ABNERS BALLOON A SUCCESS!! LIFTOFF OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE IN TEWKSBURY

SELF | 6-21-03 | RACEBANNON

[RaceBannon]

Dateline: Tewksbury Massachusetts:

Balloon PATRIOT, a Hot Air Balloon shaped like a Space Shuttle, was lifted into the air under hot air power today for a tethered lift at approcimately 14:30 hours

Patriot is the new balloon owned by Freeper in Good Standing Abner and her loving Husband!

[RaceBannon]

First photo to follow! Have to finish uploading files

[xm177e2]

Are they the ones with the flag balloon?

[gorush]

Congratulations! I have jumped out of a couple of balloons...great! Far different than exiting an aircraft with it's noise and forward speed.

[blam]

"Are they the ones with the flag balloon"

Yes.

[RaceBannon]

Balloon being unpacked for the first time in the United States at Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Crew struggled in a minor way, being the men they were, to move the 700 poound hot air balloon PATRIOT. Freeper Taxman is on the left in the top picture, with Barry, Abners Loving husband in the center, and Abners Pilot on the right. He will hate me, I forgot his name, I think it is John??

[RaceBannon]

Yes, this is their new Balloon, it is called PATRIOT, a Space Shuttle, it is 180 feet tall when Inflated!

Here is the Balloon being inflated for the first time.

I am not posting the pictures inthe exact order I took them, but am trying to show the order of events, to show the immenseness of the Balloon, and how it went up. Here is a shot of just how big the balloon is next to some people, look under the front, the right side, those are people, not ants!

[RaceBannon]

This top photo shows the opening of the Shurttle where air is blown into to inflate it with cold air first. The balloon is inflated with old air to fill it, then hot air is blown in.

After it is cold air inflated, the Pilot and owner of the Balloon would inspect all the lines and attachments inside to make sure a hot air inflation would take place safely.

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Once it all checks out, the hot air is used to inflate the Balloon!

[jellybean]

That's HUGE!!!! And beautiful!

Well done, Abner!

[Dubya]

Thanks for the post.

[Ramius]

Wow. What a gorgeous balloon. I've never seen anything like it.

[John Jamieson]

So cool!!! I assume the Abners have notified NASA!

[RonDog]

From www.usflagballoon.com:

PATRIOT

5/16/03 Patriot's test flight!
Click the photo below.



WOW!

'Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand.'  -President George W. Bush  2/1/03

Patriot celebrates 100 years of powered flight
and pride in the United States of America!

The Space Shuttle PATRIOT is:
178 feet tall,
115 feet wide
& weighs 992 pounds,
and yes,
it REALLY flies.

[cake_crumb]

Great pics...great balloon!

[RaceBannon]

Now that you all know how it goes up, and know how big it is, here are the shots you have been waiting for: The Ballon Flying on it's own. Please keep in mind, I have been teasing, they had to do a tethered flight, it did not leave the ground more than an inch, this was a test flight...but it worked!

My great regret is my video tape died. I ran out of tape, tried to rewind the tape and record over the beginning to capture the flight, and the tape glitched, and I only got 30 seconds of good tape of flight. Oh, well, I did get to see it!

[basil]

Thanks for posting this, Race. How absolutely FANTASTIC!!! I've been wondering what Abner and her "ever-loving husband" have been up to. Congratulations to the Abners!

[bonesmccoy]

Congratulations!

You have demonstrated yet again that private enterprise and American ingenuity can lift higher than a governmental program.

In fact, one could say that your team has:
1. Flown higher and safer than NASA has this year.
2. Returned your crew to Earth safely.

Best wishes!

[wattsmag2]

WOW

[netmilsmom]

Great pics Race! Thanks.
(How are you feeling?)

[Mo1]

OMG .. That is AWESOME!!!!

[RaceBannon]

Not bad, mobility is gaining fast, but no strengthyet, it is only 2 weeks

I start therapy Monday