kingbunky 3 #1 November 27, 2004 i'd be out doing my balloon jump right now if it wasn't for work. perfect weather for it, kinda cool (a little above freezing), but clear blue skies and light-to-no winds. somebody tell me how much balloon jumps suck so i won't feel so bad?"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 November 27, 2004 They're horrible, even with a hat on your head gets slightly warmer then usual sitting in the basket. Climbing over the edge and going off sucks too, its not fun at all. The quiet beauty in all of it is horrible. Damnit I'm a horrible lier sometimes.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pilotmonkey 0 #3 November 27, 2004 Where are there balloon jumps today? It is clear and cool out. PERFECT DAY to be working. Must be nice to be a ballon pilot. Thinkin about chainsaws....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zep 0 #4 November 27, 2004 You are missing the jump of a life time. Early in the morning every thing quiet an peacefull the occasional sound of the gas burner looking out of the basket an seeing the world in a different light. then when you reach 4500-5000ft climing out onto the edge of the basket holding the ropes an looking down pure bliss, then not so much a jump as just falling no wind no speed stomach coming up into your mouth then looking for a suitable place to land an waiting fot the vechicle to find you. Champane breakfast afterwards Pure adrenalin.. No your not missing anything. Gone fishing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QuickDraw 0 #5 November 27, 2004 Quotelight-to-no winds. The chances are you would have probably had to jump right over the DZ, and land there too. Which of course would obviously suck. -- Hope you don't die. -- I'm fucking winning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #6 November 27, 2004 if i could make it back to the dz, it would be pretty incredible... the balloon is launching about 40 miles away! i know i'm going to kick myself for not going, and everyone will rub it in, but it's close to christmas, and i looked at the money i'd spend, the money i'll make and the crap i'll avoid by working instead of dumping it on someone else at short notice (i'm on call anyway this weekend) and figured i better stay. oh well, there's always next year."Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QuickDraw 0 #7 November 27, 2004 Quoteif i could make it back to the dz, it would be pretty incredible... the balloon is launching about 40 miles away! That's a tough spot. And next year is only 6 weeks away anyway. -- Hope you don't die. -- I'm fucking winning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyhi 24 #8 November 27, 2004 QuoteYou are missing the jump of a life time...pure bliss... Waddadick! We had a dirgible flying around here all week advertising for Saturn Relay. Wonder what it would be like to jump from one of those. Ever heard of anyone jumping from one, other than those base jumps from the Hindenburg, which, I gather, didn't go so well.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ncrowe 0 #9 November 27, 2004 Umm do they ever do night ballon jumps? also has anyone ever jumped a blimp?.... "Don't Mess Around With the Guy in Shades- Oh No!!! " Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #10 November 27, 2004 Oh darlin, I wish I could lie to you and tell you that jumping from a balloon is a horrible thing, but I am an awful liar. I did my very first balloon jump in Chester, SC with a friend. It was one of the most awesome things I've done in skydiving so far. I'm going to tell you about it, not to rub in a wonderul experience, but to tell you that you DEFINITELY need to do it soon! The skies had been nasty all day. But all of the sudden, the sunshine, blue skies and puffy, white clouds appeared. Absolutely gorgeous sunset jump for us! We were on the second load. The first load had a boring jump. They jumped and landed right at the DZ. Since we were the chase vehicle, we spent about 45 minutes searching for the balloon after it landed. We found it in someone's private field. We climbed over the barbed wire fence in full gear (OK, so my friend practically picked me up and sat me over the fence, but anyways....). We got to about 5500 ft. He stood on the outside of the basket, facing inward. I climbed onto the basket, squatting and gripping just his chest strap. He gave a count and pulled us off. We flipped probably 2 1/2 times. He then gave me my first kiss-pass, shoved me away, I got stable and pulled. Yes, I know... The bad thing was that I was jumping my Lightning (A CRW canopy) and had to open asap, as the closer you take one of those canopies to terminal, the more it hurts. We all landed in a field together. Immediately got picked up. Of course, we spent the next 1 1/2 hours looking for the balloon in the dark and cold, but I wouldn't have traded that experience for anything in the world. I can't wait for my next chance to do it. It was money well spent! NinaNina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dougjumper 0 #11 November 27, 2004 Balloon Jumps are the F$%*ing Bomb Dude!!! Best Solo I ever done plus lots of fun talking to your friend in freefall before terminal... Sorry had to rub it in.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
