cryptique Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Just caught this online ... what the hell? Why does this family have an "experimental balloon-powered aircraft" in the first place? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33330516/ns/us_news-life/ Deputies chase boy floating in balloon aircraft Cops: 6-year-old takes off in family's experimental helium-balloon craft NBC, msnbc.com and news servicesupdated 15 minutes ago FORT COLLINS. Colo. - Authorities were trying to determine Thursday how to safely bring down a 6-year-old boy who reportedly clambered into his family's experimental balloon-powered aircraft and floated away from home, sheriff's officials said. The Larimer County Sheriff's Department said the boy's family had been building an experimental aircraft that had a large helium balloon attached to it at their home, KUSA-TV reported. The aircraft was approximately 20 feet by 5 feet and covered in tin foil, the station said. On Thursday morning, according to the family and officials, the boy got onto the aircraft and detached the rope holding it in place. Sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said the boy climbed into the access door and the airborne device took off. Several people in the neighborhood said they saw the aircraft floating over their homes and some snapped pictures. Television news helicopters were tracking the craft, which was last seen floating south of Milliken, about 40 miles north of Denver. Officials were scrambling to figure out how to rescue the boy. The craft, which is shaped like a flying saucer, has the potential to rise to 10,000 feet, Campanella said. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 My co-worker was chatting with me in my cube about how hard her family is to keep track of, when the web page I was at auto-refreshed with this as the giant breaking news story. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
virtualreason Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 From CNN: The balloon is down. No word on the state of the boy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
virtualreason Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Holy cow. This is suddenly turning tragic. I've heard numerous reports that the boy fell out of the balloon. I'm just hoping that he didn't get in the darn thing at all and that he's hiding somewhere at home. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Sad story, but I have to say I'm glad I read about it here first, and then visited CNN.com, because I would've thought I'd lost my mind if I'd just happened upon this: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 That's a bummer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Oh, ho ho. http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/10/15/missing-balloon-boy-falcon-heene-was-in-wife-swap-family/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Hope everything turns out alright... Does anyone think the movie Up might have inspired the kid? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Hope everything turns out alright... Does anyone think the movie Up might have inspired the kid? Maybe the fact that his name is Falcon had something to do with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 I hope he never got on.. I hope he's hiding under a bed somewhere. If his brother saw him get in, why didn't he do anything to stop him? Seems kind of strange to me.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Update: 6 year old boy was inside a box that was attached to the balloon, the box is still missing :/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 The Heenes received criticism of their chaotic parenting style when Karen Martel of Connecticut entered the household as the new "wife." Karen’s husband runs a child-proofing business, so she said she knew a thing or two about safety. Karen chastised Richard for not keeping an eye on his sons, letting them play unattended in the woods behind the house. Richard fought Karen’s safety concerns every step of the way. oh my... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 I hope he never got on.. I hope he's hiding under a bed somewhere. Me too, my flippant comment notwithstanding. That'd be the best outcome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shakespeare In The Alley Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Now, obviously this is sad, but am I the only one that thinks the absurdity of it is hard to look past? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 US APNewsAlert Thursday, October 15, 2009 (10-15) 15:09 PDT Fort Collins, Colo. (AP) -- Sheriff's department says missing 6-year-old boy feared lost in balloon found safe at home. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Boy found hiding in attic. I think it's safe to say he's going to be getting the spanking of a life time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Yes! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Phew, now let the making fun commence! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 The whole world was waiting for this very outcome, for that very reason! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IATTBYB Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Boy found hiding in attic. I think it's safe to say he's going to be getting the spanking of a life time.For some reason, I don't think the parents will consider this option. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 For some reason, I don't think the parents will consider this option. I know I was joking.. But how do you punish a kid for something like this? "No Falcon, bad boy.. Don't ever cause a shutdown of northbound departures from Denver airport, as well as a massive search by police and the National Gaurd ever again!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ms. yvon Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 man, i'm glad i read about this after he'd been found in the attic. sweet jesus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 got this from a buddy The comments on the story are great. Appears if people applied some physics to the problem they would have figured out the boy probably was not in there to begin with (source Bret Hodgson): The diameter of the balloon : 15ftthe height of the balloon: 6ftvolume of a cylinder : 7.5 * 7.5 * PI = 1059.75 cu. ft ... Read Moreaccount for saucer shape : ~ 70% of cylinder volume = 741.825 cu. ft weight 1 sq ft of helium can lift: 28 grams total lifting power of the baloon at 741.825 cu. ft. = 20,771 grams convert grams to pounds: 45 lb and 12.67 oz average weight of a 5 year old boy (taken from http://babybag.com/page-height.html): 44.5lbs Given the above, it looks technically possible for a balloon of this size to lift said child. However, I believe this to be very unlikely. and when you factor in the weight of the balloon and compartment itself, it would have almost certainly been impossible for the child to be up there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
isadorah Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 so who is going to foot the bill for this? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 And now we'll be hearing about this fucking brat for days. Great. I'll probably even know his name at some point soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.