6 year old in the air in experimental aircraft ~~ by mistake

[Hepburn]

Source: MSNBC Live

The young boy, age 6 years, got into the experimental aircraft moored at the family's home, launched it and he is in the air with no way at this time to get him down.

Please ~~ everyone send strong thoughts, prayers, whatever, that this child gets down safely.



No link yet.

[tridim]

1. This is the craziest news I think I've ever seen.

OMG! I fear this isn't going to end well.

[Leopolds Ghost]

484. In other news, Where the Wild Things Are premieres in theatres: SYNCHRONICITY ALERT

Did the kid have an argument with his parents?

Obviously he set out in the balloon to WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and landed safely back at home...

And UP came out earlier this year...

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. This is terrifying to watch.

[Hepburn]

4. I am literally breathing heavily watching this....

...and my heart is in my throat!

I cannot imagine his terror and what his parents are going through!

[trumad]

8. Is it on TV?

Have they located the kid?

[Ruby the Liberal]

17. MSNBC live. They know where he is, they can't figure out

how to get him. I hope they go to time delay.

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. Local police stating this is capable of 10,000 feet.

[Hepburn]

5. OMFG....

...:wow:

They are commenting about oxygen available to him etc.

This is simply horrifying!

[MercutioATC]

375. He should be safe from hypoxia at 10,000 feet.

The air's not THAT thin at 10k.

[Dinger]

446. On The Live Feed Downthread, It Says It Got To 15,000 Feet

Damn:-(

[notadmblnd]

6. Lets hope that if he is smart enough to get it up in the air- he's smart enough to get it down safe.

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. He climed in and untied the tether holding it down

[notadmblnd]

18. they had it inflated and unattended?

[Ruby the Liberal]

23. Yup. Can you believe that?

Kid just crawled in, untethered it and off he went.

[Hepburn]

24. Sounds like the father had it tied down...but not well enough...

...that the kid did not untie it. Was in the craft, the dad knew it and the thing got away from the dad while the dad was testing it.

[Ruby the Liberal]

26. Thanks for correcting that.

[Hepburn]

36. No prob....

....MSNBC just reported this.

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. Oh shit! Now helium is leaking and travelling 20mph

[Hepburn]

13. I just saw that, too....

...holy shit...this is scaring the hell out of me.

I just want to reach into the TV and grab that thing and save him ~~ oh, if I could only do that!

[Ruby the Liberal]

21. The images showing the deflation have me physically shaking.

Please go to time delay, teevee people.

[PearliePoo2]

9. this is horrible and may not end well.

If he went to 10,000 feet, as reported, it will be deadly cold up there.

[kjackson227]

10. What?!?!? Big Eddie is reporting this now...

who in the heck would have a hot air balloon in their back yard???

[Ruby the Liberal]

14. This isn't hot air - it is helium (and leaking)

[kjackson227]

20. But still... isn't it kinda strange? Of course the main concern...

is for the child.

[Ian David]

29. If it's leaking, that's probably his best bet for getting DOWN, isn't it? n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

35. This thing isn't being steered - it is flying blind.

And pitching in the winds at 20mph, 8500 ft in the air.

[thereismore]

106. Yes, if the leak is slow, and he lands in trees/brush, he'll be OK. nt

[Hepburn]

15. It's not really a hot air balloon....

...looks more like some kind of space ship.

[kjackson227]

28. Space ship????? WOW! Could a hellicopter(sp) get close...

enough to drop someone in??

[Hoopla Phil]

161. No, the way the air circles back around through the roters would suck the balloon in.

[brooklynite]

73. Current estimate that it could go another 100 miles before coming down

[meegbear]

11. Deputies chase boy floating in balloon aircraft

Authorities were scouring the skies Thursday for a 6-year-old boy who unhooked his family's experimental balloon-powered aircraft and floated away from home, sheriff's officials said.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Department said the boy's family had been building an experimental aircraft that had a large helium balloon attached to it at their home, KUSA-TV reported. The aircraft was approximately 20 feet by 5 feet and covered in tin foil, the station said.

On Thursday morning, according to the family and officials, the boy got onto the aircraft and detached the rope holding it in place.

Several people in the neighborhood said they saw the aircraft floating over their homes and some snapped pictures.

Officials were scrambling to figure out how to rescue the boy.

The craft, which is shaped like a flying saucer, has the potential to rise to 10,000 feet, Larimer sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said. Sheriff's officials last saw the device floating south of Milliken, which is about 40 miles north of Denver.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33330516/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[Hepburn]

22. Thank you for the link....

...MSNBC is reporting that there is a line dangling from the thing... and maybe they can grab it and get the thing down.

Also reporting that the builder was trying to test this craft and father knew the kid was in the craft, but thought it was well tied down.

Father = a fucking idiot IMO.

[intheflow]

122. Parents were on one of those wife swap shows.

That tells me all I need to know about their intelligence levels. x(

[Maru Kitteh]

16. This is just fucking horrific. They shouldn't be showing it live.

[Hepburn]

31. I am terrified that this is gonna crash and bits and pieces...

...of the craft and child are going to be shown splattered all over the ground.

:scared:

OMG...this is horrible!

[Ruby the Liberal]

41. Surely they will go to time delay?

[Hepburn]

58. I hope to hell and back someone has enough sense to have seen to that. n/t

[MidwestTransplant]

19. What's the temp and oxygen like at that 7K feet?

[Ruby the Liberal]

25. In Colorado no less.

[Hepburn]

27. Should be OK....

...a bit cooler, but not that bad ~~ depending on what the ground temp is. IIRC, do not need pressurized compartment until higher than 11,000 ft. Ship can only go to 10,000 ~~ supposedly.

[tridim]

32. It's warm and sunny today.

I'm worried about the landing.

[Oregone]

30. And that thing is going fast...may not land so good

This may not end well.

But...if it does, the creator may be an overnight millionaire. Looks fun if you aren't 6

[Ganja Ninja]

53. Boyles law is going to be working against him.

As the balloon come down the air pressure will decrease the size of the balloon and the buoyancy. It will get heavier as it comes down and fall faster the lower it goes. It doesn't look good for this kid I'm sorry to say.

[MindPilot]

34. Oxygen is a little thin, but shouldn't be any problem

if the boy is healthy. Living in the Denver area, you get used to the thin air. It's gonna be a bit cold, but again if he was dressed to be outside in the first place, he should be OK.

The really scary thing is power lines.

[Maru Kitteh]

44. Estimated temperature at 7K feet = 7 Fahrenheit

[Ruby the Liberal]

48. Yikes!

[Hepburn]

163. Oh, no.......

.......this is horrible!

[Ruby the Liberal]

33. He's at 8500 ft now.

Ballonist on MSNBC saying oxygen is OK at that level.

[mike_c]

45. Indendence Pass is 12,000 ft and the Rockies top out at 14,000+...

...so 8500 ft is just fine. He won't have breathing issues in that aircraft if its range is 10,000 ft or so.

[Hepburn]

56. OMG....if the craft can only go to 10,000 ft...

...I hope to hell he is NOWHERE near any of that.

:scared:

[Maru Kitteh]

60. But how long can the poor kid last at 7F? I want to go beat his parents with a crowbar.

[tridim]

87. Probably days. I honestly don't think temperature is much of a concern.

If it was negative 30 degrees I'd be worried.

[a la izquierda]

99. +1

[Hepburn]

107. I will volunteer the crowbar....

...I cannot imagine putting that kid in that thing without making absolutely sure it was tied down so that NOTHING could allow it off the ground.

[nashville_brook]

120. put yourself in the parents' shoes -- i'm sure they're beating themselves up just fine w/o you

[tridim]

37. Local news saying police are searching ground for the boy

He might have got out before it went up.

[Hepburn]

39. Oh, this is horrifying....

...what the hell if he fell out hundreds of feet above the ground!?!?!?!

:scared: :cry:

[Ruby the Liberal]

38. National Guard sending up a bird

Can't get under it for the blades. If above it, could cause dangerous downdrafts.

[Hepburn]

40. I just heard that....

...I am guessing just to follow it? :shrug:

The blades would hack the hell out of the thing if they got too close.

OMG...

[Ruby the Liberal]

43. Not to mention how out of control it is pitching.

[Hepburn]

52. Yeah...another sad consideration...

...I am just sending the strongest positive thoughts I can. Called my pals to do the same thing.

