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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
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To: TomGuy

Let the beatings commence! (So glad the little guy is okay!) So who should take the beating first? The balloon GOT ONE. EVeryOne who watched the STORY Took One. The other two brothers were IN on it? (Ha ha, dad and mom.)

It isn’t one bit funny, either.


1,461 posted on 10/15/2009 3:52:57 PM PDT by hoekeypokie
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To: ican'tbelieveit
Did the family call the sheriff first
or did they call the TV station and ask for the helos ?

1,462 posted on 10/15/2009 3:53:23 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your law is my delight.)
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To: Arec Barrwin

This incident probably did cost police forces and other first responder types significant amounts, but all the news helicopters and news coverage was a good deal. The news outlets got their story and their higher ratings.


1,463 posted on 10/15/2009 3:53:29 PM PDT by Will88
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To: potlatch
You know, in this case I say money well spent!!!!

Now if it turns out that the parents had anything to do with the hoax I will change my mind, but at this point I think it was just a case of 6 year old being a 6 year old.

To tell the truth, I am chuckling over the whole thing!

1,464 posted on 10/15/2009 3:55:11 PM PDT by codercpc
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To: ninergold3; AFPhys
keep praying that the little guy freaked out when the thing started coming loose and hid.

-—<>-—<>-—<>-—<>-—<>-— Written at 3:01PM EDT - 16 minutes after the thread was started. You have powerful prayers!

But would that not mean the kid was already safe on the ground, hiding when the prayer went out?

1,465 posted on 10/15/2009 3:55:20 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: mware
"My than 4 year old nephew decided that he was going to use his magic boots to walk on the roof like Santa. I heard some noise outside and went out to see what was going on. There he was standing on the roof of the porch. Weird thing his 3 year old dog, was tugging on his shirt pulling him away from the side."

So, what happened????

1,466 posted on 10/15/2009 3:56:14 PM PDT by jackibutterfly
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To: AFPhys

Reports had it as a weather balloon which would “hover 20’ off the ground.

No mention of it being tethered (reporting on this was horrid). A former weatherman and current storm chaser, might it have been intended to be tethered to the vehicle.

The kids slept in their clothes in case they had to get up fast to go chasing.


1,467 posted on 10/15/2009 3:56:33 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Double your income. Fire the government)
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To: socialismislost

think a 6 year old kid could hide for 6 hours without having to go to the bathroom?

The dad is a self proclaimed “mad scientist”

The brothers didnt notice he wasn’t in the balloon that went up?


1,468 posted on 10/15/2009 3:56:35 PM PDT by MNDude (The Republican Congress Economy--1995-2007)
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To: Arec Barrwin

Wonder where the kid got the idea to take a ride in the balloon? /sarc

1,469 posted on 10/15/2009 3:57:26 PM PDT by anymouse (God didn't write this sitcom we call life, he's just the critic.)
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To: MNDude

My guess is that charges will be filed in the case. Also, the police searched the home and premises? Not very well, obviously. And dad knew the balloon never had a box attached to the bottom, yet this went on for hours? Also the brother keeing his story straight under questioning? Stuff doesnt add up at all right now.


1,470 posted on 10/15/2009 4:00:38 PM PDT by socialismislost
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To: RobRoy

Either that, or they just got their free
2 hr. infomercial for selling their craft.

Shep saying he doesn’t think we were punked.

Glad Falcon’s safe .. wonder if the real
story will come out.


1,471 posted on 10/15/2009 4:00:57 PM PDT by STARWISE (The Art & Science Institute of Chicago Politics NE Div: now open at the White House)
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To: codercpc

Anyone hear what the parents said live on tv a few minutes ago?


1,472 posted on 10/15/2009 4:00:58 PM PDT by john in springfield (One has to belong to the intelligentsia to believe such things.No ordinary man could be such a fool.)
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To: anymouse
SQUIRREL !!!
1,473 posted on 10/15/2009 4:00:58 PM PDT by Roccus (My anger is manufactured.......................................in the WHITE HOUSE and CONGRESS!!)
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To: jackibutterfly
I told him not to move. I went upstairs and when I got to the window he walked out of, I told him to come to me. His pup was already pulling him towards me. I got him inside. swatted his butt and asked him why he did it. He said he wanted to see how good the santa magic boots worked.

Never, never tell a kid that the reason santa does not fall off the roof is because he wears magic boots.

1,474 posted on 10/15/2009 4:01:25 PM PDT by mware (F-R-E-E, that spells free. Free Republic.com baby.)
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To: dfwgator

I saw a clip of Dad from the Wife Swap show and he said he doesn’t believe in trying to restrain their energy. Or something very close to that. In other words, no disciplining.


1,475 posted on 10/15/2009 4:03:18 PM PDT by ReneeLynn (Socialism is SO yesterday. Fascism, it*s the new black. Mmm Mmm Mmm.)
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To: mware

“Never, never tell a kid that the reason santa does not fall off the roof is because he wears magic boots.”

Not a big issue in our house.


1,476 posted on 10/15/2009 4:03:21 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: codercpc

I agree about the parents. The whole country was in thrall watching this for hours, thinking a child might be killed.

Someone said the boys 7 year old brother saw him get into the balloon. If true and the boy lied, that family has big problems.

Also heard the brothers were on the roof with a video camera - told by a neighbor. How many of us allow young kids to be on a roof - and what were they doing with the camera? It’s a hodge podge of questions.

They are on TV now, maybe we’ll hear the story.


1,477 posted on 10/15/2009 4:03:48 PM PDT by potlatch (Actions Speak Louder Than Words)
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To: john in springfield

Tell us.


1,478 posted on 10/15/2009 4:03:52 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: anymouse

that movie was so cute


1,479 posted on 10/15/2009 4:03:57 PM PDT by SunnyUsa (I'm not one of those "who are we to judge?" people)
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To: Retired Greyhound
Confidence in law enforcement has never been lower.

The kid may have been actively hidding, moving about so he couldn't be found.

Denver radio is hot with the idea this may be a hoax.

1,480 posted on 10/15/2009 4:04:16 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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