Are you sure you want to go up in one?

A determined take-off from Ashton Court, Bristol, May 2009.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Ashton Court
• hot air balloon

[davidshatford]

He has considerably more experience than me - I am not a pilot, merely an observer!

[mistersmith6000]

@neilrw10 "faced with 16 expectant punters, their friends and families" and the continuous need to 'deliver the goods' to satisfy them and enhance his business, will he be tempted to make, just once in his career, a risky move? That is the scarey thing. I just came here because 11 people died yesterday in a balloon accident in NZ, and I'm curious how hobby come business come serious business and information works. I wanna do bungee jumping too, I'm just a nervous person but I fear.

[richie74wells]

and that person is gone...too hogh

[whanethewhip]

Hey buddy wanna go for a balloon ride? "No thanks". It's free! "No, I'm good". How about I pay you $1000 to go up? "No really, I'm good thanks though".

[ejrchapman]

@ksbear2 a 350 will almost drain a V30 before take off. A long burn like that on a balloon that big is standard.

[neilrw10]

Every big balloon pilot in northern europe will have 1 or 2 take-offs like that in a season.Other balloons were there so the forecast conditions were considered suitable.But the reality on the field is often different to the forecasts.Small balloon pilots can easily say no, the pro has a more difficult task faced with 16 expectant punters, their friends and families.Like a pro he tried and he succeeded and he got paid and everybody's happy.As a group C pilot he has much more experience than you.

[ksbear2]

I see none of the other balloons were inflating - that means to me that it was probably too windy. And a 1 minute 50 second burn? I've never seen one that long while crewing.

[BristolBallooning]

It was 13 knts when these guys took off. The actual inflation was quite "interesting" and that needed 4 other pilots to hold the balloon down. If you were there, you wouldn't have flown.

[cptjackzb]

It dosn't appear to be too windy. They could have used a couple more crew for weight off and the launch would have gone smoothly. Perhaps a couple crew guys from the other balloons could have helped, thats how we usually do it.

[BristolBallooning]

I was there that night. It was WAAAYYY too windy and having public as crew isn't a good idea. Bristol Balloons are quite notorious for flying when no one else wants to!