[Ruby the Liberal]

57. I just made a few calls as well.

[laundry_queen]

42. It's on CNN too (no MSNBC here)

I'm just sick. I have a 6 year old. I can't imagine being the parent. I can't watch....

[Ruby the Liberal]

46. Thanks for adding this. Are they on time delay?

[laundry_queen]

54. I think so. eom

[Hepburn]

47. My son is 34 years old and I am suffering mom panic over this.

So it must really hit home with you having a 6 year old.

[laundry_queen]

61. yeah,

I'm trying not to think about what the kid must be going through.

[truedelphi]

244. If the kid resembles the child my husband

Used to be, he could be loving every minute of it.

It is the parents who are gonna be nuts till he is back safely.

[Maru Kitteh]

77. My Mom-O-Meter is pegged too, and my kids are in their 20's

[tridim]

49. Local news again: Shape is an airfoil so it's flying, not just floating.

Crazy balloon people.

[Ruby the Liberal]

51. What does that even mean?

[tridim]

59. Meaning as it moves faster in the wind it gains altitude.

[Ruby the Liberal]

63. I shouldn't have asked. I don't think I wanted to know that.

[Romulox]

50. Could a helicopter hovering a distance above gently force it down?

I'm not sure what else can be done. :shrug:

[Ruby the Liberal]

55. They said being over it can cause dangerous downdrafts.

They don't know what to do at this point.

[Romulox]

66. It's not clear what method of altitude control is built into that thing...

I don't see any fans, props, or vents. :shrug:

[tridim]

68. I'm stunned there is apparently no radio.

WTF were these people thinking?

[kjackson227]

92. That a very good question.

[Ruby the Liberal]

72. The hot air ballonist on MSNBC just said that is the difference

between helium and hot air. Helium can't regulate altitude where hot air can.

[Romulox]

85. It's a giant mylar balloon...some "experimental aircraft"!

It's just unbelievable. That little boy must be beside himself... :cry:

[tridim]

62. Prediction: He lands in another state.

I'll go with Kansas.

[Ruby the Liberal]

74. Or the Pacific.

:(

[intheflow]

135. He's traveling southeast,

so no Pacific landing for him. Much more likely: southeastern Colorado or western Kansas plains.

[NOW tense]

75. I don't think so.

They just estimated that he could travel about 100 more miles. Southeast of where he is now.

[Hepburn]

81. I wonder how much time he has that this can stay up....

....could they deflate it bit by bit? So that it comes down softly?

[Ruby the Liberal]

91. Is it even possible to control a helium release?

[Hepburn]

64. Please K & R this to get it to the Greatest Page so that others can...

... see this and send prayers, positive thoughts, whatever, for the safety of this small child.

Thank you...:hug:

[Ruby the Liberal]

67. Some asswipe unrecced this.

Get over yourself whoever you are.

[Hepburn]

69. Thank you....

...I totally believe in the Power of Positive Thinking...and hoping it works in this case!

:hug:

[Hepburn]

70. OMG...how could someone be like that? Wow...n/t

[kjackson227]

141. Unbelievable!

[Ruby the Liberal]

65. FAA and NORAD informed, seeking help on how to get this thing down

Helium balloonists also being contacted.

[BeHereNow]

112. Maybe some other ballonists could surround it with a net and bring it down?

There's GOT to be a way to get this boy down safely.
BHN

[Ruby the Liberal]

116. Thats an interesting concept.

[BeHereNow]

71. Wonder if they could send a team of skydivers to encircle him?

I know, far fetched, but HOW the hell are they going to get
the thing down???

That kids is either having the time of his life, or passed out from fear.

I can't imagine what his mom is going through.

BHN

[Hepburn]

76. I would be afraid that they would become entangled with the thing...

...and everyone and the craft with come down in one lump mass. BTW: I know less than -0- about skydiving.

[Ruby the Liberal]

80. You would think we have something that could just grab it

whole?

[rvablue]

82. This crossed my mind, too.

But I think he's too high now.

Some reporting saying that he is 8-9,000 ft. in the air. Is that too high for sky divers.

If not, I'm sure there are many in the area, suiting up and standing by. It might be the only way.

[MARALE]

318. I don't think so

My son just did a jump and he was up 10,500 feet.

[brooklynite]

78. Photo from Denver Post

[Hepburn]

88. OMG....

....can you imagine being on the ground and being the parent...and YOUR child is in that thing?????

:scared:

[brooklynite]

96. Local News (Ch 9) reporting baloon at 8,000-8,500 feet

traveling at 10-15 mph

[Born_A_Truman]

79. OMG! Watching live on MSNBC

I am sick at my stomach!

[Ruby the Liberal]

83. It is terrifying to watch this unfold.

I am shaking like a leaf.

[Hepburn]

84. I can identify with that....

...this is absolutely terrifying to me.

[Ruby the Liberal]

86. Can we get a few more recs on this?

To offset the mental midget that unrec'd it and his clone buddies?

[mak3cats]

94. Done. (n/t)

[Ganja Ninja]

89. His only hope is to hit a mountian and get hung up.

I just don't see a soft landing any other way.

[Maru Kitteh]

98. He's moving away from the front range towards the great plains

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

110. He's heading away from the mountains

East of the rockies and heading east. The next mountains are the Smokies.

But the balloon is losing helium, and apparently losing altitude.

With luck, it'll end with a soft landing in a field.

[kestrel91316]

177. There aren't any mountains in the Great Plains. He is east of the Rockies.

[NOW tense]

90. The name of the kid is Falcon

Not a joke. It was just on the local news.

[Hepburn]

95. Oh, holy shit....that gave me goose bumps! n/t

[BeHereNow]

97. Ironic, to say the least.

I thought that too, when I heard it on the news.
BHN

[Arrowhead2k1]

93. That kid is doomed.

I can't watch... :(

[brooklynite]

101. Very presumptive

While any number of things could go wrong, balloon will drop of its own accord as helium dissipates...

[brooklynite]

108. FYI on balloon videos...

Tracking helicopters are keeping their disctance and using long range cameras which exaggerate movements, making it appear to move quickly and erratically. Actual speed is about 10-15 mph

[thereismore]

103. No he isn't. If the thing deflates slowly he has a good chance of landing OK. nt

[Hepburn]

117. I have got to focus on that thought and for him to keep safe. n/t

[BeHereNow]

104. Please don't say that! Words have power.

The good news is that even only six years old,
he apparently has a certain amount of knowledge
about the balloon, as he worked with his father on it's construction.
Who knows, maybe he is figuring out how to bring it down.
That's my hope.
BHN

[DavidDvorkin]

185. So writing something on DU will cause something to happen to that child?

What a bizarre idea.

[onehandle]

100. Not good. Jesus! nt

[Hepburn]

102. I am wondering how securely fastened in the craft this child is.

What if they dropped someone close to the craft and he tried to reach out to them? After all, he is only 6 years old and has to be totally terrified.

[peace13]

109. CNN saying now that the poor child may already have fallen out.

Too sad.

[Hepburn]

113. OMFG......

.....:cry:

This is beyond bad.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

119. "May have" fallen out?

Some poor reporting there.

[roguevalley]

293. update on the news: he is not in the balloon and its down. he's

missing. :cry:

[kjackson227]

153. What?!?! MSNBC isn't saying anything like that.

[ecstatic]

105. Guy on Fox News said it could take a DAY for the craft

to run out of helium.

[Maru Kitteh]

111. I'm going to say it again. I want to go beat his parents with a crowbar.

As per news reports, it looks like Dad KNEW the six-year-old was playing in the structure.

[dugaresa]

407. i am with you

from what is coming out, the father is a few bricks short of a load. I am thinking along the lines of the father character from the Mosquito Coast.

[Ruby the Liberal]

114. Local presser: Adults were inside. Older brother saw

younger brother get in and take off.

So much for the father "losing control of the tethers".

:(

[Hepburn]

123. OK....

...I can see where a 6 year old could do that ~~ and not appreciate the dangers involved at all.

[rvablue]

147. Maybe, but the balloon didn't fill itself with helium. n/t

[slutticus]

115. It seems to be tipping

running out of air on one side


man.....poor kid

[JerseygirlCT]

118. I feel like I'm holding my breath...

that poor baby - I know I'd be terrified!

[targetpractice]

121. That craft will NOT stay horizontal... Kid could get dumped out...

... as the the balloon deflates.

