Have you ever went on a hot air balloon ride? Would you do it after the wreck that made national news this weekend? Last fall in Albuquerque a balloon hit some power lines during the balloon fiesta and the people were injured, but survived. Someone else also broke their leg while landing at the balloon fiesta last year. It looks like there was at least one other death at the balloon fiesta in the past too. I still want to take a ride sometime though.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/3rd-body-found-hot-air-balloon-crash/story?id=23674273

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/10/us/new-mexico-hot-air-balloon-crash/

http://www.wave3.com/story/7183400/police-1-killed-in-hot-air-balloon-accident-in-new-mexico-during-annual-festival

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/02/26/egypt-crash-leads-to-questions-on-hot-air-balloon-safety/1948637/

5/11/2014 6:54:57 PM

yes, assuming the pilot seemed competent

5/11/2014 7:16:47 PM

this is like asking people if they would take a flight considering so many crashes have happened in the past... no one changes their mind due to a few crashes.

[Edited on May 11, 2014 at 7:19 PM. Reason : and lol, one disappearance which the world has already forgotten]

5/11/2014 7:18:34 PM

763/50=15.26 per year

When you think about it, that isn't that many crashes when compared to the number of balloon flights per year.

[Edited on May 11, 2014 at 7:32 PM. Reason : .]

5/11/2014 7:30:46 PM

Yah, it's part of something on my bucket list...

Quote :

" 78. ....., and then watch 0EPII1 try to take his last gasping breath of air through some shit stained boxer shorts. 79. Coax Usain Bolt into a foot race. 80. Bang a model-caliber chick doggystyle in a hot air balloon, soaring over the French Riviera. 81. Live in Prague "

5/11/2014 7:32:56 PM

I would ride the shit out of a hot air balloon. Why would anyone even give it a second thought just because someone recently got dead doing it? People get dead all the time. They may or may not be dangerous (I think probably not), but one recent, high-profile event doesn't change anything.

5/11/2014 7:35:28 PM

^^Same here. I'm thinking about going to the Carolina Balloon Fest in Statesville in October and then maybe going to Albuquerque in 2015.

[Edited on May 11, 2014 at 7:36 PM. Reason : .]

5/11/2014 7:36:16 PM

^^^ lmao

5/11/2014 8:08:00 PM

I've always wanted to, but I've also always wanted to go sky diving.

5/11/2014 8:14:17 PM

Hell yeah I would.

If there's an accident, it will just be my time to go. hope it's not too painful though

5/11/2014 9:28:23 PM

i guess i would. i wouldn't pay very much to do it, though.

5/11/2014 9:34:04 PM

Quote :

"I've always wanted to, but I've also always wanted to go sky diving."

I've done a tandem jump before and it was awesome. It costs around $200 for a video, class, and the jump. You should do it just once. It's a blast!

Quote :

"i guess i would. i wouldn't pay very much to do it, though."

Statesville is charging $225 per ride this fall. I'm thinking about going. It costs even more at the International Balloon Fiesta (up to $500). I think most small aircraft, hang gliding, and skydiving all cost about $200 per ride. Lucky for me my grandpa and uncles have small airplanes back home in Iowa, so I have had the joy of flying before for free.

5/11/2014 10:16:23 PM

i don't think i'd pay over $20. just doesn't interest me.

5/11/2014 10:28:59 PM

hey now and I almost won a hot air balloon race a few years back

http://video.adultswim.com/tom-goes-to-the-mayor/boy-meets-mayor.html

[Edited on May 11, 2014 at 10:31 PM. Reason : why do they even have embed codes if they don't allow remote embedding]

5/11/2014 10:30:26 PM

^^They have a tethered balloon ride in Statesville that costs $12 I think. I'm guessing you go 50 feet off the ground at most and for a very short time.

[Edited on May 11, 2014 at 10:32 PM. Reason : .]

5/11/2014 10:31:54 PM

plus the cost to drive to statesville, food, etc.

and a wasted saturday

no thanks

5/11/2014 10:34:53 PM

^You only live once! The International Balloon Fiesta is quite high on my bucket list right now for some reason.

5/11/2014 11:40:01 PM

^^^ I did that once with my daughter. It's lame.

5/11/2014 11:45:02 PM

^Yeah it would be better to waste $12 on the Skycoaster at Emerald Point like I did 15 years ago.

5/11/2014 11:50:12 PM

Skycoaster is obviously a lot more thrilling than a tethered hot air balloon

5/12/2014 12:03:34 AM

^No doubt about it. It is a blast, if you ever get the chance to do it.

[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 12:35 AM. Reason : .]

5/12/2014 12:33:11 AM

Would only go for a publicity stunt to increase my likability.

5/12/2014 4:04:08 AM

Quote :

"plus the cost to drive to statesville, food, etc. and a wasted saturday no thanks"

went last year, not worth driving more than 20mins to see, IMO. It's a damn carnival-style setup, the best part was doing the beer tasting from some local breweries.

Now, seeing 50-100 balloons rise and float like a bunch of multi-colored bubbles is really cool, but you don't exactly have to be at the balloon rally to experience.

5/12/2014 7:41:17 AM

growing up in iredell county, i went to the balloon festival many times.

many, many more times balloons would land in the fields beside our neighborhood and whatnot. much cooler than going to the actual event.

5/12/2014 9:30:45 AM

Am I the only one giggling at "International Balloon Fiesta"?

