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 ... 1,541-1,5601,561-1,5801,581-1,600 ... 1,761-1,768 next last
To: mware
Shep actually just made me laugh out loud.

He called the aircraft that "jiffy pop,thing."

Shep's eyes are on the sides of his head, similar to that of a salamander...He's had vision problems since he was very young.

1,561 posted on 10/15/2009 4:43:11 PM PDT by dragnet2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1555 | View Replies]

To: ican'tbelieveit

It bothers me when people think our rights should be taken away because they don’t agree with something we are doing! From what I have seen of the parents, I think they are HORRIBLE parents but they are the parents!


1,562 posted on 10/15/2009 4:44:26 PM PDT by christianhomeschoolmommaof3 (Best thing about Cash for Clunkers is that 90% of the Obama bumper stickers are now off the road.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1552 | View Replies]

To: Retired Greyhound

First: those who were considering helicopters-— NO WAY- FAR too much air disturbance for a chopper to get anywhere near this. It would be blown so violently that it would probably be burst. They would have to be dragging a very very long line and trying to maneuver whatever “capture” or manipulation device at the end of a long line.... I know that is not your suggestion, RG-— just getting this out of the way.

It would be very tricky for skydivers to get this, I think, without knowing more details... here are some of my thoughts, though...

They DO fall down rather rapidly, so the closure speed relative to the balloon would not be zero. Somehow they would have to do something to the balloon to make it less buoyant, or to capture it.

Puncturing it would NOT be a good idea because it is hard to know how to do that without causing a real tear in the mylar that would get worse with time=== UNLESS you knew that there were several very well constructed independent compartments.

Trying to “clip on” something like big clothespins or other weights might work, but would be really tricky given the closure speed, and the need to then have the ‘chute clear the craft. Maybe something like those “sticky balls” could be tossed at the craft hoping they would stick.

Grabbing on to the craft would be really touchy, especially if you thought that might cause the child to “fall out” or the “basket” to separate.

Grabbing the tethers would not be remotely possible, I suspect, since they were not long enough for the parachute to clear the craft, as well as the risk of contact even if unable to grab the tethers.

You would have to work on the idea of “First, do no harm”.

Two parachutists cooperating might be able to do one of the above, but again, you’re talking about very critical control and cooperation and a relatively high closure speed... Very interesting scenario for a rescue team to consider, ,,, but I would be very surprised if any had seriously done so before today!

Of these concepts, personally, I think that the idea of tossing some type of “sticky ball” (with weight, but also with enough “fluff” that it would not plummet at 32ft/sec^2) would be the perfect item for this rescue attempt. Failing that, those standard “sticky balls” would have to serve.

It would take a lot of them since you would probably want to add 5pound increments of weight or so, and there would have to be a lot of skydivers taking a crack at it to have much chance of success.

Perhaps someone will come up with a better rescue plan!


1,563 posted on 10/15/2009 4:45:24 PM PDT by AFPhys ((Praying for our troops, our citizens, that the Bible and Freedom become basis of the US law again))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1459 | View Replies]

To: KeyLargo
I know you nailed it...

And I feel like an idiot for getting all worked up over it..:)

sw

1,564 posted on 10/15/2009 4:45:27 PM PDT by spectre (spectre's wife)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1560 | View Replies]

To: christianhomeschoolmommaof3
ONLY in cases of physical and sexual abuse should CPS have any authority.

Couldn't agree more. The zero-tolerance believers should also be put in the same cages with these officious bullies.

1,565 posted on 10/15/2009 4:46:30 PM PDT by glock rocks (Wait, what?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1559 | View Replies]

To: AFPhys
For me, the most interesting thing to know right now is whether or not the big brother actually believed the younger was on board...

Yes, he did. So did everyone else, including the police.

They 'replayed' the video the boys were making from the roof. In it, you see the boy crawl in, but not out.

1,566 posted on 10/15/2009 4:47:13 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1514 | View Replies]

To: ME-262
Good post.

I wonder how the searchers could have missed the boy hiding in the attic. Could this be a planned publicity stunt?

1,567 posted on 10/15/2009 4:48:47 PM PDT by apocalypto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1544 | View Replies]

To: codercpc

I agree- this is very funny. I know that my whole family could see some kind of variation of this kind of thing with us! We have many items we now chuckle about 30year later! Mom and dad are very happy they didn’t know about some of them!


1,568 posted on 10/15/2009 4:48:50 PM PDT by AFPhys ((Praying for our troops, our citizens, that the Bible and Freedom become basis of the US law again))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1464 | View Replies]

To: AFPhys

Slow airspeed ultralight with an industrial sized canister of urea foam.