[brooklynite]

126. Apparenty the gondola has a closed door

[BeHereNow]

127. Watching how it is tipping, I thought the same...

God, I hope there is something for him to hold onto in there.
BHN

[brooklynite]

124. Ch 9 News reporting helium loss is accelerating

balloon at 6,500 feet

[RebelOne]

131. Yes, you can see one side is deflating.

[Libertas1776]

125. HOLY SHIT!!!

I can't believe this. Let this poor kid be safe.

[stlsaxman]

128. link- it's losing helium fast!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22887392#22887392

[BeHereNow]

136. This might be a good thing?

Maybe the kid has figured out a way to let some air out?
I just hope the basket is secure.
They say it is starting to come down- 6000 ft now.
BHN

[Ruby the Liberal]

139. It isn't even though - it is listing hard

[cbdo2007]

145. That may be good as well...based on momentum and the current tilt it may roll when it hits ground

and cushion the basket in the middle?

[Hepburn]

144. I just hope the loss is more even....

...it looks like it is tilting like crazy to one side. I am afraid it might flip over and ... well, you know ...

[Randypiper]

129. The six year old's name is Falcon

[Ruby the Liberal]

130. Now they are sending up LifeFlight - the Hospital helicopter

Maybe they have better means of getting him than the National Guard?

[NOW tense]

134. I think that is for when it lands. n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

142. Fuck.

This is not going to end well, is it. :cry:

[Ruby the Liberal]

132. 15 miles South East of Denver Intnl Airport now.

[go west young man]

133. US Special Forces could get him with seals or recon dangling off

a rope they could grab the line. They do it regularly when doing extraction ops. 6 men on a line with all trying to grab the rope. The copter would have to be at least 500 hundred feet above and in front of the balloon to do it. It's a long shot but it could be done. I've seen marines do this at Camp Lejuene during Force Recon testing.

[slutticus]

137. Where is the gondola. I don't see one on this craft. Very strange

[Ruby the Liberal]

143. It is a closed-in basket. Round.

[slutticus]

190. I don't see a basket

[Duer 157099]

138. If he's still on board, I hope he's lost consciousness

No matter the outcome, I hope he sleeps through it.

This is terrifying.

[Ruby the Liberal]

146. I am hoping he hyperventalated into passing out.

If he's awake, he has GOT to be terrified.

[Maru Kitteh]

157. +1

[cbdo2007]

140. Damn...good thing Cheney's not still in charge. We know how he handles these situations...

[Ruby the Liberal]

148. HOLT SHIT! This was never meant to hold a person

Per local news - family said this wasn't designed for a person to be in it - the basket isn't secured for that.

[t0dd]

150. The basket looks like its actually contained in the balloon

Is he breathing in the helium? That would be very problematic

[tridim]

151. I wonder if they were planning a UFO hoax?

This story is just nutty all around.

[Ruby the Liberal]

158. News said they are storm chasers.

[Hepburn]

152. Oh, no.......

...if this can stay up for a day while it loses helium, it does not sound like the basket could stay attached!

:cry:

[Ruby the Liberal]

155. That is the concern. nt

[Turborama]

149. Raw Video: Boy Floats Away in Hot-Air Balloon

From AP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBL2OeBTwxM

I'm not sure if it's the helicopter's movement but it looks like that thing is going really fast.

[Hepburn]

159. OMFG....the close up....and the basket? It looks like it is becoming detached!

I hope that is not what is happening.

:cry:

[Ruby the Liberal]

160. At one point, it was 15-20mph

[MindPilot]

154. If these attitudes are AGL, he's real close to a landing

less than about 1500 ft and hopefully the remaining helium will give him a cushion.

[flvegan]

156. Appx 1,000 feet off the ground now.

[rvablue]

162. MSNBC has changed to local affiliate, speaking with reporter in helicopter. n/t

[BeHereNow]

164. It's coming DOWN~!!!! 500 ft now, circling!

Thank GOD!!!
BHN

[BeHereNow]

167. Could land in 30 minutes!!!!

Pray for his safe landing...
BHN

[BeHereNow]

176. He LANDED!!!

Thank GOD!

[BeHereNow]

186. No boy as of yet...

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
BHN

[Ruby the Liberal]

165. Close to the ground now - 500ft and dropping fast. MSNBC to cut coverage.

[Maru Kitteh]

168. 400 ft now. Please let it stay away from power lines and wind farms.

[thelordofhell]

166. 500 ft

[rug]

178. It's landed!

[Ruby the Liberal]

169. 100ft

[Hepburn]

170. IT'S LANDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ruby the Liberal]

180. I am crying.

What a relief. I hope he's ok. Looked pretty soft.

[BeHereNow]

194. No boy.

Crying here too.
BHN

[anigbrowl]

171. down safely, looks like.

[whopis01]

198. I don't think so... he doesn't appear to be in it. n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

172. Landed!!

[cbdo2007]

184. What if an alien comes out???

[thelordofhell]

173. the eagle has landed

[cbdo2007]

174. It's Down!!!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

175. nice landing

[a la izquierda]

179. landed

[Hepburn]

181. Oh, please let him be OK!!!!!! n/t

[MindPilot]

182. The Falcon has landed

[tridim]

183. Wow! If he's okay, this is the coolest thing I've ever seen.

[kjackson227]

187. Thank the Lord it's down... Pray that Falcon is okay.

[snooper2]

399. I'm thanking gravity and physics myself

:)

[Hepburn]

188. OMG....it is taking FOREVER to get to him!

Oh, please....where is he??????

[girl gone mad]

196. I'm pretty sure they know he's not in there. n/t

[Hoopla Phil]

189. Looks like it's empty.

[RebelOne]

Reporter on ground says balloon is empty. No child found.

[Hoopla Phil]

205. It IS empty.

[Ruby the Liberal]

191. They don't seem to be working with any urgency.

[girl gone mad]

202. I noticed that, too.

Like they know he isn't there.

[gkhouston]

213. So, is this a tragedy or a hoax? n/t

[kjackson227]

219. I don't think we know yet :(

[IRemember]

192. hes not in it

:cry:

[MidwestTransplant]

193. MSNBC says no kid in balloon

[Hepburn]

206. WTF??????

:wow:

[anigbrowl]

195. no kid inside, bad news :-(

[Ruby the Liberal]

197. Compartment is empty

Suggesting either a stunt by the3 family, or he fell out.

[Hepburn]

215. Well, maybe this....

...the child released the craft, realized he would be in trouble and he is hiding somewhere and will not come out?

:shrug:

[gkhouston]

228. I hope that's the case. In which case, he'll slink home as it gets dark/cold. nt

[Akoto]

199. Journalists apparently saying nobody is inside.

How terrible. :(

[kjackson227]

200. Where in the world is he?????

[chatnoir]

201. It's empty!?

[kjackson227]

208. Yep.

[Duer 157099]

203. Unreal. He would have survived that landing if he were on board

I can't believe this, it's surreal.

[Name removed]

204. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NikolaC]

372. You're fucking sick

[flvegan]

207. Affiliate stating that the boy is not aboard.

[Hoopla Phil]

209. I thinking the kid released it by mistake and is hiding in a closet somewhere.

[Ruby the Liberal]

217. Police have already searched the home in case the family was mistaken

[RebelOne]

224. No, the brother saw him crawl into it and go up. nçt

[Hepburn]

231. How old is the brother who saw this? n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

210. Damn. The little boy is not inside. I'm going to go cry now.

How unbelievably horrible.

[Codeine]

216. He may never have been inside. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

221. I hope that you are right Codeine. Please, let it be so.

[Ruby the Liberal]

211. Reporter just said the basket was made of cardboard.

[Hepburn]

220. OMFG........

......no!!!!!

:cry:

[Ruby the Liberal]

227. Unbelievable irresponsibility. Where's the crowbar line forming?

:grr:

[Libertas1776]

212. Oh my god

he fell out! Where the hell is he?! :cry:

[Duer 157099]

214. I hope he's just hiding somewhere cuz he's afraid

Best case scenario

[BeHereNow]

225. Agreed. I hope he is hiding somewhere...

and alive and well.
BHN

[Hepburn]

226. Boy, do I ever agree with that....

...this is just horrible.

[anniebelle]

218. BREAKING NEWS1 NO KID ON BOARD. n/t

edited for spelling.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

222. Jesus..I don't even want to think about it.....I hope and pray at this point that it was a hoax....

I'm sick thinking about of the alternative

[WriteDown]

Hoping the kid fell out early...

and is suffering from a broken leg and no more.