Probably. Sometimes I have no idea why things are funny to me.

5/12/2014 11:07:35 AM

I've learned that the word "Fiesta" makes me start stereotyping the event. Do their sombreros interfere with the fire from the hot air balloon? Do they pack 50 people into one hot air balloon? I bet they have some good tacos there.

In my mind only Hispanics have fiestas, even though international is the first word in the title.

5/12/2014 11:15:50 AM

I've done a tethered one. A real one, probably not but I don't enjoy flying either.

5/12/2014 11:50:12 AM

Fiesta is also used to mean "any holiday, celebration, or carnival", not necessarily a traditional/religious one from mexico

5/12/2014 12:00:09 PM

Quote :

"You only live once!"

Which is why I wouldn't waste an afternoon riding in a goddamn wicker basket that you CAN'T STEER.

5/12/2014 12:25:04 PM

No. It doesn't seem like something I would enjoy.

5/12/2014 1:05:13 PM

^^ exactly. There is no void in my life that must be filled by standing in a basket and getting blown around a cornfield for an hour


ibduke866 talks about some EXXXXXXTREEEEMMMMEEE shit while jacked up on Mountian Dew Code Red


whoops!




[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 1:23 PM. Reason : haha! I should have read above more before posting]

5/12/2014 1:22:02 PM

Still haven't done a ballon jump, am hoping to this summer. The only way I'd ever go up in a balloon is with my rig on. I am absolutely terrified of heights, but somehow being able to get out makes it seem less scary. (Same with open air helicopters, or planes)

Plus, you actually get that rollercoaster "whoosh" in your stomach when jumping from a balloon or heli

5/12/2014 4:28:39 PM

Dang! I was just looking at the map for fun to see what is in New Mexico since it is my goal to go there sometime in the next 5 years. It looks like Albuquerque and Santa Fe are right in the middle of the state about an hour a part and outside of just a few national parks/monuments the rest are 3+ hours away. Oh well, I guess I'll have to pick a direction to drive and see everything along the way and go with people who don't mind riding in the car for 4 hours.

5/29/2014 11:58:56 PM

WOW! I have to go next year!

10/6/2014 9:33:36 PM

i think it would be fun....i definitely love looking at them..




one of my pictures from the local balloon festival this past labor day weekend

10/7/2014 1:17:44 AM

^Where is there one on Labor Day?

10/8/2014 12:02:51 AM

Memorial Day weekend 2015 hot air balloons come to Raleigh!


http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/morning_call/2014/12/wake-county-to-host-hot-air-balloon-festival-in.html

12/20/2014 11:47:03 AM

Quote :

"I've always wanted to, but I've also always wanted to go sky diving."

I've wanted to sky dive for the longest time, but I have zero fucking desire to get in a hot air balloon

12/20/2014 12:33:44 PM

^But balloons are so peaceful. I do recommend skydiving though. I would also like to take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon too.

12/21/2014 6:35:33 PM

So has anyone gone to the events in Raleigh, or Zebulon this weekend? I went to the ascent and glow on Friday. It was pretty cool except it was sort of a disaster. I got out of work early and drove straight there so I could see the ascent and then met up with my family to watch the glow.

Good Things on Friday

The Fun Zone
The Ascent
The Glow

Bad Things

Access to the general area
They weren't expecting a large crowd early
Hour wait for the shuttle Bus
Only 1 beer stand
Not enough other food stands
Cheapest parking was 2+ miles away


Once this event gets established on the local calendar I think everything will be fine. Traffic control at Five County Stadium told me they weren't expecting that many people that early, so they were short on shuttle buses. There were only 6 balloons at the glow too because the rest of them got stuck in traffic. It was still pretty cool though. I really would have thought they would have been a little more prepared considering they have been promoting the event since before Christmas as "The First Balloon Festival in the Triangle in 25 Years!"

[Edited on May 24, 2015 at 12:20 PM. Reason : .]

5/24/2015 12:18:40 PM

I love your enthusiasm for stuff. You make me smile!

5/24/2015 12:29:28 PM

naw

5/24/2015 11:28:39 PM

My friend just posted photos from Zebulon on Sunday. There were around twice as many balloons at the glow.

5/25/2015 1:03:32 AM

you mean, would I light a fire underneath a cloth parachute while standing in a wood basket?

nope

[Edited on May 26, 2015 at 2:50 PM. Reason : .]

5/26/2015 2:49:56 PM

^It's made out of the same stuff as fire proof racing suits.

5/26/2015 6:59:34 PM

Fuck no

5/26/2015 7:47:15 PM

Quote :

"Still haven't done a ballon jump, am hoping to this summer. The only way I'd ever go up in a balloon is with my rig on. I am absolutely terrified of heights, but somehow being able to get out makes it seem less scary. (Same with open air helicopters, or planes)"

Would also not get into a hot air balloon without a rig. Most balloon pilots I've seen do not seem competent, but how do you really know?

5/27/2015 7:01:48 PM

NO

5/27/2015 7:58:14 PM

^As was mentioned earlier in the thread, airplanes have crashed in the past too.

[Edited on May 27, 2015 at 8:31 PM. Reason : .]

5/27/2015 8:30:47 PM

Yes planes crash, but planes also have the ability to turn when flying. Hot air balloons are at the mercy of the wind and the often incompetent "pilot".

5/28/2015 7:01:13 AM