Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fort Collins boy in loose aircraft (6 yr old boy found hiding at home not in balloon)
Denver Post ^ | October 15, 2009 | Kieran Nicholson

Posted on 10/15/2009 11:45:55 AM PDT by Arec Barrwin

Rescuers are tracking and chasing a "homemade flying saucer" that is in flight with a 6-year-old, by himself, on board.

The incident started this morning in Fort Collins when the boy got into the balloon-like device, which was built by an adult, and it came loose from a tether, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.

The contraption could rise as high as 10,000 feet, the sheriff's office said.

The home-made flying saucer was last seen in flight over Weld County.

The sheriff's office is working the Federal Aviation Administration to determine how to best get the boy down.

The homemade airplane was tethered in Fort Collins when the boy got onboard and it floated away. (Lisa Ecklund via 9News)

The six-year-old boy was by himself on board the hommade aircraft. (Courtesy Lisa Ecklund, via 9News)

The craft could fly as high as 10,000 feet, according to the Weld County Sheriff's Office. (Lisa Ecklund via 9News)


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: balloon; balloonboy; denver; faa; falconheene; jiffypop; missing
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 1,761-1,768 next last
To: BGHater

Not a chance. He looks like he’s about 2k above land. That’s ~7300’ when adding Denver’s elevation.


121 posted on 10/15/2009 12:11:06 PM PDT by Carling (Olympicsgate: Obama's Waterloo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: babygene

Yeah, it’s a real hoax on every cable news channel at the moment.


122 posted on 10/15/2009 12:11:17 PM PDT by Rebelbase (This is the time of year when ACORNS fall.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: PhiKapMom

is that an optical illusion, or is that thing moving under its own power?


123 posted on 10/15/2009 12:11:20 PM PDT by balch3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 113 | View Replies]

To: frogjerk; driftdiver
Can’t be heavy. Use a helicopter with a long cable. hook the thing to control where it goes. Cut it open to deflate and land it.

That's what I was thinking. Maybe a Coast Guard or Army Chopper.

How large a net could be stretched between a couple of helicopters and snag this thing? Would that work?

124 posted on 10/15/2009 12:11:28 PM PDT by stayathomemom (Beware of cat attacks while typing!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: ErnBatavia

Only if it ends well, FRiend.


125 posted on 10/15/2009 12:11:54 PM PDT by spectre (spectre's wife)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 108 | View Replies]

To: r9etb; xcamel

He’d be having the ride of his life if it wasn’t spinning.


126 posted on 10/15/2009 12:11:59 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Double your income. Fire the government)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: babygene

Are you watching this on TV? The owner of the balloon is the father of the little boy who seems to be mssing and he’s the one who called to report the balloon was aloft and the boy is missing..

I hope you’re right that it’s a hoax- but it seems legit at this point..


127 posted on 10/15/2009 12:12:12 PM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: txhurl

I sure am praying that Falcon has worked with his dad enough that he knows how to fly this balloon, and when it finally lands SAFELY, he’ll come out all excited and wanting to go again!!!


128 posted on 10/15/2009 12:12:21 PM PDT by pillut48 (CJ in TX --"God help us all, and God help America!!" --my new mantra for the next 4 years)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

I’d be cold.


129 posted on 10/15/2009 12:12:27 PM PDT by BGHater ("real price of every thing ... is the toil and trouble of acquiring it")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: MaxMax
Cutting it open would cause it to descend to fast. The speed would increase exponentially as it descends due to loss of heat.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Also at the speed he's going, if a few holes are put in it, isn't there a possibility of the openings tearing and causing it to crash?

130 posted on 10/15/2009 12:12:36 PM PDT by ninergold3 ("Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?" -Mark Lowry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Arec Barrwin
Latest:

Airtracker 7 located the craft at 12:35 p.m. at about 8,000 feet in Weld County. It appeared to be slightly tilted. The altitude of the balloon was fluctuating between 7,500 and 8,500 feet.

131 posted on 10/15/2009 12:12:39 PM PDT by TChris (There is no freedom without the possibility of failure.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: babygene

Yep...


132 posted on 10/15/2009 12:12:41 PM PDT by hattend (Sarah Palin's mob minion - Mob Name: Hatman the Hitman)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: frogjerk

The downwash off a helicopter would be a real problem, even with a long cable.


133 posted on 10/15/2009 12:12:43 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: I Drive Too Fast

News geeks are now saying the saucer is moving into the Denver metro area.


134 posted on 10/15/2009 12:12:45 PM PDT by dragnet2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: GonzoGOP
If it gets dark whatever they are planning is going to get a lot harder.

It's noon in Denver.

135 posted on 10/15/2009 12:12:51 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies]

To: pillut48
...he’ll come out all excited and wanting to go again!!!

Ha. He'll be grounded till he's fifty.

136 posted on 10/15/2009 12:13:12 PM PDT by nina0113
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 128 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
Headed into the plains of east Colorado....Towards Kansas

Kansas? Now, that would be a real tragedy!

137 posted on 10/15/2009 12:13:12 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: buccaneer81

They are not even positive the boy is inside!


138 posted on 10/15/2009 12:13:18 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 101 | View Replies]

To: Arec Barrwin

Get two helicopters and have them drag a large sticky blanket by long tethers and then catch that sucker.


139 posted on 10/15/2009 12:13:21 PM PDT by Blue State Insurgent (She is our Joan of Arc and we are her Guardian Captains.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninergold3; GeronL

It’s at around 8,000 ft. currently.


140 posted on 10/15/2009 12:13:30 PM PDT by TChris (There is no freedom without the possibility of failure.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 1,761-1,768 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson