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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCluster of balloons used in trans-Atlantic attempt
In this photo provided by Mark McBreairty, a balloon cluster carrying Jonathan Trappe lifts off from Caribou, Maine, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013. Unlike a conventional hot-air balloon, Trappe lifted off Thursday using hundreds of helium-filled balloons clustered together. Trappe hopes to be the first person to successfully complete a trans-Atlantic flight using the balloon cluster.
CARIBOU, Maine (AP) Hundreds of multicolored balloons used Thursday to launch a balloonist for a trans-Atlantic crossing look like a page taken from the script of the movie "Up."
Instead of using a conventional hot-air balloon, Jonathan Trappe lifted off using more than 300 helium-filled balloons, like those used in in the animated movie.
Trappe's goal is to float across the ocean.
"The Atlantic Ocean has been crossed many times, and in many ways, but never quite like this," the North Carolina native said on his website, which detailed his efforts.
More at http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Cluster-of-balloons-used-in-trans-Atlantic-attempt-4809159.php?cmpid=hpts .
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Cluster of balloons used in trans-Atlantic attempt (Original Post)
TexasTowelie
Sep 2013
OP
It sort of looks like something that would be seen in a gumball machine. nt
TexasTowelie
Sep 2013
#4
His attempt failed...technical glitch 12 hrs into the flight. He landed in Newfoundland.
Roland99
Sep 2013
#14
B Calm
(28,762 posts)1. LOL some goal!
TexasTowelie
(112,204 posts)4. It sort of looks like something that would be seen in a gumball machine. nt
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)2. I hope he enjoys swimming
TexasTowelie
(112,204 posts)3. I tend to agree with you.
I never saw a helium balloon stay inflated for five or six days.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)6. W was president for eight years!
B Calm
(28,762 posts)5. He'll need at least 325 helium-filled balloons to cross the ocean.
Earth_First
(14,910 posts)7. It appears that he's on Newfoundland this morning...
According to the satellite tracker.
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)8. Appropriately, the Great Joe Kittinger saw him off!
On hand for Trappe's lift off was Joe Kittinger, a retired Air Force officer who once set a record for jumping from a balloon 19.5 miles up and later became the first solo balloonist to cross the Atlantic in 1984.
He also set the record for the longest skydive from a height greater than 31 kilometres (19 miles) back in 1960 - a record which stood until last year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Kittinger
tclambert
(11,086 posts)9. How does he come down? Shotgun?
Hun Joro
(666 posts)11. This is a really bad idea...isn't there enough plastic in the oceans?
OffWithTheirHeads
(10,337 posts)12. What could possibly go wrong?
BumRushDaShow
(129,016 posts)13. Loved the movie "Up" but hope
the balloon membranes are not porous, otherwise, to quote Han Solo, "...this is gonna be short trip".
Roland99
(53,342 posts)14. His attempt failed...technical glitch 12 hrs into the flight. He landed in Newfoundland.