[Name removed]

223. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hawkeye-X]

229. I'm local - and I'm watching the news

the boy is OK.

[dugaresa]

232. was he ever in it?

[rug]

233. Where is he?

[gkhouston]

234. The boy's ok? Where did they find him? n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

236. Where is he?

[Hepburn]

238. OMG....any more info on this????? n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

239. If true, that kid's gonna be grounded

forever.

:spank:

[rug]

248. That would be apt.

[anigbrowl]

240. More details please - do you have facts or are you speculating?

[rvablue]

241. Info? Link? They are reporting that they found him??????? n/t

[BeHereNow]

245. MORE details, PLEASE????

Where was he all this time?
BHN

[Hawkeye-X]

246. I'm only going by what the news reporter said

I just turned it on as soon as I heard about it.

I could be wrong - will keep you posted.

[gkhouston]

250. Please do. Thanks for the local updates. n/t

[Hawkeye-X]

252. News are saying SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS UNDERWAY

Will keep you updated.

[BeHereNow]

254. Thanks!

BHN

[Ruby the Liberal]

255. MSNBC is monitoring the local station and cutting to them off and on

They haven't said a thing about it.

[Hawkeye-X]

258. Go to 9news.com

They will keep you posted on the updates too.

[Hawkeye-X]

262. 9news's livestream on the news

http://www.9news.com/video/player_live_2.aspx

[Ruby the Liberal]

263. Their headline: Experimental aircraft lands, no sign of boy

[kjackson227]

249. Where is he???

[Duer 157099]

230. Now I'm wondering if this was a hoax for publicity

Hate to say it, but it's possible.

What's making me really angry though is the stupid reporters asking questions like "why would someone build something like this?" as though inventing should only be done by corporations or universities.

Assholes.

[Ruby the Liberal]

243. The media is saying it also.

Apparently the parents are a couple of attention seeking wack jobs.

[kjackson227]

257. I hope it was a hoax.

[Duer 157099]

265. Me too. But if so, his dad should pay for all the emergency services

I hope for the boy's sake that it was a hoax, but if so, I hope his dad pays a big price.

[lobodons]

275. Priceless

2 hours of live all network coverage. Regardless what the emergency services costs, it is the deal of the century.

[Ruby the Liberal]

276. If true, add in jail time for filing a false report.

[paparush]

235. Its a streetlight!

I want to be leaves!

[kjackson227]

237. Seems someone would've have reported something if...

he had fallen out, unless he fell in a field :(

[la_chupa]

242. if he fell out, someone would have seen him

right RIGHT?

where is the kid?

Are they sure older brother was telling the truth?

[ronnykmarshall]

251. They are saying he may have NO been in there.

They are looking for him near the home.

[intheflow]

278. Not necessarily.

He was flying at hig altitude over a lot of empty prairie.

[onlyadream]

247. What time did this all start?

wouldn't the kid have been in school?
I'm hoping this is a hoax - why else would someone build a balloon that looks like a spaceship?

[onehandle]

259. 1 pm ET. nt

[Ruby the Liberal]

260. 2 hours ago, no school today and they are storm-chasers

The balloon wasn't designed to hold a human. The basket was made out of cardboard.

[tomm2thumbs]

253. family pic

[Myrina]

256. Well, that was 2 hours worth of undies in a bundle for nothing ...

:eyes: And this is at the top of Greatest, why, exactly? :shrug:

[Cal Carpenter]

261. For nothing?

Do you know something no one else knows? because the latest I've seen is that they're doing search and rescue...I don't see a 'happy' ending yet..

[GillesDeleuze]

kids probably hiding cuz he thinks he'll get in trouble

for letting the balloon go bye bye

[MissMarple]

271. That is our best hope.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

281. I pray that is the case

[kjackson227]

266. Yep, this isn't over yet... not until they find the boy ;(

[Hepburn]

268. Unfortunately, I do not see anything good coming of this either.

If he is not found at home or close by ~~ there seems only to be one unfortunate explanation for what happened.

:cry:

[Hepburn]

264. Because there is a 6 year old child missing and he might have...

...fallen out of that experimental craft. If you are not interested in the safety of the child why bother to be negative to those who are?

:eyes:

[Baltoman991]

267. Because no one

knows what, if anything happened to the 6 year old so we're hoping that this was just a hoax gone way wrong and that the kid wasn't really in the balloon.

So I will continue to worry until I know for sure about the young boy.

[Ruby the Liberal]

270. +1

[Turborama]

274. It's not on the top of the Greatest, it's front page news...

Even if it was, so what? :shrug:

It's a story that obviously a lot of empathic people care about and some of them feel like recommending to make it visible for others who may otherwise miss it.

[stray cat]

279. shame that some people care about a child's life

[cbdo2007]

269. This family was on WifeSwap - that's creepy

from CNN live stream

[ourbluenation]

272. Maybe the little guy untethered the balloon and is hiding because he thinks he's in trouble.

The huffpo article says that on wifeswap the dad had angry outbursts.

[slackmaster]

284. That makes a lot of sense

I hope he's OK.

[chatnoir]

312. Someone on HuffPo commented:

"Actually I have a friend who knows this family and the other woman from the wife swap. Even before the balloon landed it was considered a publicity stunt. sounds like the family is pretty strange. In addition, Child Protective Services is already right on top of this. I hope that nothing bad has happened to the little boy."

[bigworld]

282. Sounds like a publicity hound to me

[kjackson227]

285. What is Wifeswap??? A reality show???

[Techn0Girl]

286. Wifeswap eh?

Ever hear of Munchausen's by Proxy ?
It's a way of getting attention by harming your own child.
Not too dissimilar to going on a "wifeswap" show.

It's all about attention.
Best case: The idiot family hid the kid and made it all up to get attention (again)

Worst case - they put the kid in the vehicle.

My guess: Somebody's going to jail

[cbdo2007]

294. Wifeswap is on ABC - who knows, maybe this was set up by ABC for publicity for Wifeswap?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

296. WifeSwap? So this whole thing is likely a stunt?

If so, I hope all the EMS etc send the guy a bill.

But, plenty of time for that, once it's certain the kid is safe.

[struggle4progress]

324. ... The boy and his family were due to appear on the reality TV show Wife Swap. The production

company promoed the episode with the following passage: The Heene family from Colorado lives life on the edge, wife Mayumi and storm scientist Richard, take their three kids, Bradford, Ryo and Falcon out of school to go on storm chasing missions to prove Richard’s theories about magnetic fields and gravity ... http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Runaway+helium+balloon+crashes+passenger+found/2107075/story.html

[struggle4progress]

334. ... Air Date: Friday, October 03, 2008 ... Episode Title: (#501) "Heene/Martel" ...

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings.aspx?id=20080915abc08

[struggle4progress]

342. CBS Denver Tornado Chasing Family (youtube 2008 newscast)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTqpY-wprSE&feature=related


Monday, November 17, 2008
What next? Irresponsible chasing on TV?
... Next up? Wannabe yahoo chasers on TV. Not something I would like to see. I apparently just came across some info regarding a Wife Swap episode of a storm chasing family and a safety family. That should prove to be interesting! The "storm chaser"? Richard Heene. Ya you heard me, I just called him out. Seriously, this dude apparently loves to make chasing storms priority number one, over school and other important life issues. They have a megaphone to wake up their entire household to go chasing and they sleep with their clothes on. I can understand being really passionate about chasing, but come on? To make the kids skip school so they can chase tornadoes? Sounds like to me they have their priorities mixed up. I came across some videos of the family and they all need a wake up call. I really have no idea what this guy is trying to accomplish, something about researching magnetic fields around storms (he thinks mesocyclones affect magnetic fields locally). He's been featured on several news segments, which make me think he is just in it so he can be on TV. He has no website that I know of and isn't anywhere to be seen on any of the storm chasing community sites such as Stormtrack. I guess that is a good thing because he would probably get criticized on there like what I am doing now. Heene states that the risks is all in the name of research. You can tell that is a load of BS right there. He rides a motorbike into the storm. Here's a news segment. My point? People like him on TV make us devoted, safe real storm chasers look like idiots in the general publics' eyes and we need to end this nonsense ... http://laurawx.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-next-irresponsible-chasing-on-tv.html

[FarCenter]

273. Per Sky9 news that has been following this live ...

Either he wasn't in the balloon when it took off, or he jumped or fell after it took off, or there might have been another part attached that he was in that fell off before they started following the balloon by helicopter.

