Tough Balloon Launch

[PaulFSemicolen01]

Too fast for me ^_^

[bluesrockfanatic]

I'm sorry but anyone that decides to fly a balloon in winds like that is a fuckin idiot. I'm amazed he didn't even burn holes in his balloon.

[growingupisoptional]

Found a really cool video search under "hot air balloon picks up van" now that is a windy launch.

Picks up and throws a full van on it's side

[23628904]

@growingupisoptional I applaud the pilot's expertise but I'm not sure how good an idea it was to take a first-time teenage passenger with him on what certainly was a risky ride, especially since he was the only pilot to launch that day. And yes, we do appreciate the conservatism of our pilot, even though he’s had his share of tough landings after easy launches.

[Logan11350]

I've watched this over and over and still can't see the truck move. I have seen balloons lift trucks off the ground and flip passenger vans over, that's something to worry about.

[23628904]

I've never seen it that bad and certainly hope I never do. We're spolied here. We fly year-round, and our pilot is choosy about when to fly. He's retired and does it for pleasure. He used to fly commercially, and that's when he's had some close calls. Had paying customers, so the pressure was on. Now it's for fun only, and we, the crew, are certainly OK with that. He treats us very well. If we go out to fly almost always buys us breakfast afterward, whether we fly or not.

[Logan11350]

Why did you let him tie off to your truck then? If you have a problem with it. Also it's only speculation to say that he might have had a high wind landing. I have taken off in high winds and landed in less than 2 mph. Lots of times you can find still air on the back side of hills if your ok with dealing with a little wind rotor.

[23628904]

Our pilot has also experienced what you did. He was unpacking right in front of my truck, and it wasn't as bad as it got when he asked, so I said yes. Yes, you can't really see the truck move, what with my unsteady camera hand and other commotion, but after he took off you could see where the tires had slipped. I didn't see it myself until I saw the slipping tire tracks. The woman who walks by the truck and points to it is my wife - she saw it as she was so close to it.

[Logan11350]

I think high wind conditions are great for learning, of course you don't have to do it but what happens when your flying and the winds pick up but youve never had experience with high winds? You get scared and make irrational decision whereas the pilot who has flown those conditions before knows what to expect and acts accordingly. This was a well performed launch.

[23628904]

This was obviously a well experienced pilot. But one of the issues I had was that he tied off to my truck as you can see in the video, and the truck moved 6" because of the wind. Then he took a first-time teenage passenger on the flight, and very likely had a very hard high-wind landing. That's simply not a safe thing to do. I don't have a problem with taking a student on a flight like this for a learning experience, but a first-time teenager? She'll probably never fly again; sad! Only he flew!

[growingupisoptional]

Check our my video response of Daryl and Justin's fast afternoon flight.

Looks pretty similar to this one. Lots of good fun for a new student in an area with wide open paddocks to land at speed in.

All in good fun

[23628904]

@growingupisoptional

It's great for people that aspire to be balloon pilots to learn how to deal with high wind launches and landings. That can only enhance safety. In a situation with high winds existing at the start, why fly at all? Good to know how if you have to, but I really can't think of why one would have to. My wife and I have been crewing for the same pilot since 1995 and we greatly appreciate his conservative nature as regards flying balloons.

[growingupisoptional]

@23628904 because you have the skill to and can.

Nothing wrong with conservative flying if it floats your boat.

[canadiense19]

It wouldn't have been quite that bad had there been someone on the crown line. When the vehicle is moving, that should be a pretty clear indication that it is too windy...

[23628904]

Actually, there was someone on the crown line! I'm sure glad it wasn't me. I usually do the crown line for It's a Zoo balloon.

[goalieracer]

maybe he had a pilot in training who needed to experience a high speed landng??? if thats the case i am sure he got it

[23628904]

We (crew od It's a Zoo balloon) did not witness his landing, but we beleive it was very likely prteyy rough, as the winds were quite strong, as is obvious in the video.

It was early morning, so that's why it's still somewnat dark, but it looks darker than it acually was. Flip vidoe camera made it look darker.

[AustinAnthonyBurrows]

it looks way to windy to fly balloon in this video.

[23628904]

Yes it was! We are very thankful that the pilot we crew for (since 1995) is conservative when it comes to flying his balloon. This guy was the only one that launched on this day. We couldn't believe it! He asked to tie off to our truck, and we said yes. I'm glad it didn't move the truck any more than it did.

[BLSmagic]

Did you by any chance see his landing/how was it? And one more question, is it dark because it's early morning or is it late afternoon with overcast?

[TomCorten]

wow respect to the pilot!!!

[ksbear2]

He just had ONE tie-off? Wow! Needed at least two crown lines. And look at the clouds! If I had been crewing for that guy, I would have told him he was on his own. This looks worse than the first Sunday at Fiesta in ABQ last year (and my pilot didn't fly that day!)

[23628904]

He asked if he could tie off to my truck, since he laid out right in front of it, and I said sure (Chevy 2002 2500HD crew cab). We knew we weren't going to fly that day, and no one else even tried. With that wind the truck actually got pulled about 6 inches. The woman you see toward the end of the video is my wife. She's the one that saw the truck get pulled! She said if it had moved anymore she was going to run to the tie-off and pull it off. Glad she didn't given how violently it snapped.

[AustinAnthonyBurrows]

looks a little to windyfly.

[ZipBalloon]

Lol wow. Wouldn't wanna be on the crown-line! (The line at the top of the balloon)

[23628904]

Thanks for the comment. I usually do the crown line on the balloon we crew for, It's A Zoo, and believe me I wouldn't want to be the crown line guy on this one! thank God our pilot is conservative when it come to flying. Been crewing for the same Pilot since 1995. had some very interesting experiences, but none like this.

[ZipBalloon]

Yeah I've been around balloons for about 10 years now. I work as crew for Sundance Balloons here in London, Ontario. I just had to show this to the pilot I work for lol. Its insane!