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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

("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

"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