TransAtlantic Balloon crossing
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: north of Harlow and south of Cambridge
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What's the point?
Or maybe that will become the best method to cross the Atlantic after all the oil is used up?
Why don't some extinction rebels do the flight?
Why don't some extinction rebels do the flight?
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Manchester
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Any updates on when the attempt will be starting? finding updates via FB/twitter/etc is next to impossible and their own website is difficult to extract any information from.
I live in Sussex and have volunteered to assist on the ground crew. We have had a week of terrible weather with strong winds, rain, and fog - but I can actually see blue sky right now for the first time in a few days. We're planning on filling sandbags on Thursday in preparation for the launch, which hopefully might occur before I go to California on business for a couple of days next week.
I'm hoping to get some pictures of the launch and preparation and will be sure to post them here. Quite an amazing undertaking...
I'm hoping to get some pictures of the launch and preparation and will be sure to post them here. Quite an amazing undertaking...
Tabs please !
Here's a pic of our attempt to do London to Ireland. Life raft, immersion suits, transponder, flares, glow sticks, corkscrew etc. were all loaded.
When LPG was cheap.
When LPG was cheap.
Tabs please !
Me calling the crew from the Welsh coast, asking that they don't board the ferry.
Well Toto, we're not in Kansas any more.
Well Toto, we're not in Kansas any more.
I'll bet you never ate another cabbage again..................
I attended the initial ground crew briefing last night, so got to meet the crew and see the balloon firsthand. My pictures are too large to post here on PPRuNe, so here's a Facebook link for anyone who might be interested. Very cool mission.
Tabs please !
I note you have Luc Trullemans doing your met. IIRC, he played a major part in the only circumnavigation of the globe. I had the pleasure of having dinner with Brian Jones and being enthralled with his account of the flight with Bertrand Picard. Your media team could do no better with Robin Batchelor, an interesting chap with an incredible breadth of experience.
Good winds and speed.
Good winds and speed.
Tabs please !
I had my hand out with an offer of compensation but the farmer refused to take a penny. It was an animal food crop and he was just happy that we were perfectly ok. Most farmers are quite happy for non commercial flights to land on their property as we are keen to be on our way as quickly as possible with the minimum of fuss. A bottle of wine is usually kept in the retrieve vehicle as a "lubricant".
I did land on one farm close to Henley and was confronted by an angry chap who pointed out that the farm belonged to the local MP. I told him we were three floating voters. I thought it was very funny......he didn't. The other 99% are decent folk. Anyway, I am under the possible flight path for the transatlantic attempt and I am a very friendly landowner. I'll pop the kettle on should the intrepid adventurers should they come my way and I'll rustle up a cooked breakfast for them too.
What's the latest Phil ?
I did land on one farm close to Henley and was confronted by an angry chap who pointed out that the farm belonged to the local MP. I told him we were three floating voters. I thought it was very funny......he didn't. The other 99% are decent folk. Anyway, I am under the possible flight path for the transatlantic attempt and I am a very friendly landowner. I'll pop the kettle on should the intrepid adventurers should they come my way and I'll rustle up a cooked breakfast for them too.
What's the latest Phil ?
I had my hand out with an offer of compensation but the farmer refused to take a penny. It was an animal food crop and he was just happy that we were perfectly ok. Most farmers are quite happy for non commercial flights to land on their property as we are keen to be on our way as quickly as possible with the minimum of fuss. A bottle of wine is usually kept in the retrieve vehicle as a "lubricant".
I did land on one farm close to Henley and was confronted by an angry chap who pointed out that the farm belonged to the local MP. I told him we were three floating voters. I thought it was very funny......he didn't. The other 99% are decent folk. Anyway, I am under the possible flight path for the transatlantic attempt and I am a very friendly landowner. I'll pop the kettle on should the intrepid adventurers should they come my way and I'll rustle up a cooked breakfast for them too.
What's the latest Phil ?
I did land on one farm close to Henley and was confronted by an angry chap who pointed out that the farm belonged to the local MP. I told him we were three floating voters. I thought it was very funny......he didn't. The other 99% are decent folk. Anyway, I am under the possible flight path for the transatlantic attempt and I am a very friendly landowner. I'll pop the kettle on should the intrepid adventurers should they come my way and I'll rustle up a cooked breakfast for them too.
What's the latest Phil ?
We are having some glorious late spring weather here in Sussex right now, but there is a high pressure system over Europe that is currently delaying things. The next potential launch date is Saturday 17th, but apparently this is still on the remote side. I'm out of town for a couple of days, then hope to be around for the launch, but will post any updates I hear.
Professional Student
Haha! Brilliant 
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Ah, a good source of hot air then...
Phil Kemp Looking forward to following the flight and my best wishes - can't offer my south London plot as a suitable landing site as it's only 12 x 60' and the neighbours might not be so accommodating!
Phil Kemp Looking forward to following the flight and my best wishes - can't offer my south London plot as a suitable landing site as it's only 12 x 60' and the neighbours might not be so accommodating!
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Join Date: May 2008
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According to their website, transatlanticballoonchallenge, as of today (21st) they`re planning to launch at 1200z, 0900 local on Thursday 22nd, i.e. tomorrow!
More needless, pointless "heroics". If they end up in the Atlantic I guess that they'll want rescuing as well?
Join Date: Aug 2000
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