Hot air balloons

[Chasing Ghosts]

Moved off the fish report thread (Sorry again Corker).

Here is video I shot of the good Col and "Starship" when I was put out of flying; post surgery... you can't fly you look for any reason to be around it any way. Shot launching out of the Franklin Airport.

http://www.suffolk-video.com/connect...les/Launch.wmv

The in-flight video below was shot a few weeks later up at the "Flying Circus Aerodrome" up in Warrenton at there "Balloon Days" weekend.

http://www.suffolk-video.com/connect...cus_flight.wmv

Here I am a few years later at the "Flying Circus Aerodrome" (waiting on fog to burn off to launch)



Cheers
Doug

[Percidae_Papermouth]

What a cool (and expensive) hobby! thanks for sharing.

[Corker]

Balloon sightings while fishing at Diascund aren't unusual. Here's one from a couple of years ago.

[Chasing Ghosts]

That is Reid Baisy. That balloon is in the flight video at Warrenton.

Always did like the kites idea.

In fact looking at the foggy morning pic... That is Reid leaning on the basket rail.

[Barnacle Bill]

Hey Doug, what was your longest flight? Just curious.

[Chasing Ghosts]

About an hour and a half duration... about 10 miles distance.
Different flights.... lighter winds make for a slower flight (shorter distance)... faster winds make for a faster flight (longer distance)... sometimes.... depends on winds... downwind landing availability and how much daylight left to fly, or in the mornings how long the winds stay light before thermal activity kicks in and increases wind speed.

My max altitude to date is only 5000 ft AGL. I generally fly between treetop and 1500 ft AGL. I love contouring though... flying just about 3-4 feet off the ground.

[TapOut64]

Neat stuff. I think everyone finds it neat to look up and see a big ole balloon in the sky. Thanks for sharing.

[REDBOAT]

Cool! I was able to take a balloon ride 10 years ago or so... It was really neat when we first took off, you just go up real smooth like. I loved it and hope to get to go again sometime :D

[crappiefarmer]

Have You ever found bullet holes in the ballons? I heard a guy at the blimp plant down in Elizabeth City say one time that You would be surprised at the bullet holes that the blimps have in them when they come back in. Its the cases where some Yahoo just happens to be shooting his gun at something and sees the blimp a mile or two away and decides to shoot at it just for kicks never thinking he would hit it but he does.CF

[Don G]

Have You ever found bullet holes in the ballons? I heard a guy at the blimp plant down in Elizabeth City say one time that You would be surprised at the bullet holes that the blimps have in them when they come back in. Its the cases where some Yahoo just happens to be shooting his gun at something and sees the blimp a mile or two away and decides to shoot at it just for kicks never thinking he would hit it but he does.CF

Maybe that Yahoo was shooting "woodsgoats"..