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9 comments

Date Votes
  • watrulookinat
    Yeah, they seem to hit them powerlines once in a while.
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  • FEENIX
    Yep, I used to be in a chase team when I was stationed at Kirtland AFB and have seen many close calls. A group commander and his family hit a power line inside Kirtland, luckily they all survived the ordeal.
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  • allen griggs
    I worked in an FAA licensed balloon factory for two years. I flew a lot, and was in a lot of chase crews. I went to the big annual rally at Indianola Iowa once, never went to Albuquerque.
    The biggest danger in flying these things is hitting power lines. Steel cables run from the bottom of the gondola to the top of the balloon. They conduct electricity well.
    You have 4 of the ten gallon propane tanks in the gondola, and those black rubber propane lines running throughout the gondola. Bad combination of things if you hit the power lines.
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  • v35
    A few years back we had a Champaign balloon flight from a historic restaurant parking lot. The wind was blowing and I feared nearby power lines as soon as we broke ground.
    The pilot was a pro, rising very rapidly, giving us a memory of a lifetime. It was fall in full bloom. We flew low, at times brushing the basket on the trees. The flight was followed on return with Champaigne and ordeurves in the lot and a dinner in the classy restaurant.
    It was an experience I'd recommend to everyone and fall is the best season.
    Go for it.
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  • victorlvlb
    The balloon hit a dead wire used for lighting protection.
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  • allen griggs
    You are right, victor. She hit a dead wire which caused the gondola to flip, and she was tossed out. That is an unusual kind of fatality.
    The Gods of the Sky are not forgiving of errors.
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  • gunnut505
    Shoulda been here today!
    Balloons were slamming into roofs in Rio Rathole due to higher-than-normal ground winds, one hung on a sign, another had a coupla broken legged passengers after a bumpy landing, and a pregnit broad fell out of a balloon onto a roof!
    I'm glad the Kirtland folks promised not to shoot down any marauding balloons! Not so glad about the 6-hour interrogation, though.

    For live streaming coverage; KOB.com or KKOB.com radio
    the whole shebang starts at about 6:30AM MST-enjoy the ballons!




    My first ride was ended with champagne and dirt; that's the tradition for aerial "virgins", but I liked the Chateaubriand idea, too.
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  • v35
    Doesn't sound so good with amateurs in balloons.
    Our experience in a group of about ten balloons was better.
    The pilot of our balloon was a balloon instructor and wanted to show how good he was, knowing I was a fixed wing pilot.
    He played the wind currents low over the mountains. Deer didn't know which way to run. Besides the beauty of fall colors we passed over houses in the woods surrounded by acres of junk and people talking to you from their decks.
    The landing was a little sudden on my bum back but given the wind it was necessary to avoid being dragged.
    Again, it can be a wonderful experience.
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  • gunnut505
    What's so cool about a balloon ride is that you (in the gondola) can't feel motion, so you see the ground move beneath you, but you're so high up that you think you're watching the Earth spin under you.
    PLUS- mostly all you hear is the burner and dogs barking at that strange thing in the sky.
    BTW-there are NO amateurs flying any of the balloons; most crashes are with pilots that have over 1800 hours.
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