However, an early photo from a citizen did not show any additional gondola. But it wasn't clear how early into the flight the photo was taken. Sky9's helicopter started following the balloon after finding it about 1.5 hours into the flight.

His brother said that Falcon was in the craft.

[These Eyes]

277. I'm hoping this is a hoax also…

If the basket is made of cardboard, as reported, then it doesn't seem possible that it would be strong enough to hold a six-year old. The basket bottom was intact from what I could tell on the video. Hopefully the boy is alright. This is surreal.

[bigworld]

280. If he was in it, he couldn;t have untied it

Someone is lying here. Am I callous for suspecting a big publicity hoax by dad?

[Hepburn]

288. Maybe, maybe not....

...depending on how loosely it was tied. Maybe he got in and the movement caused the craft to become free?

:shrug:

[kestrel91316]

290. Am I a bad person for suggesting that this dad, "prone to angry outbursts"

on Wifeswap, may in fact know exactly where his son is, and hopes that when he is found everyone will believe his injuries are due to a fall from the craft?????

[anigbrowl]

297. Normally I'd rule that out as too weird, but the whole thing is too weird

[Ruby the Liberal]

303. If you are, I am too.

I had that same fleeting thought when I saw that.

Sad that we live in the kind of society that this comes to mind.

[Ruby the Liberal]

The media has been suggesting it for a while now.

[cbdo2007]

283. Not only was the basket "intact" but the whole thing was completely enclosed

when they got to it. Nothing fell off and there was no open space where a kid could have fallen out.

[FarCenter]

289. One of the ground crew said that the "door was open".

[Hepburn]

304. Oh, fuck....

...:cry:

[cbdo2007]

305. Oh - thanks for the clarification. Just based on watching when it landed, it looked

like they struggled to "get into" the lower compartment. Like, it didn't look like they ran right up to it and stuck their heads in the door. I'm usually wrong though.

[Turborama]

300. Yeah, how could anyone even breathe in that thing?

It had to be sealed to keep the gas in. I don't get how it could have been made for transporting anyone, even a 6 year old kid.

[Ruby the Liberal]

307. The family told the local authorities that it was never designed to hold a human

It was something they built related to storm chasing activity.

[Turborama]

331. Oh, that explains it then, thanks.

It doesn't look like it had any ventilation in it.

[intheflow]

291. There's some heavy-duty cardboeard out there.

I remember buying my old tv, must've weighed 100 lbs. That box was so dense I had a hard time cutting it up for the trash truck to take it away. A 60 or 70-lb kid could have been in that no problem.

[madmom]

287. Could the boys have been playing a prank on mom & dad and now that it has gotten out

of hand, be afraid to admit it? I was raised with 3 boys, this is totally with in reason.

[crim son]

295. Yep, right down to the massive, unforseen consequences.

I hope it's just a prank. This is horrifying.

[Hepburn]

299. I am hoping it is something minor that turned into a huge mess ...

... solely because some small children would not admit to a mistake or playing a trick on the family.

Even with all of the mess this created, if the child is safe, that is the important thing.

[rebel with a cause]

292. Don't know if anyone has posted this but the boy is NOT in the balloon.

This family was on "Wife Swap". Huh?

Anyway, news men say there is going to be a land search now for the boy. Possible that boy fell out of balloon? Just a lot of speculation.

[FarCenter]

302. Too bad the kid didn't have a cellphone with GPS

[MajorChode]

306. Let's hope he just ran away after letting it go

But I suspect that's not the case

[rebel with a cause]

418. Yeah, I guess I have a suspious mind.

I immediately look at the parents and wonder what the real story is.

[MajorChode]

496. They crave attention and apparently so does their kid

[rebel with a cause]

503. You got it!

I grew up in a large family and it happened several times that one of us would get lost(falling asleep between the couch and the wall is one example) and everyone in the neighborhood would end up looking for us until we would wake up and make our parents look like fools. Or one of the other neighborhood kids would do something just as silly and scare their parents to death. But we did not have an UFO in our back yards to make it look like we had flown away into the great blue yonder.

Someone who had seen them on 'Wife Swap' twice said they are really weird!!!!

[tk2kewl]

298. dark prediction

this is a cover up for some harm that came to the boy before the balloon launch

[gauguin57]

319. I don't know about that ... but stories about the family being on "Wife Swap" say dad has a temper.

This whole thing is nuts. I hope the kid is safe on the ground somewhere ... that he never took off with the balloon.

This reminds me of the movie they made of the Ian McEwan novel, "Enduring Love" ... a little kid is stuck in a balloon, and a potential rescuer falls to his death from the balloon. Then one of the surviving potential rescuers starts stalking one of the other ones and we're off to the races. Not a very good movie. But that balloon scene is creepy (though I think the kid survived).

[ElsewheresDaughter]

301. local news says their on their way to a location where an eye witness says they saw something fall

off the balloon

MSNBC...talking to local news women

[BeHereNow]

309. Not good.

This could end very badly.
BHN

[Hepburn]

310. Oh, no........

......:cry:

This does not sound good.

[RedCloud]

314. This sounds terrible. Especially thinking cardboard does not hold weight for long.

Please don't let this be!

[Dumak]

308. That balloon looked so small when it landed

I would never have thought it capable of lifting 50 pounds. I"m guessing the kid is hiding.

[Duer 157099]

311. What's interesting is that now, 2 hours later, the physicists are saying

that doing the calculations of the amount of helium the device can hold, that it's highly unlikely that it could have lifted up a 6 year old child.

Wonder why they didn't do this analysis a little while ago when everyone was freaking out

[lobodons]

315. I was thinking that too

and they kept saying that the box wasn't tied on very well. And wouldn't 50 extra pounds alter the flight that would have been noticeable?

[RedCloud]

316. Did they factor in the wind?

[anigbrowl]

332. That wouldn't make much difference, wind wouldn't lift you up

It is somewhat aerodynamic but not that much. (deleted bit about CNN estimate - unsure if i heard it correctly or not)

[anigbrowl]

322. it's kinda hard to estimate the size/volume while it's in flight though

[Duer 157099]

325. Well the father built it, I bet he knows the exact specs n/t

[Strawman]

352. He's also loony

And said that he had hoped it would someday be used by people to commute to work. See post #352

[FarCenter]

330. It probably oculd lift about 80 Kg total vehicle weight

If the vehicle were a cylinder 3 meters radius, 3 meters high, then it has a volume of about 80 cubic meters.

Air is about 1.25 kilograms/cubic meter depending on temperature.

So if the helium, vehicle, gondola, and boy weighed about 100 kg, then it would float. 100 kg is about 220 pounds.

[slackmaster]

338. The bag was 20 feet in diameter and thin at the edges

Assume it was a cylinder 5 feet high (which it was not; it was thin at the edges). That makes a volume of 2,500 cubic feet.

According to a table at http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/lift.html, that would lift only a few pounds.

Maybe enough to lift a small cat or dog, but not a six-year-old boy. No way.

[slackmaster]

336. It's absolutely IMPOSSIBLE for a balloon that size to have lifted even a small child

There is a table at http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/lift.html showing the lift capacity for spherical helium balloons.

We know the balloon in the story was 20 feet in diameter. Assume it was a cylinder 4 or 5 feet high (which it was not)

CORRECTED - Pi X radius squared X height = 1,600 - 2,500 cubic feet, or about the equivalent of a sphere 5 or so feet in diameter.

According to the table, that would lift maybe 6 pounds.

[FarCenter]

349. You are off by a factor of 10 (formula is wrong, but 2500 ft^3 is right)

volume of a cylinder is pi * radius squared * height.

volume of a sphere is (4/3) * pi * r^3

[slackmaster]

364. Oops, typo, forgot to put in "squared" - Editing my post to correct

I know the math is right. Thanks!

[Duer 157099]

351. What's fascinating is that there's so much dispute about this!

My God, it's science, these are known FACTS, it's not a belief or some sort of guesswork to determine whether the device could lift x pounds.

I don't know the answer because I sucked at physics, but I DO know that the answer is not some sort of mystery.

[lakercub]

497. wondering about these numbers

if the diameter is 20 ft...the radius obviously is 10 ft. So the equation becomes
pi*(10^2)*5 = 1570.8 ft^3.

Your 1600 number is a decent rounding, but where does the 2500 come from?

