Balloons and a Chair: The Only Way to Fly (to France)
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
Wow... I didn't realise people still commonly called it the English channel. That's what I get for living in Wales I guess
*newspaper...comic...sense...twitching*
The helium balloons on a chair idea wasn't from Calvin and Hobbes it was from Bloom County
Otherwise, pure awesome
The helium balloons on a chair idea wasn't from Calvin and Hobbes it was from Bloom County
Otherwise, pure awesome
Quote: "I believe he even gave something to the owner of the land where he came down by way of damages," a spokesman for French police said.
Dumb policeman, it's common courtesy for balloonists to have at least a bottle of wine or champagne for the owner of their landing field.
Anyway, awesome stuff.
And as to why fly across the Channel: because it's a staple classic flight. Before the space-race there was the Channel-race.
And all this inane France hating bull always gets to me a bit. It's a somehow accepted form of racism and I really can't get my head around it.
Dumb policeman, it's common courtesy for balloonists to have at least a bottle of wine or champagne for the owner of their landing field.
Anyway, awesome stuff.
And as to why fly across the Channel: because it's a staple classic flight. Before the space-race there was the Channel-race.
And all this inane France hating bull always gets to me a bit. It's a somehow accepted form of racism and I really can't get my head around it.
I've always wanted to do this myself. Piece of trivia: The last guy to do something like this was named Larry Walters. He used a pellet gun to pop the balloons, which he accidentally dropped. He ended up flying into power lines and causing a blackout.
He was later arrested and fined for FAA regulation violations.
He was later arrested and fined for FAA regulation violations.
I just watched the Mythbusters episode on that yesterday, he was fined $1500, and landed in powerlines that had to be shut off inorder to cut him out.The Youth Counselor said:
I know Mythbusters spent close to $3000 to get Adam about 75 feet up, but I wonder how much this guy spent.
With Icelandic volcano's and BA strikes, this new form of travel may just take off!
...babum tsh!
...babum tsh!
Did it say it was possible or not? or inconclusive?Irridium said:
We must Mass produce these "Ballon-Chairs"
The transport of the FUTURE!
im off to buy shares in which ever Company Creates Helium on a mass scale.
I wouldn't think so, do you mean the crossing into France from England?TheYellowCellPhone said:
I doubt in the rule book theres a "DO NOT CROSS THE CHANNEL IN A BALLOON CHAIR!" as a side note.
Ha, this will make Catching Illegal immigrants hilarious.
Seems like everybody knew what he was doing, as well as the authorities, so I'm going to say no, or at least very good exception to the rule(if there is one).TheYellowCellPhone said:
You been to France? The food is to die for *soldier voice* maggot.Daemascus said:
Yeah it irks me as well, you are not alone.\Vortigar said:
OT: I don't think it is that he pulled it off that really makes me proud of this man but its the preparation he went through to turn this into reality. This guy didn''t just blow a lot of money and try to fly, he researched, he called people, he had safeguards for the unforeseen, he had permission from everybody to do this, he even was ready to pay the person who would end up in his landing path.
Other than that this man has made me put on my fedora only to take it off in respect.