Fort Collins boy in loose aircraft (6 yr old boy found hiding at home not in balloon)

Denver Post ^ | October 15, 2009 | Kieran Nicholson

[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)

[BGHater]

Holy cow, it's the same people!

Nice Find.

Richard and Mayumi Heene, were part of the 2008 season of the ABC program Wife Swap.

Heene Family-Wife Swap

[Yosemitest]

Take a helicopter, hang a cargo net at least 300 feet or more below the helicopter.
Weight down the corners of the cargo net so it hangs vertically. Fly the net in front of the balloon and let the balloon come to the net and get trapped in the net.
Then lower the net and helicopter to the ground.
Remember, at LA California, the rotor wash will blast down at least 175 feet(the man who took the lawn chair ride suspended with balloons).

Also hook a man into the cargo net with a radio to talk to the pilot to direct the alignment of the net to catch the balloon.

[tcrlaf]

Mean altitude at Front range Airport in Adams County is 5512 ft. That puts him about 1,000 ft over terrain.

[Rebelbase]

It’s moving SE.

[dragnet2]

They just showed a wide field shot....This think can’t be over 2k but they reporting it’s about 6k....Sure don’t appear to be 6k.

I’d bet this thing will be down within 15 minutes.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Prayed on other thread that was pulled; so again:

Lord, please return this boy safely home! As You will. Amen.

[ReneeLynn]

Lord, if this little boy is in there, put your mighty angels around this craft and bring it gently to the ground. Amen.

[GeronL]

storm chaser balloon... oh crap

[ninergold3]

What a wonderful idea. Have you contacted any of the local news or law enforcement agencies? Makes perfect sense to me.

[hattend]

I’m sorry but the rescue McGuyvers on this thread are hilarious.

I still say there is no kid on board... I’ll eat crow if I’m wrong.

[reagan_fanatic]

Dear Jesus - if there is a kid on board, he must be frightened to death, and the way that thing is listing it looks like it could just flip right over.

Prayers for a happy outcome.

[BuckeyeTexan]

They do not believe the balloon is deflating. The helium is contracting and expanding as the balloon encounters colder pockets of air. It has descended to approximately 6K ft.

[beaversmom]

Dittos on your prayer.

[Never on my watch]

Yeah I heard Shep ask the voice on the phone “have you ever seen anything like this before?”

Think Shep, before speaking.

I can’t stand to listen to him anyway. Mute on now.

[JRandomFreeper]

I wouldn’t be surprised if the temperature at 8,000 feet is at or near freezing

At 7000 ft, it's about 69F right now. Where I am.

/johnny

[DCBryan1]

Hang on tight little big man.

Amen. If he makes it (with prayer he will), I hope NASA makes him the first man on Mars ;)

[GeronL]

my nephew is 6!

[beaversmom]

Oh shut up Shep with the jiffy pop popcorn. It’s not cute.

[MaxMax]

It's not being propelled by energy so that's unlikely until it hits the ground.
It's basically free floating with the wind.

[woollyone]

he is gonna be SO grounded!