[lakercub]

501. Also, and you can correct me if I'm wrong,

I believe, from the chart, that the lift here is more like 100 lbs. The first column is diameter in ft. The next column is not volume in ft^3, but in liters. You have to convert your volume to liters, which I don't think you did.

1 liter in 0.03532 cubic feet = x liters in 1570.8 ft^3 => x = 44473.3 liters

44.5 kliters actually lines up with a sphere having a diameter of about 14.5 ft (according to the chart from your link). So I see the lift weight as approximately 100 lbs given those numbers.

The kid is 6 and the 50th percentile for kids that age is about 45 lbs.

Weight of helium per liter at STP = 0.18 gr/l => 0.18 gr/l = x grams / 44473.3 liters => x = 8005 grams x .002205 lbs/grams = 17.65 lbs of helium.

I have no idea what else was attached to the thing, so I can't say how much the rest weighed (weight of the first box and the second box, weight of any rope/string/wire, weight of the mylar, etc.), but I believe the kid and the helium would have combined to weigh about 63 lbs. However, given the shape of the balloon, the volume in liters was smaller than that for the calculations I did above. This thing may have gotten airborne given those numbers with the kid on board, but it would have been close.

Moot point however.

[lakercub]

502. I'm pretty sure my equations are right,

but I just saw a picture of the balloon, and the volume for the cylinder I calculated is far higher than the volume that thing had. I seriously doubt the thing could have taken off, it's just too small. My calculations had it being close as to whether or not the thing could get off the ground...but after seeing the size in the picture? No way.

[thereismore]

344. I am sure they did, but the media like freaking out. nt

[snagglepuss]

459. I suppose police don't think of calling physicists right off the bat. I suppose they

assumed it was a regular balloon.

[Hepburn]

313. MSNBC reporting that "officers" are arriving at the family home.

Not sure what is going on...nothing said other than this.

[kjackson227]

317. Please keep us updated... I'm at work and can't watch, thanks.

[Hepburn]

320. Right now all that is going on is a discussion about hot air balloons...

...and the local police are on saying that they are still searching for the child. Wide area being searched ~~ where boy could have fallen out or jumped out.

:cry:

[kjackson227]

321. okay ;(

[MindPilot]

323. If he fell, he may be tough to find...

the craft flew over some pretty sparsely populated terrain. Not much there but small farms and natural gas wells.

[Hepburn]

326. Wow....

...I hope they find him ASAP.

If he fell out and is injured, he most likely needs immediate medical aid.

:cry:

[kestrel91316]

341. Some farmer will find him while planting winter wheat. That area is

continuous open farmland.

[Codeine]

327. Brian Dunning of the Skeptoid podcast

just Tweeted that he feels the balloon may have been way too small to have lifted the boy in the first place.

[tk2kewl]

329. lets hope so

[Strawman]

328. From Huff Post - This video is messed up

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/15/falcon-heene-balloon-boy_n_322736.html

[Ruby the Liberal]

335. Now they are saying it is the 8 year old who is missing?

Didn't they take inventory before calling the cops?

[Strawman]

340. Before seeing this Huff Post story I w/n have believed hoax but now, could be

These parents are not playing with a full deck and seem willing to exploit their kids for publicity, which they clearly crave.

[kestrel91316]

345. The Larimer Co SD spokesperson just affirmed on tv that the SIX-YR-OLD

named FALCON is missing.

[Ruby the Liberal]

348. HuffPo is citing CNN, but their online story doesnt' confirm that

Likely just more irresponsible reporting by HuffPo.

[kjackson227]

346. How strange.

[gauguin57]

347. Oh PLEASE ... I hope the networks won't be playing that "music video" (featuring the kids) all nite

But they probably will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWJXXgaYBo&feature=player_embedded

[chatnoir]

362. Totally

"These pajamas are pussified!"

Uh...

[targetpractice]

333. CNN.com Live just said authorities don't believe the boy fell out...

...and are looking for him in the neighborhood.

That was my first instinct that he caused the balloon to fly away and is hiding.

[Hepburn]

337. Boy, do I hope you are totally correct! n/t

[slackmaster]

343. There is no way the balloon could have gotten off the ground with him in the gondola

Not a chance. The bag was 20 feet in diameter, maybe 4-5 feet thick at the middle when fully inflated, and it was thin at the edges like the Jupiter 2 spacecraft from Lost In Space.

Make your own estimates and do the math.

http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/lift.html

[Zix]

369. That's what I thought just by looking at it.

But I wasn't keen simply to trust my instincts.

[slackmaster]

371. Google "lawn chair helium balloons"

And enjoy.

[jwirr]

380. Plus no doubt there is a big crowd around his home and they may

be scaring him. I was a part of a search for a child where that happened.

[Turborama]

339. "Who is Richard Heene?" (the father)

Chicago Fox have collated a profile of him from various sources: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/dpgo_richard_heene_falcon_heene_boy_in_balloon_lwf_20091015_4063208

[kjackson227]

353. This says it all...

"He is an amazingly creative human (now turned mad scientist) who insists on repeatedly proving that there is a very fine line between genius and insanity..."

[Hepburn]

350. Ground video...MSNBC....

...peg at the bottom of the round basket of the craft: There appears to be a missing attachment. This is supposedly where the child could have been located ~~ in a piece which fell off of the craft.

Oh, shit...:cry:

[Ruby the Liberal]

356. I would hope the father has design diagrams

So that the authorities know what they are dealing with.

[Hepburn]

360. Agree....

...and it gave me a very bad feeling seeing that peg sticking out of the bottom of the round basket since there have been reports of something falling off of or from the craft.

Not good...

[anigbrowl]

More likely that was part of the tether

'appears to be' and 'supposedly' is basically wild guessing; on the other hand, the dimensions of the balloon and the amount of helium that could have fitted into it suggest strongly that it wouldn't have been able to lift his weight to begin with, and is a more reliable guide.

[Hepburn]

363. Denver news now reporting that the bottom part of the craft is missing. n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

366. The tethers were on the outside edges of the balloon.

You could see them trailing when it was still in flight.

[Hepburn]

368. Yep....

...in fact there were discussion on how those could be used to bring the craft down safely.

[anigbrowl]

Well, there is more than one kind...

Local news is saying this basket was meant to have held batteries 'for stabilization'.

[gauguin57]

354. Holy crap. Website already (three question marks and a picture of a falcon)

You're supposed to email the site if you find the boy. Saw this on twitter.

http://www.whereisballoonboy.com/

[slackmaster]

355. Link to Web page that has tables of the lift capacity for balloons - The boy was never inside

At least not while it was in flight.

http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/lift.html

[Duer 157099]

376. This is what happens when a society devalues science

It's mind boggling.

Either the thing could or couldn't lift a child. If it's not even close, which it sounds like it's not, then why was that not the first question someone asked?

Why are they (on the news) still discussing as though the boy was actually on board?

And the father of all people should know (KNOW with certainty!) whether it was possible or not!

This is so confusing and frustrating.

[JohnWxy]

357. Balloon landed. without the boy....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4105140

[Tx4obama]

358. Police confirmed that bottom compartment of balloon is missing. (MSNBC) n/t

[kjackson227]

361. ~SIGH~ doesn't sound good :(

[Junkdrawer]

359. Denver TV reports there was a basket attached to the balloon this is now missing. n/t

[alp227]

365. Wow, WTF...this reminds me of a Reading Rainbow ep I saw when I was a kid

http://pbskids.org/readingrainbow/books/episode_detail_064.html

The book was Bored...Nothing to Do! from 1978 about two boys who are bored and steal their parents' supplies like the phone and car engine and lawnmower to create an experimental aircraft. Now life imitates art. I hope the boy can be found safely. Regarding the wife swap thing, wow the mother gets a lot more fame now that she might've neglected her son. When will American parents ever wake up? Will it really take this boy's DEATH?

[kestrel91316]

Why are you blaming only the MOTHER? Both parents are at fault

for negligently allowing their children access to this thing.

[alp227]

505. I blame both parents, but I was talking about the mom in context of Wife Swap

Sorry if I couldn't get that message out clearer.

[Ruby the Liberal]

367. KUSA: Family confirmed second compartment

Not good.

[Hepburn]

370. Sigh....

...not good at all... :cry:

[Strawman]

373. Was hoping that wasn't the case

Hope he is still ok. The helicopter didn't follow the balloon until 1.5 hours after so that is really not good. Plus the fact that he is not at home.

