Balloon Rides--

big tee · Feb 13, 2023

I just had to shut it down--Business was going good too---

wjytexas · Feb 13, 2023

I told my wife I had booked a Valentines Balloon ride but cancelled out of an abundance of caution. Side note, the fatal crash in 2016 that killed 6 people was about 30 miles from me.

Skyhighballoon(MO) · Feb 13, 2023

It was 16 killed. All commercial hot-air balloon pilots now have to have a 2nd class medical certificate to fly passengers for hire as a result of that accident.

wjytexas · Feb 13, 2023

Ted in NE-OH · Feb 13, 2023

Balloon rides could be dangerous , the Air Force might shoot you down.

big tee · Feb 13, 2023

16?-The kids gave us a ticket for a balloon ride for our anniversary 6? years ago and there was us and another couple plus the pilot and his buddy and there was standing room only-can we say stacked like
sardines--it must have been a huge balloon to get 16 people of the ground---

wjytexas · Feb 13, 2023

it was and the pilot apparently had issues

Stephen Newell · Feb 13, 2023

That would be some balloon ride at 60000 feet. I wonder if it's bring your own air.

Dave H (MI) · Feb 14, 2023

When you were a kid did anything good ever happen to a balloon? Either got away from you and was lost or it popped and died. I would not go up in one. I remember a movie...Danny Deckchair or some such...supposed to be a comedy. Nope.

Skyhighballoon(MO) · Feb 14, 2023

The balloon in the Lockhart crash was 300,000 cu feet. The basket was a very large 4 partition basket. Up to 4 passengers in each corner compartment of the rectangle with the pilot and fuel tanks in the center compartment. I'd estimate that basket was about 5'X12'. We sport/casual pilots call them "cattle cars". My balloon is only 90,000 cu feet and my basket is 42" by 58".

Normal hot air balloons would max out about 20,000 feet, maybe a bit higher. Going over 12,500 requires oxygen and above 18,000 is Class A airspace and requires a waiver/special permission from the FAA to go there. Normally balloons flown for fun stay within a few thousand feet of the ground.

It takes a gas balloon to get to 60,000 feet.

Dave H (MI) · Feb 15, 2023

Does it make much difference after 50 feet?

Balloon Rides--

big tee

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wjytexas

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Skyhighballoon(MO)

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wjytexas

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Ted in NE-OH

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big tee

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wjytexas

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Stephen Newell

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Dave H (MI)

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Skyhighballoon(MO)

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Dave H (MI)

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