Wikiposts
Search
The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions The place for students, instructors and charter guys in Oz, NZ and the rest of Oceania.

11 dead in balloon crash

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 6th Jan 2012, 20:26
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
11 dead in balloon crash

Terrible news from NZ this morning

Carterton Hot Air Balloon Crash - national | Stuff.co.nz

Nga mihi aroha, moe mai ra

TK
Te_Kahu is offline  
Old 6th Jan 2012, 23:35
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 768
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Really bad news, couples out to experience silent flight and disaster strikes.

Always thought taking an open fire airborne was not a good idea.
T28D is offline  
Old 7th Jan 2012, 01:45
  #3 (permalink)  
Silly Old Git
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: saiba spes
Posts: 3,726
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Terrible.
Was commenting just last night to the missus its not on my bucket list
If you're unsure search "hot air balloon" in Youtube
tinpis is offline  
Old 7th Jan 2012, 12:40
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Suffolk
Age: 69
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Horrendous RIP peeps.

Deepest sympathy to relatives and friends. Horrendous accident, I have only thought of peeps falling out of basket, guess fire is a greater risk. Treatment of materials to render them inflammable would be a good thing to consider.

My son made a model hot air balloon which was launched by Prof. Heinz Wolf in the science museum South Kensington - burst into flames halfway to the ceiling OMG!

Life can be so precarious, RIP.
Buntybunny is offline  
Old 7th Jan 2012, 13:40
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: DXB
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
11 Dead In New Zealand hot air balloon crash.

Horrible, tragic. Condolences to all the families concerned.




BBC News - Eleven dead in New Zealand hot air balloon crash
ENFP is offline  
Old 7th Jan 2012, 13:45
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Who cares? ;-)
Age: 74
Posts: 676
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
it's a horrific incident and has hit the news in my world (Germany) as well. Being a balloonist I am particularly interested in it.

It is not unusual for balloons to catch fire in an accident or incident, I know of a few. We just had one last summer in my country... hard landing with a blimp, tank burst open, a spark caused it to catch fire, killing the pilot (pax's were able to jump out at the last minute).

A few years ago a balloon flew near a high power radio transmitter mast. Somehow a spark transfered to the balloons electronics, causing the balloon to catch fire... killing all on board. Now all balloonist are told to avoid those masts if at all possible.

With hot-air balloons they run on propane gas, sometimes only a spark is needed to set it off. There is no way inflammable materials would help.... the propane can literally explode especially if one of the lines tear off and gas escapes.

Luckily these accidents are rare... but no less something to be investigated in and avoided in the future.

A very sad day for all balloonists...
WestWind1950 is offline  
Old 7th Jan 2012, 16:10
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Wessex
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not unusual at all. This happened a few miles from me a few years ago - possibly due to the fact that the damned things were skimming along at rooftop level after their launch.

Air balloon in power cable crash near Devizes (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Tragic events in NZ - but what's stopping it from happening again over here?
Soup_Dragon is offline  
Old 8th Jan 2012, 04:33
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Victoria
Posts: 1,483
Received 6 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Buntybunny
Treatment of materials to render them inflammable would be a good thing to consider.
By the looks of it, they're already pretty inflammable. Non-flammable would be safer.
Lasiorhinus is offline  
Old 8th Jan 2012, 06:11
  #9 (permalink)  
The Reverend
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sydney,NSW,Australia
Posts: 2,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have several hundred hours of hot air balloon flying with the greatest respect for power lines, especially high tension ones. This balloon would not have caught fire if it didn't fly into power lines. May they rest in peace after a horrible death.
HotDog is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2012, 03:08
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: New Zealand
Age: 64
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I know nothing about hot-air ballooning, but it seems inherently unsafe. No control of the track, and minimal control of altitude, in that you can ascend by firing the burner. I'd sooner be latched to a parachute.
ampan is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2012, 05:00
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: melb
Posts: 2,162
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
'ampan' I do tend to agree there but all aviation endeavors are a risk to some degree. I guess it's a personal thing, I wouldn't go up in a HAB or become a lawn dart for that matter as to me the risk is unacceptable but that's just me.

Track over the ground is controllable in a limited way with a balloon (by varying ALT) but it's fickled that's for sure due winds being unpredictable at times.
Many times early morning whilst flying out of EN there would be balloons heading for the airport coming from the gardens of the CBD (to land) & some just made it even to an area as large as EN.Scary stuff, slightly crazy if you ask me


Wmk2
Wally Mk2 is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2012, 05:29
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: in the classroom of life
Age: 55
Posts: 6,864
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
And no engines wally

A big heater to keep you warm though.
Jabawocky is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.