[Hepburn]

374. Yeah, I would say somewhere in that 1.5 hours, the bottom part...

...detached and fell.

This is so unbelievably sad... :cry:

[Tx4obama]

381. The bottom must have fell off closer to home BEFORE the cameras started filming. n/t

[kestrel91316]

382. Probably very early in the 1.5 hours. They need to focus their search west of the freeway if

he lived in the area I am thinking he did.

[Ruby the Liberal]

383. We can always hope that the math is correct,

he was in the basket and the balloon took off leaving him on the ground with the basket, which he then hid along with himself.

I am not ready to give up hope just yet.

[anigbrowl]

377. Someone needs to establish the basic question of how much helium it contained

Which will give an exact answer of how much weight it could have lifted. All these 2nd and 3rd and 4th-hand reports in the news are not informative.

[Hepburn]

379. Apparently the bottom basket where the child was hiding fell off...

...and they are looking for this container.

[stevenleser]

385. Yes, here is a link. Very upsetting

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=125161&catid=339#

;(

[Hepburn]

390. OMG...

...it gets worse all the time.... :cry:

[anigbrowl]

389. you misunderstand the point

whether or not their was a basket, the question is how much weight the balloon was capable of lifting, something that could be worked out from the volume of helium it contained.

[MindPilot]

384. Well we know that even if it did lift the kid

it wouldn't have lifted him very high.

[DearAbby]

401. look at the earlier video, I can see no

basket underneath the balloon, it may have fallen off very shortly after lifting off. Watch the earlier videos of this craft.

[Ruby the Liberal]

392. The balloon is 20x5 according to CNN. Slackmaster posted some charts on this upthread.

[Duer 157099]

396. And science teachers everywhere are weeping

It's astonishing that even now, this has not been definitively answered.

[lobodons]

378. WTF!!?? No box??

Jesus fucking christ!!!! 2 hours of live all network tv coverage and they just now figure out that there was supposed to be a box on the fucking balloon?? Wouldn't that have been known within seconds of seeing the balloon in the air????

[kestrel91316]

386. Apparently the father, who would have seen immediately that the

compartment was missing, was burying his head in the sand, weeping and NOT WATCHING TV.

I am really not sure what to think of him, hearing that.

[Cal Carpenter]

395. Well, assuming he had every reason to believe his son

was in the aircraft, I can imagine the thought of watching him fall out of the aircraft live on TV would be so horrendous...

I do hope this is all a hoax, and the dad is a prick, and the kid is hiding somewhere, but if not, I can't even fathom what that dad is going through...

[Tx4obama]

398. But the boy could have been in either of the TWO compartments.

Since they didn't know for sure they had to check out that he wasn't in the upper compartment - it had a door too.
Now they know he was in the bottom compartment.

[EFerrari]

402. I am. He's an idiot. First you get your kid safe, THEN you freak out.

[chatnoir]

394. I know, my thoughts also

The minute they showed footage of it in the air it should have been made known that the attached box was missing.

[Ruby the Liberal]

397. The family said they didn't watch.

I can understand that.

[FarCenter]

387. You would think that Denver airport radar tapes would have pretty good record of the flight path

It started at Fort Collins northwest of the airport and traveled east and south to a landing mostly east of the airport.

They were rerouting departures due to the balloon.

Metalized plastic should provide a pretty good radar return.

[Hepburn]

388. I don't think this is a hoax.

Taking the bottom of the craft off and hiding it seems a bit too complex for a 6 year old and his brother who is only a year or two older.

JMHO

[kestrel91316]

393. They need to look within a mile of home. That thing popped right off.

[Hepburn]

400. I agree....

....and there are reports that something was seen falling from or off of the craft.

[AsahinaKimi]

391. Update : Crews searching for box that was on bottom of aircraft

Crews searching for box that was on bottom of aircraft

LARIMER COUNTY - Authorities are searching for a box that was attached to the bottom of an experimental aircraft that took off from a Fort Collins home with a 6-year-old boy inside on Thursday morning.
Advertisement
Quantcast

The homemade aircraft made an apparent soft landing northeast of Denver International Airport on Thursday afternoon, but rescue crews found no sign of the boy when they reached the aircraft.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=125161&catid=339

[kestrel91316]

403. Does anybody know where in Ft. Collins these people live? I am

quite familiar with the area.

[MindPilot]

406. Fossil Ridge Road

I used to live in Aurora -- learned to fly out of Stapleton and that area to the Northeast was where flight instructors took their students for practice. That was before DIA was built.

[kestrel91316]

426. Totally OT, I am looking at the Google map of the area and see off toward

Loveland there is a "Robert Benson Lake", and I say to myself, wow, self, Bob Benson of Loveland, my mom's best friend since 4th grade's dad, went and got himself a lake named for him!!!! Yay Bob. (RIP)

[kjackson227]

404. You would think that someone would have some kind of video...

early on in the flight that could've picked up something.

[cbdo2007]

408. Why would you think that? Most people don't have video running when accidents happen.

The balloon may not have been able to "carry" the boy very far but it could have picked him up initially and carried him hundreds + of feet. That would have happened within the first minute or two.

[kjackson227]

430. I'm just speculating like everyone else. It's not impossible that...

someone could've gotten some kind of video at that very moment.

[MindPilot]

405. Question for the physicists. Does the less dense air in the Denver area

give the balloon more lift? Would it be able to lift the child at 5000 feet where it couldn't at sea level?

[tinrobot]

410. Less lift, actually.

As the air gets less dense, the balloon has less lift. This is why balloons top out at a certain altitude, because it's where they have no more lift.

In this case, it seemed to be about 13,000 feet.

[Frank Cannon]

416. Actually, I would think it would be less able to lift him, wouldn't it?

As you get higher, the air gets less dense.

[Born_A_Truman]

409. I would be looking in tree tops/trees near the home

I hope they find him and he's safe.

[BeHereNow]

411. Comments on the kids Youtube say he has been found dead.

Media not reporting until identification is certain.
BHN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWJXXgaYBo&feature=player_embedded

[cbdo2007]

413. Comments on Youtube are NOT a source. They may be slightly more reliable than what you hear here...

but hardly anything I'd think was in any way serious or reliable.

[BeHereNow]

420. The Youtube poster sounded sincere.

Let's hope they are wrong.
BHN

[anigbrowl]

414. youtube comments are not a meaningful source of news, c'mon

[BeHereNow]

417. I never said it was a news source- just relating what I read there.

I certainly hope it is NOT a reliable source, who ever posted it.
BHN

[anigbrowl]

419. Well, don't. YT comments are a troll paradise.

[BeHereNow]

421. I will post what I please, TYVM. n/t

bhn

[chatnoir]

412. A Sheriff's Deputy saw an object fall off the balloon

Just east of Plattville, according to CNN.

[lobodons]

423. CNN showing picture of box falling

off of balloon from abaout 200 feet or so (my estimate from picture) it is blurry but could be..??

[RedCloud]

433. back again?

[Hissyspit]

448. PHOTO Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4105340&mesg_id=4105340

[Born_A_Truman]

427. That's about 24 miles from the house...(n/t)

[lobodons]

434. Yes but

knowing the size of the balloon and that there are trees in the forground it isn't that high in the air which is why I speculated at about 200 feet or so. And if that was at the time of box breaking off then the loss of weight would have triggered the massive altitude gain that we all saw when the balloon was at 8000 feet.

And if that is the box in the picture, it should be easy to find.

[Hepburn]

415. Object seen falling from balloon ~~ witness is a deputy sheriff.

Search is now concentrating in this area.

Edit for typo

[Hepburn]

422. CNN ~~ showing still picture...

...it could be a photo of an object falling from the balloon or off of the balloon.

Frankly, I cannot tell from what it shown by the dark spot below the balloon ~~ could be a mark on the lense.

[Born_A_Truman]

436. Wish they could find pix taken before that one...

to compare the bottom of the balloon.

[anigbrowl]

424. Now they're saying the box was attached, but damaged (sigh...)

This is according to http://www.kdvr.com/news/livestreaming/ (video feed)

[Hepburn]

425. What I saw of the landing, there was only one thing attached to...

...that craft. Supposedly there were two attachments ~~ something below the round container at the bottom of the balloon. So, I have no clue...

:shrug:

[flvegan]

428. CNN has a sheriff's deputy witnessing an "object" falling off the balloon

and the pic they're showing is, sadly, fairly high off the ground.

