Balloon-assisted jumping

[JumpingMan]

Some friends of mine are obsessed with the idea of buying weather
balloons, filling them with helium, attaching them to a harness (with
probably about -3 to -5 lbs of net lift) and jumping up into the air.
If anyone has info on both the feasibility (with implicit danger) and
cost of such an excursion, you input would be most appreciated.

In addition, if this post better fits another group, please feel free
to redirect me. Thank you.

JumpingMan

[William W. Plummer]

JumpingMan wrote:
> Some friends of mine are obsessed with the idea of buying weather
> balloons, filling them with helium, attaching them to a harness (with
> probably about -3 to -5 lbs of net lift) and jumping up into the air.
> If anyone has info on both the feasibility (with implicit danger) and
> cost of such an excursion, you input would be most appreciated.

Several years ago I was into ballooning. One time we were approached
by two parachuters who wanted to jump from the balloon basket. One of
the group knew how to manage this and the two were able to jump from
about 5000 feet. It was necessary to establish about a 500 fpm descent
prior to each jump so that the weight change would be handled.

[bk]

Google "Lawn Chair Larry".


JumpingMan wrote:
> Some friends of mine are obsessed with the idea of buying weather
> balloons, filling them with helium, attaching them to a harness (with
> probably about -3 to -5 lbs of net lift) and jumping up into the air.
> If anyone has info on both the feasibility (with implicit danger) and
> cost of such an excursion, you input would be most appreciated.
>
> In addition, if this post better fits another group, please feel free
> to redirect me. Thank you.
>
> JumpingMan

[Brian Whatcott]

On 21 Mar 2005 10:55:08 -0800, "JumpingMan" > wrote:

>Some friends of mine are obsessed with the idea of buying weather
>balloons, filling them with helium, attaching them to a harness (with
>probably about -3 to -5 lbs of net lift) and jumping up into the air.
>If anyone has info on both the feasibility (with implicit danger) and
>cost of such an excursion, you input would be most appreciated.
>
>In addition, if this post better fits another group, please feel free
>to redirect me. Thank you.
>
>JumpingMan


It's been done, of course. He put the frighteners on several airline
pilots approaching LAX - not the smartest place for his aluminum deck
chair, pellet gun and all. But you gotta believe, it can be done.

This may be about the cheapest fastest way to get airborne - except
for that pricey helium (or hydrogen, more so)

He committed suicide, some years later. On the ground. Pity!

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

[Brian Whatcott]

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 15:06:22 -0500, "William W. Plummer"
> wrote:

>JumpingMan wrote:
>> Some friends of mine are obsessed with the idea of buying weather
>> balloons, filling them with helium, attaching them to a harness (with
>> probably about -3 to -5 lbs of net lift) and jumping up into the air.
>> If anyone has info on both the feasibility (with implicit danger) and
>> cost of such an excursion, you input would be most appreciated.
>
>Several years ago I was into ballooning. One time we were approached
>by two parachuters who wanted to jump from the balloon basket. One of
>the group knew how to manage this and the two were able to jump from
>about 5000 feet. It was necessary to establish about a 500 fpm descent
>prior to each jump so that the weight change would be handled.

....And I was approached by a jumper who had missed his ride.
I was in a C150 (!) The Texas jumpmaster at the field told me it
could be safely done, with the door ON, if I slowed and banked left on
departure.
And so I did. Once.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

[Capt. 'Wild' Bill Kelso, USAAC]

Brian Whatcott wrote:
>
> On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 15:06:22 -0500, "William W. Plummer"
> > wrote:
>
> >JumpingMan wrote:
> >> Some friends of mine are obsessed with the idea of buying weather
> >> balloons, filling them with helium, attaching them to a harness (with
> >> probably about -3 to -5 lbs of net lift) and jumping up into the air.
> >> If anyone has info on both the feasibility (with implicit danger) and
> >> cost of such an excursion, you input would be most appreciated.
> >
> >Several years ago I was into ballooning. One time we were approached
> >by two parachuters who wanted to jump from the balloon basket. One of
> >the group knew how to manage this and the two were able to jump from
> >about 5000 feet. It was necessary to establish about a 500 fpm descent
> >prior to each jump so that the weight change would be handled.
>
> ...And I was approached by a jumper who had missed his ride.
> I was in a C150 (!) The Texas jumpmaster at the field told me it
> could be safely done, with the door ON, if I slowed and banked left on
> departure.
> And so I did. Once.
>
> Brian Whatcott Altus OK

Lucky you werent cited for dropping objects from an airplane ;)
---------------------------------------------------------------
I am BillGatus of Borg. Resistance is futile. You will be assim
[General Protection Fault]