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Posted in these groups: 
Skydiving
Extreme Sports
Skydiving Extreme Sports
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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LTC Stephen C.
SPC David S., I look at a balloon jump as just another skydive. I consider BASE jumping to be simply a way of hastening death!
"A study of BASE jumping fatalities estimated that the overall annual fatality risk in 2002 was one fatality per 60 participants...BASE jumping is one of the most dangerous recreational activities in the world, with a fatality and injury rate 43 times higher than that of parachuting from a plane." (Wikipedia article)
"A study of BASE jumping fatalities estimated that the overall annual fatality risk in 2002 was one fatality per 60 participants...BASE jumping is one of the most dangerous recreational activities in the world, with a fatality and injury rate 43 times higher than that of parachuting from a plane." (Wikipedia article)
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I wanted to jump from a hot air balloon, Lt Col Charlie Brown, but never had the opportunity. From what I've heard though, it's really a nice and easy jump, because you start out with an airspeed of zero as compared to jumping from an aircraft where you're already at its airspeed.
Really, the problem generally is finding a balloon pilot willing to take you up. If one is even willing, they generally charge A LOT, mainly to keep jumpers from asking! The pilot must be very attentive to ballast issues. Usually, they wish to be descending before a jumper exits. The loss of a 100+ pounds can send the balloon into a "difficult to control" ascent otherwise. In this video, I'm really surprised to see that many jumpers in one balloon and two jumpers exiting per jump.
Apparently, this balloon pilot has learned how to manage his altitude with multiple jumpers. I give much more credit to the balloon pilot than the jumpers! I'm also fairly confident that unless this pilot is good friends with the jumpers, he made MUCHO DINERO on that flight!
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen CPT (Join to see)
Really, the problem generally is finding a balloon pilot willing to take you up. If one is even willing, they generally charge A LOT, mainly to keep jumpers from asking! The pilot must be very attentive to ballast issues. Usually, they wish to be descending before a jumper exits. The loss of a 100+ pounds can send the balloon into a "difficult to control" ascent otherwise. In this video, I'm really surprised to see that many jumpers in one balloon and two jumpers exiting per jump.
Apparently, this balloon pilot has learned how to manage his altitude with multiple jumpers. I give much more credit to the balloon pilot than the jumpers! I'm also fairly confident that unless this pilot is good friends with the jumpers, he made MUCHO DINERO on that flight!
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen CPT (Join to see)
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Ya, I wondered about that, as the balloon gets lighter it's going to rise and pretty rapidly with that much weight loss.
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CPT (Join to see)
The 5th Fifth Dimension,Up Up and Away, Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon We could float among th...
LTC Stephen C. One balloon flight in NorCal w/basket tip (over) landing. Sister silicon site had a facility in Albuquerque so got to see the balloon festival from the plant. Well worth attending for any balloon-folk on RP (fiesta link). HHD/3/12 eventually relocated from HAAF to NAS Moffett Field and were subsequently up, up and away-ed (youtube link) to the 5th Dimension (along w/11th).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5akEgsZSfhg
https://balloonfiesta.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5akEgsZSfhg
https://balloonfiesta.com/
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Maj Robert Thornton I'll trust you on that, never been in one or had desire to go up in one. They are magnificent to watch from the ground during the festival in Albuquerque though.
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