1,569 posted on 10/15/2009 4:49:10 PM PDT by glock rocks (Wait, what?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1563 | View Replies]

To: SunnyUsa

A Baptist children’s pastor in Florida had his children removed from his care when they took their youngest daughter to the hospital. The hospital couldn’t figure out what was wrong so they blamed the dad. The social workers got mad at the father and lied in court. This man hasn’t seen his children in over a year. His wife left him so she could see the children. His oldest daughter was molested in foster care.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Psalm127v3#p/u

There are dozens of stories that I know of personally. Yes CPS is evil. All government entities that take away our constitutional freedoms are!


1,570 posted on 10/15/2009 4:49:32 PM PDT by christianhomeschoolmommaof3 (Best thing about Cash for Clunkers is that 90% of the Obama bumper stickers are now off the road.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1556 | View Replies]

To: christianhomeschoolmommaof3

There are many who don’t think about the consequences of the tables being turned.


1,571 posted on 10/15/2009 4:49:34 PM PDT by ican'tbelieveit (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team# 36120), KW:Folding)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1562 | View Replies]

To: ME-262
I strongly suspected that the child had been hidden and his brother instructed to lie about him being in the balloon.

My first post was skeptical also. I didn't think about the construction of the balloon, but I figured that the kid was not in it and that the brother might have known something more than what he said. Anyway, it is just good the boy is safe. This family has another expose of their strange lives now. I think they need very serious counseling.

1,572 posted on 10/15/2009 4:50:58 PM PDT by CitizenM ("An excuse is worse than an lie, because an excuse is a lie hidden." Pope John Paul, II)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1484 | View Replies]

To: christianhomeschoolmommaof3
I think it will be interesting to see how many are actually as 'Christian' and 'tolerant' as they profess.

I have a feeling this family's life will now be ruined beyond repair.

All because everyone wants to judge someone else.

1,573 posted on 10/15/2009 4:52:43 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1539 | View Replies]

To: AFPhys
We have many items we now chuckle about 30year later!

My brothers blamed me for the perfectly round bowling ball hole in the living room wall when we were kids. Now wait a minute... as the youngest, my brothers wouldn't let me touch their bowling ball, and further, I couldn't roll one fast enough to make a hole clear through the wall.

Now that we're all nearing retirement age, none of us can remember just who threw the ball, and who was supposed to catch it, but I know for a fact it was them! Mom!

1,574 posted on 10/15/2009 4:54:29 PM PDT by glock rocks (Wait, what?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1568 | View Replies]

To: potlatch
Yes, the father will be painted a lunatic. However, the theories he is pursuing are actually valid, and his UFO flew along pretty darn well, and I'm still not sure the power was even on.

Many times new inventions are not done by scientists in factories.

1,575 posted on 10/15/2009 4:56:12 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1529 | View Replies]

LOOK AND TELL ME WHICH ONES IS THE “CRAZY” FAMILY. on the wife swap. Not the Heens http://www.youtube.com/user/Terrabithian#p/u/0/B_WTWSHUi5M


1,576 posted on 10/15/2009 4:58:21 PM PDT by anglian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1564 | View Replies]

To: apocalypto

The entire family needs to be forced to undergo lie detector tests to prove the parents were the originators of this hoax, and then those adults responsible need to be jailed, or other A$$holes will be using their children in copycat hoaxes to get their own press conferences. This will do a great disservice to children who are actually abducted or in real danger, because people will tire of caring for what may be a hoax when they hear of copycat disappearances and stunts.


1,577 posted on 10/15/2009 4:58:52 PM PDT by ME-262 (We need Term Limits for the federal house and senate. We need new Bums up there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1567 | View Replies]

To: socialismislost

Unless your conversions are wrong or I missed something, assuming a cylinder of 20x5, this thing filled with He can lift 392 lbs.

Alot more than 40.


1,578 posted on 10/15/2009 5:01:17 PM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1153 | View Replies]

To: spectre
Exactly what they were going to do even if we weren't riveted by this story?

(that is so good!)

1,579 posted on 10/15/2009 5:02:45 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1545 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2
Yes, the father will be painted a lunatic.

Only by controlling prudes or true lunatics.

However, the theories he is pursuing are actually valid, and his UFO flew along pretty darn well, and I'm still not sure the power was even on.

His theory's are as good as anyone elses until proven wrong.

Many times new inventions are not done by scientists in factories.

Absolutely!

I was disappointed early one when no kid emerged from the balloon....I was hoping for a good ending, great happy story for a change....But it turns out alright...Nobody got hurt...

The Dad is a little eccentric, but no biggy. For all we know, this guy could be a genius... lol

1,580 posted on 10/15/2009 5:05:09 PM PDT by dragnet2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1575 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 1,541-1,5601,561-1,5801,581-1,600 ... 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