"Train Crashes Into Ballon"
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Why do it if it's not fun?
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Bournemouth
"Train Crashes Into Ballon"
From today's edition of The Sun:. .. .Train Crashes Into Balloon. .. .Rail passengers were left stranded yet again yesterday - by a hot air balloon on the line.. .. .It hit overhead power lines minutes before a train was due.. .. .The trainee pilot and two passengers scrambled to safety as their basket landed by the track.. .. .The alert train driver averted tragedy by slamming on his brakes and calling for the 25,000-volt cables to be turned off.. .. .Witness Gillian Racher said: "I can't believe no-one was injured. It's a miracle.". .. .The 9.31 WAGN train from Cambridge to London dragged the baloon 30 metres before halting near Ashwell and Morden station in Herts.. .. .A Railtrack spokesman said: "We are thankful that no one was injured. I'm sure some passengers could not believe the excuse for the delay.". .. .Anyone know anything more about this? The article said the pilot was a "trainee" - does that mean a student? And if so, are student balloon pilots allowed passengers? I expect it's more likely the article has the facts slightly wrong.. .. .And, on a different, but related, note, why does the editor of The Sun not believe in putting more than one sentence in a paragraph? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Well done to the train driver for avoiding doing any serious damage. I don't know enough about ballooning to be able to speculate what would cause a balloon to come down on a train line, but thankfully no one was hurt.. .. .FFF. .-----------
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: UK
I'm led to believe that the basket landed in an adjacent field but a gust of wind blew the baloon canopy (is that what they are called?) across the rail track. Doesn't sound like THE most brilliant landing site, I guess, but no one was hurt.
sua cuique voluptas
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: AME
Posts: 158
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From: Oxford, UK
FFF. .. .____________________________________________________. .. .Anyone know anything more about this? The article said the pilot was a "trainee" - does that mean a student? And if so, are student balloon pilots allowed passengers? I expect it's more likely the article has the facts slightly wrong.. .. .And, on a different, but related, note, why does the editor of The Sun not believe in putting more than one sentence in a paragraph? . .. .Well done to the train driver for avoiding doing any serious damage. I don't know enough about ballooning to be able to speculate what would cause a balloon to come down on a train line, but thankfully no one was hurt.. .. .__________________________________________________. .. .Student pilot, close to checkout, flying with a very experienced instructor. Very unlucky in that the balloon bounced on landing, but then spinakered in a wind speed reported to be 4 knots. This sometimes happens and is (a) disturbing and (b) uncontrollable - the envelope partially collapses normally and then forms a sigmoid aerofoil shape. I've not heard of it happening at such a slow speed, though. (Mine was at 30k and frightened me gutless!) I understand that the touchdown point was quite a way from the track and the envelope top just draped over the catenary. Scary stuff, but the train came along too quickly for the crew to react.. .. .As for the editor of the Sun, I'm mildly suprised that there was a verb in the sentence...... .. .And no-one was hurt, as you say.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just South of the last ice sheet
Sounds like a vary scary place to be when you have no control and are just along for a terrifying ride <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> . .. .With just the envelope over the catenary wires it makes witness Gillian Racher's statement a bit over the top too I suppose. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> (pun intended) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> . .. .Unless of course she is an expert aviation witness as bred by the BBC, ITV, CNN, tabloids etc etc <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 29 March 2002, 13:30: Message edited by: LowNSlow ]</small>
gave me some details -- email me direct if you still haven't found out 
