Farmer_Dave Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Hi guys Someone has sadly been injured, again. There is a link on Ed's forum from Bill Kerr. The report is not conclusive and no mention of who the pilot is. Serious injury unfortuneately. Please mind yer bones everyone. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outkast Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 bit difficult to see what happened as the witness's all reported different things, some saying the wing collapsed and some saying the motor did not sound right, still lets hope he makes a good recovery. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyfreefly Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 http://redirectingat.com/?id=593X1004&u ... _plunge%2F A link to the report in the paper I think ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyfreefly Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 I hope the guy makes a quick and full recovery........makes my stomach turn when I hear of a accident like this ......wonder what caused this .....engine note changed !! followed by a spiral....? hope its not what I think it could be... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 ARSE!! Any news on who it was yet? SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 This is a small community, it won't be long before we know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helimed01 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 He is a balloonist / paramotor pilot flying from a balloon site near Guildford. His wing collapsed low and didn't re-inflate. Witness reported looking up to see the wing folded in half and twisted risers. He then fell from approx 100ft streight down impacting heavily and then tumbled. Scan = no head spine or internal injuries however multiple complicated limb fractures required ummediate surgical intervention. I don't know equipment involved but the wing may have had zoom written on it. I have my own ideas on cause due to info from the witness who saw everything except the initial collapse. I can't be sure so won't speculate. Regards Whitters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Once again your colleagues snatch someone from the jaws of the reaper. What a debt to repay - life itself. Really pleased to hear that with a little help from his new friends, he made it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantheman Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I hope he's ok, those balloons give off pretty big thermal bubbles when they are being inflated, something to look out for if you are in the vicinity ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donegalwing Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I hope he's ok, those balloons give off pretty big thermal bubbles when they are being inflated, something to look out for if you are in the vicinity ! Hi Dan whats the story of the thermals the balloons give off, never heard of those before-can you elaborate? Hope the poor guy makes a full recovery Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantheman Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I have heard a few stories of people flying above balloons and getting the pilot to open the top vent hence getting a lump of free lift, it could just be a load of hot air mindyou as I have not done it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irm750 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Never clever to fly above or below hot air balloons. They can climb like rockets or drop like stones in the blink of an eye!!! That's without any danger from the thermal activity around them. Just my 2 cents worth. Hope the guy gets better soon. Best regards, Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spigot Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I crew for a local balloon pilot. and can verify that when inflating, the burners give off an eyebrow melting amount of heat. 2-3 MW of heat or 7 - 10 million BTUs per hour per burner (according to wikipedia) so anywhere slightly down wind or above the balloon area will have some very nasty thermal activity at low level. Stay well clear until they are airborne. And dont fly over the top.. Thats just plain asking for trouble. or a hell of a lot of lift. Colin B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donegalwing Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Cheers guys I have flown with balloons twice and never noticed any thermal activity, mind you I didnt fly directly above them.... apologies for hijacking the thread.....any update on the pilot who had the accident? Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbertflyer Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I've flown under, around and over the top (circa 300ft) of a balloon 5/6 years ago, at the request of the balloon pilot for his guests' photo purposes. I never felt anything significant in the way of thermal activity. Little 'bumps' and that was it. Certainly couldn't use the 'bumps' for any height gain. RP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon_dunn Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Off topic perhaps... but remember a balloons primary blindspot is directly over the envelope, and they can rise/decend very quickly- upto 700fpm climb rate!!! Descent can also be very rapid- in comparison to paramotors, so generally the rule is not to fly directly over or underneath balloons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Balloons - when they are closed up and pumping hot air into the envelope, very little escapes apart from residual, radiated heat. Hardly a killer. When the envelope deflects and there is a large spill of hot air, or when the contained gas is vented to stabilise/stop the balloon from lifting, then a bubble, a shaft of air gets released. Being HOT in relation to the surrounding environment it is going to travel skyward with the characteristics of a scolded cat. If it meets a flexible nylon wing in passing what will that aggressive burp of energy do? I don't suggest that this happened to our unfortunate fellow paramoteur - but it might be another good reason to avoid le ballon methinks. New sport, new interactions with associated lessons to be learned? This poor guy may have stumbled into a situation that will be recognised in future - he may have saved lives or injury by exposing a hazard to us all very graphically. The AAIB will hopefully have something interesting to say about it later in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer_Dave Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 I followed a balloon as it made it's landing approach, last Summer, and thought about waiting some distance overhead as he vented. I imagined it might be a bit fierce and chickened out. Midday thermals can be a handfull with their modest temperature difference and relatively large width, that you can stay within, if skilled (lucky in my case) I only guess but I imagine the hot air from a balloon vent could be more like a rifle shot. Did anyone notice the wind conditions at the weekend, the frontal systems etc right across the South of Brittain ? There was some quite crappy air around here anyway and little flying at March ukppg event. Anyone on here get any nice flying conditions or flew on Saturday/Sunday ? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Only VERY early. It was gusting after about 0900 hrs here. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommcb6016 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Is there any news on this guys condition ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanman Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 From conversations I have had with balloon pilots they don't vent hot air until touchdown. They have a line that allows them to spill the contents of the envelope which they use after touchdown to keep them planted. Although this line could be pulled in flight it isn't used because if it doesn't re-close properly when released then you are in a very sticky situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbertflyer Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Off topic perhaps... but remember a balloons primary blindspot is directly over the envelope, and they can rise/decend very quickly- upto 700fpm climb rate!!! Descent can also be very rapid- in comparison to paramotors, so generally the rule is not to fly directly over or underneath balloons and it's bad to fly without a wing, no prop, cells missing, blindfolded, in the middle of an RAF display, etc., etc.,..... My wing manual says I can descend at over 2,500 ft/min ............... All I hope is that this pilot is ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haze Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Did anyone notice the wind conditions at the weekend, the frontal systems etc right across the South of Brittain ? There was some quite crappy air around here anyway and little flying at March ukppg event. Anyone on here get any nice flying conditions or flew on Saturday/Sunday ? Dave Im only a little way north east from Guildford. Saturday evening was strong winds. I went for a flight, decided to get back down to Terra Firma as I wasn't making any progression forwards but it wasn't rough...just strong. Sunday was a write off until late in the evening when I went for a fly north of reigate. Was pretty nice in the evening...if it weren't for my motor losing power due to an air leak somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer_Dave Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 It might be better not to speculate, further, on the cause of this accident. A friend, who I regard as a reliable source, has just phoned about another matter, but also mentioned that last Saturday's crash is now being investigated as a fatal accident. Very sad indeed. My thoughts and sympathy to the pilot's friends and family. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outkast Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Fatal! Blimey, lets hope we dont hear that too many times, my thoughts are with those he left behind, very sad indeed. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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