Hot air balloons
Thread Starter
Hot air balloons
Does anybody else have an almost irresistible urge to fly around them in circles like a demented bluebottle round a lampshade? I've hitherto resisted.
Last edited by abgd; 25th Feb 2014 at 00:06.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dropped flaps and did a slow cct round one over Chatsworth last year. Lots of waving etc.
Although they may have been waving 'P*** off away from us.'
Although they may have been waving 'P*** off away from us.'
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,815
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
your not formatting either.
The only thing you can be accused of is endangerment. Which is an open ended accusation. And if the pilot of the aircraft said there wasn't any danger and the pilot of the balloon says there was no endangerment it would be a brave legal type to take it to court.
The only thing you can be accused of is endangerment. Which is an open ended accusation. And if the pilot of the aircraft said there wasn't any danger and the pilot of the balloon says there was no endangerment it would be a brave legal type to take it to court.
Tabs please !
When I was flying balloons, I used to enjoy being buzzed by light aircraft. A chap in a Pitts once did a flypast with an 8 point hesitation roll, absolutely fantastic.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 2,517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually flying circles around a hot air balloon on a day when the wind is say fifteen knots and maintaining a constant distance from the balloon and then having the student fly a circle maintaining a constant distance from an object on the ground is an excellent lesson.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually flying circles around a hot air balloon on a day when the wind is say fifteen knots
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Balloon pilots don't have quite the same obsession with "lookout" as their heavier-than-air counterparts do - after all we have right of way and if something is coming towards you there isn't much you can do. I was once flying a passenger ride and was "head down" sorting something out when I heard a hell of a noise - looked up to see two Spitfires (or it could have been a Spit and a Hurricane) going past, one each side of the basket. Noise explained, I went back to what I was doing. After I landed the ground crew asked me if I had seen the Lancaster which went underneath .....
Back in the early days of flex-wing microlights with limited performance it was always quite amusing to pop in to a climb as they buzzed up and watch them howling away at full power never quite managing to catch up!
Back in the early days of flex-wing microlights with limited performance it was always quite amusing to pop in to a climb as they buzzed up and watch them howling away at full power never quite managing to catch up!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think that was the point that Chuck was making - fly round balloon, then fly round a point on the ground and notice the difference...
Back in the early days of flex-wing microlights with limited performance it was always quite amusing to pop in to a climb as they buzzed up and watch them howling away at full power never quite managing to catch up!
G
Thread Starter
I suppose my other confession would be that the first time I saw a balloon near my flight path I started to get interested in it, then realised that I had altered my course slightly and was now heading straight for it! I was far enough away that it was nowhere near a 'near miss' but I could see how you could be drawn into a collision - same principle as cars in Holland where on long straight stretches of road people are apparently drawn to having head-on collisions.
Remember the weekend that a JP instructor from Sleaford Tech decided to pull a few turns around a balloon in a motor-glider, making the mistake of giving some Churchillian signs in the process. Cue Monday morning interview (no hats or coffee) with the Commandant who happened to be in said balloon with Mrs Commandant 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LKLT
Age: 46
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
exactly, can't resist at all, it is always like "wow a baloon, I need to have closer look right now"
and yes "Although they may have been waving 'P*** off away from us.' "
this makes my day
and yes "Although they may have been waving 'P*** off away from us.' "
this makes my day