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)
The sorcerer’s apprentice, 21st century version?
Yep, no news geeks on the ground interviewing neighbors...No shots of neighbors searching the area etc.....
“They cannot put a helicopter over the balloon because the wind would suck the balloon up into the blades.”
huh? Helicopters push air down
[so far nothing has been found..]
I came late to the thread, then turned on the TV. I heard that the 7 year old brother said he saw him get into it. A 7 yr old would know, so this is still pretty scary.
I still think there’s no way that’s enough helium to lift even a 30 lb boy.
If helium lifts about 1g per cubic meter of volume, a 30 lb kid is 30*16*28 = 13,440 grams, or roughly 13,000 cubic meters of He. Unless my arithmetic is way off... that 20-foot balloon couldn’t be more than a couple dozen cubic meters.
He may have climbed in, and the thing shot up in the air when he got out. He’s probably hiding somewhere afraid that he’s in trouble for letting dad’s cool balloon get loose.
For now, we wait. Whew!
sw
Where was it tethered?
And I could see a big brother putting his little brother in the ballon, un-doing the tether and then lying.
and get single payer or public option health care. He’s become a real nut.
It’s not a question of where ‘e grips it, its about weight ratios.
Very good point.
Has anyone did the math on this thing? I am not 100% sure that the amount of helium in that balloon could lift a child in to the air.
I agree. Jumped or fell.
OK, they ain’t normal
I thought wth as well.
Now that is what we need - some hard science.
The Air Force Academy is outside Colorado Springs. The balloon was launched from Fort Collins to the north of Denver.
Fox News local is saying they are searching around Plattville for an object reported to have fallen from the balloon.
people have been trying to lure me into farmville, but I’m too busy with my crossword puzzle games.
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