A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Home Built
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Balloon-assisted jumping



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old March 21st 05, 08:11 PM
JumpingMan
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Balloon-assisted jumping

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 (I have already posted to .balloon and .misc). Thank
you.

JumpingMan

  #2  
Old March 22nd 05, 04:42 AM
LCT Paintball
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

They did that on the TV show Myth Busters. Didn't look very bright to me.

--
"Don't be misled, bad company corrupts good character."
www.LCTPaintball.com
www.LCTProducts.com


"JumpingMan" wrote in message
ups.com...
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 (I have already posted to .balloon and .misc). Thank
you.

JumpingMan



  #3  
Old March 22nd 05, 04:45 AM
LCT Paintball
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/my...pisode_07.html



--
"Don't be misled, bad company corrupts good character."
www.LCTPaintball.com
www.LCTProducts.com


"JumpingMan" wrote in message
ups.com...
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 (I have already posted to .balloon and .misc). Thank
you.

JumpingMan



  #4  
Old March 22nd 05, 02:27 PM
Denny
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Add a few more balloons, a lawn chair and a BB gun, and you too can be
on the news...

Now seriously, if you are looking for a thrill spend your helium money
taking a tandem parachute jump.. Or a couple of hours of flight
instruction in an ultralight... Or a hot air ballon ride...

denny

  #5  
Old March 22nd 05, 02:30 PM
John
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

MikeR wrote:


wrote in message
oups.com...

LCT Paintball wrote:
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/my...pisode_07.html



Lawn chair Larry really made his flight though it may not always
be reported accurately--e.g. no helicopter rescue, he came down

at on a sunny day the lift may increase as the gas in the bag
heats up. It will also increase if the pilot loses his lunch
or pees in his pants in flight.

FF




FF said;
It will also increase if the pilot loses his lunch

Agreed. Lunch goes overboard and net weight decreases.

or pees in his pants in flight.

Disagreed. Pee stays in pants and does NOT reduce net weight.

MikeR



Oh he'll lose weight as it evaporates!
John

  #6  
Old March 22nd 05, 06:38 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


LCT Paintball wrote:
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/my...pisode_07.html



Lawn chair Larry really made his flight though it may not always
be reported accurately--e.g. no helicopter rescue, he came down
on his own by shooting the balloons as planned.

However OP was talking about folks contemplating a sub-flight
balloon-assisted jumping. I think this would be a bit less
spectacular than one might imagine as the balloon will not
rise as fast as the person does when jumping so that the
jump would be only a little higher than normal, followed
by a rapid drop until the slack in the lines is used up,
followed by a a slow drop the rest of the way to the ground
which I think won't be very far.

A very rigid connection between the jumper and the balloon
would have a smoother effect but wind resistance being
much greater and inertia also greater than for the unassisted
jumper I expect that would still be disappointing.

Long jumping will be hampered by wind resistance. However,
downwind long-jumping might be a real gas, stopping would
be the hard part.

Oh, OP said negative net lift. That means the pilot would not
need to jump, he will rise on his own and should give careful
consideration as to how to get back down. Keep in mind also
that on a sunny day the lift may increase as the gas in the bag
heats up. It will also increase if the pilot loses his lunch
or pees in his pants in flight.

--

FF

  #7  
Old March 22nd 05, 06:49 PM
MikeR
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


wrote in message
oups.com...

LCT Paintball wrote:
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/my...pisode_07.html



Lawn chair Larry really made his flight though it may not always
be reported accurately--e.g. no helicopter rescue, he came down
on his own by shooting the balloons as planned.

However OP was talking about folks contemplating a sub-flight
balloon-assisted jumping. I think this would be a bit less
spectacular than one might imagine as the balloon will not
rise as fast as the person does when jumping so that the
jump would be only a little higher than normal, followed
by a rapid drop until the slack in the lines is used up,
followed by a a slow drop the rest of the way to the ground
which I think won't be very far.

A very rigid connection between the jumper and the balloon
would have a smoother effect but wind resistance being
much greater and inertia also greater than for the unassisted
jumper I expect that would still be disappointing.

Long jumping will be hampered by wind resistance. However,
downwind long-jumping might be a real gas, stopping would
be the hard part.

Oh, OP said negative net lift. That means the pilot would not
need to jump, he will rise on his own and should give careful
consideration as to how to get back down. Keep in mind also
that on a sunny day the lift may increase as the gas in the bag
heats up. It will also increase if the pilot loses his lunch
or pees in his pants in flight.

FF




FF said;
It will also increase if the pilot loses his lunch

Agreed. Lunch goes overboard and net weight decreases.

or pees in his pants in flight.

Disagreed. Pee stays in pants and does NOT reduce net weight.

MikeR












  #8  
Old March 23rd 05, 02:26 AM
Vaughn
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"MikeR" wrote in message
...

wrote in message

or pees in his pants in flight.

Disagreed. Pee stays in pants and does NOT reduce net weight.


More likely much of it would run down your leg, so the effect on the flight
would depend on if you were wearing shoes or not.

Vaughn




  #9  
Old March 23rd 05, 02:57 AM
Montblack
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

("Vaughn" wrote)
More likely much of it would run down your leg, so the effect on the
flight would depend on if you were wearing shoes or not.



Pee-toe system?


Montblack

  #10  
Old March 23rd 05, 03:01 AM
Morgans
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Montblack" wrote in message
...
("Vaughn" wrote)
More likely much of it would run down your leg, so the effect on the
flight would depend on if you were wearing shoes or not.



Pee-toe system?


Montblack


Groan. Go to your room!

A heated pee-toe, yet.
--
Jim in NC


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sloggi X69 hot air balloon cotc2001 General Aviation 0 May 7th 04 10:18 AM
the Jumping Jack - Electric ARF Pattern Plane FlitonUSA Aerobatics 0 January 15th 04 08:39 AM
"I Want To FLY!"-(Youth) My store to raise funds for flying lessons Curtl33 General Aviation 7 January 10th 04 12:35 AM
Wind deflectors on balloon? Roy Smith General Aviation 1 September 2nd 03 03:52 AM
During hot air balloon races in Reno/Sparks, avoid Quality Inn Joe Clark General Aviation 0 July 18th 03 11:11 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.