A hot air balloon struck power lines before crashing to the ground over the weekend in northwestern Indiana, injuring the pilot and the two passengers, officials said Tuesday.
Lotsa ways to get hurt, getting burned is one of my least favorite. I've been Shokkt a number of times, I Really hate that feeling, and I can't imagine having enough electricity ripping through to burn me. Man, that would be a really shitty something to endure. I hope they recover ..
“Power lines can be very difficult to see from the air because they blend in with the terrain.”
He's not joking. I was a passenger in a hot-air balloon and came within an ace of hitting an HT line. The problem is, when the line is 20' away and the ground is 200' away, your eyes aren't focused at the right depth to see the wires. The pilot and I both noticed, just in time.
I saw a crop duster's map one time. Power lines were marked in heavy red. I'd imagine his flag man also let him know when his passes were coming close to the lines.
As a pilot I was taught to look for poles, towers, etc. to locate obstacles like power lines and fences as it is almost impossible to see the wires from the air.
Lotsa ways to get hurt, getting burned is one of my least favorite. I've been Shokkt a number of times, I Really hate that feeling, and I can't imagine having enough electricity ripping through to burn me. Man, that would be a really shitty something to endure. I hope they recover ..
ReplyDeleteGo green with the new electrically powered balloons. No more propane fired heaters allowed.
ReplyDeleteAh the old Electric Fence for balloons...
ReplyDeleteWhen the NTSB completes it's investigation, will the media report "shocking developments" in the investigation?
ReplyDeleteWhere the chicago sprawl ends and the farmlands begin.
ReplyDeleteNice try, but it looks like the EV craze didn't work for balloons.
ReplyDelete“Power lines can be very difficult to see from the air because they blend in with the terrain.”
ReplyDeleteHe's not joking. I was a passenger in a hot-air balloon and came within an ace of hitting an HT line. The problem is, when the line is 20' away and the ground is 200' away, your eyes aren't focused at the right depth to see the wires. The pilot and I both noticed, just in time.
I saw a crop duster's map one time. Power lines were marked in heavy red. I'd imagine his flag man also let him know when his passes were coming close to the lines.
DeleteAs a pilot I was taught to look for poles, towers, etc. to locate obstacles like power lines and fences as it is almost impossible to see the wires from the air.
Delete