS_UBX_DYNMODEL 8
+fi