[Hepburn]

431. Bad factors...

...so far:

Brother witnessed Falcon in the basket and the craft lift off

Sheriff's Deputy saw something fall off the craft

Still photo captures what appears to be an object falling from craft

Child not in the craft on landing

Family verified that an attachment at the bottom of the craft was missing

Child cannot be located

:cry:

[anigbrowl]

429. Dunno, that was just what the guy at the landing scene reported.

No further updates since then.

[BeHereNow]

432. Good coverage- thanks for the link.

:thumbsup:
BHN

[Hepburn]

435. Yes...excellent link.

[anigbrowl]

437. For other readers, there's now video of the thing taking off

I can't really draw any conclusions from it, though it didn't look like there was anything suspended from it. But low-quality streaming video etc. etc.

[Hepburn]

438. Thanks for the link...

...and that video they were just showing of the craft taking off? Amazing how fast it went up in the air.

[BeHereNow]

439. FYI- I just thanked you on the shout back box for providing the link.

Along with my conclusion, from the latest video release of it taking off,
that if he was on it, he most likely is not alive.

Again, thanks for the link.

BHN

[anigbrowl]

444. oh sorry, I don't have that part loaded so I didn't spot it, but you're welcome

[MellonCollie]

440. Nothing was attached to the balloon

According to 9news.com just a few minutes ago (quoting the local sheriff's department).

[Hepburn]

441. At what point?

When it landed, the one attachment was missing, but not sure when or where it fell off.

:shrug:

[MellonCollie]

445. From the start

9news.com are quoting the sheriffs department as saying that what landed in the field was 'it'; that was the way the balloon was made. It could be another confused news report though....no-one seems to know what the hell's going on.

Live video feed here: http://www.9news.com/video/player_live.aspx

[Hepburn]

450. Thanks...and welcome to the DU!

:hi:

[BeHereNow]

442. Welcome to Du and thanks for the news.

Let's hope the kid is safe.
BHN

[gatorboy]

443. But there's tape of something falling off.

[anigbrowl]

477. When you say so, I know it's not true

There was a photo, not a tape. And it was just a 'something' could have been a lens smudge, something falling, who knows what.

[gatorboy]

485. No, there was a tape linked over at Huff.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-342202

(Which has since been taken down.)

But obviously not what we dreaded it was, thankfully.

But thanks for keeping up with me. I didn't know I had a fan! :hi:

[RedCloud]

451. If they mean "ever" during the flight, okay good news.

I think we are getting jumbled reports now. If there was no other part attached to it, then how did that fall off? Or if nothing fell off, and at the gentle crash site there were no rips, therefore no falling,,, could the boy have asphyxiated from the helium inside or before that, not knowing how high he was, took a leap to save his life?

[MellonCollie]

458. He's been located alive and well!

Good news!

Edit: Meant to add this as a new post - whoops! :)

[Born_A_Truman]

468. Cnn reports he's alive and at home!

[AtheistCrusader]

447. Calling bullshit. Sorry.

You know those commerical blimps they run around at Sports Stadiums and whatnot? The polymer ballons? A 30 foot one will just barly life about 30 lbs. A 6 year old kid should weigh anywhere from 40-55lbs. PLUS you have the weight of the helium containment, baskets, whatever else is in there that helps this 'flying saucer' thing maintain its shape.

If the pictures of the family standing in front of it are actual photos of the device that got loose, it didn't lift a 6 year old kid off the ground. It's not nearly as big as one of those 30 foot blimps.

Unless that thing is somehow WAY WAY bigger than it appears in the family photos, and a man approaching the 'crash' site, it never lifted that kid 1 foot off the ground.

He's probably hiding somewhere in fear after accidentally cutting it loose.


Edit: It would be nice if someone would get out a fucking tape measure and figure out the exact dimensions of the balloon. It's not like the lift capacity of a known volume of helium is some random mysterious thing.

[S_E_Fudd]

452. My feeling as well...or

Given the history this family has...a purposeful hoax!

[AtheistCrusader]

462. Yeah, I'm looking at pictures of the crashed vehicle

I'll be generous and assume every single cop in the frame is 8 feet tall. There's no way. It might be 25 feet in diameter, max. If it were a sphere, maybe. Maybe. But it was a flat, ovoid thing, which also requires more weight just to force the baloon into that shape, in terms of hardware.

Could be a hoax. Someone's going to get a really big Search and Rescue bill if that's the case. Maybe the networks will kick in a little for the ratings boost.

[AtheistCrusader]

469. MSNBC banner says boy found safe in home.

LOL

[Hepburn]

449. Still photo ~~ object falling from balloon

This may or may not be something falling off of the balloon ~~ at the lower left portion of the photo:

[kjackson227]

457. alive and at the house!!!!! Yippeeeeee!!!!

[kjackson227]

466. This has been a hell of an evening. I'm tired and going home...

thanks for the updates, everyone.

[IRemember]

453. Authorities: No 'basket' was on aircraft

"While authorities search for a 6-year-old boy who was believed to be inside an experimental aircraft when it lifted off, investigators now say there was no basket on the balloon when it took off from his Fort Collins home."

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=125161&catid=339

[Duer 157099]

454. He's been located n/t

Alive and well

[Drum]

455. News conference: Boy is located, and at the family home.

:-)

[Xithras]

463. Oh thank God.

As the parent of a 5 year old who loves to explore and get into things that he shouldn't, I have been heartbroken thinking that he might be dead in a field somewhere.

[RedCloud]

456. Alive and at the house!

[NOW tense]

460. Damn Kid at home

[Ruby the Liberal]

461. KUSA - boy found alive at the house

So, under the bed or in the dryer?

[blaze]

465. :)

[anigbrowl]

471. hiding in a box in the attic, lol EPIC

[Hepburn]

475. Holy Mother of Batman!

I don't know whether to laugh or cry...but thank gawd he is alive and well.

:hi:

[Hepburn]

464. LOCAL STATION REPORTING HE HAS BEEN FOUND...

...WELL AND ALIVE... :bounce:

[Ruby the Liberal]

474. In a box, in the attic, over the garage.

Nice job with the search, guys. :eyes:

[Drum]

487. Yeah, seriously!

What's up with that "we searched the home twice" crap? What a scarefest for all of those rescuers, bet they're not feeling to kindly to the people who couldn't find the kid in his own home.

[lobodons]

467. Boy found under bed!!!

He best better have been hiding or there are going to be a lot of questions to be answered.

[chatnoir]

470. Alive and hiding in a box in an attic in the garage

[Tx4obama]

472. He is ALIVE and AT HOME! n/t

[Seedersandleechers]

473. Local news is

saying found in a box in an attic in the garage?

[Born_A_Truman]

476. Attic in the garage!

[Tx4obama]

478. Parents need to give him a big hug and then a big spanking! n/t

[slackmaster]

495. Oh no you didn't...

:hide:

[Duer 157099]

479. So many ironies in this story

Right as the sheriff/spokesman was doing the news conferece, the question that was posed immediately before the news came that he'd been found at home was: "how credible is the older brother as a witness" and the sheriff had been very adament that the older brother was a "very credible witness."

Lots of people are going to be embarrassed by today's events.

[Hoopla Phil]

480. Kid was found home in his garage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TomCADem]

482. Hug Him, Then Ground Him Until He Is 16

[TomCADem]

483. Hug Him, Then Ground Him Until He Is 16

[lobodons]

489. Wifeswsap episode should air during sweeps week

They will win by a landslide. Possibly first by a rerun..??

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

493. Dad is probably talking to an agent

about movie rights for Balloon Boy.

WifeSwap? Hah! Chump change!

I just wonder if the whole day was staged.

[FlyingSquirrel]

494. You could do something productive with the talents you've been given

It would make the world a better place. Might even make you a happier person

[lobodons]

481. Boy in Balloon in the air becomes

Boy in box on the ground becomes boy in box in the attic becomes boy in his room for the rest of his life in big heeps of doodoo.

[anigbrowl]

486. are you kidding? 6 years old, and he's already in the internet hall of fame

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Heene

[Hepburn]

491. OMG....

...:rofl:

[crim son]

492. THANK the DEITY for that, or just heave a sigh of relief as is your preference.

I need a drink. No really, this stressed the hell out of me.

[Hepburn]

507. Me, too....

...I was so scared for that child. Reminded me of watching Jessica McClure when she was trapped in that well.

[gauguin57]

488. "where is" Web site has been updated with "safe and sound" info.

http://www.whereisballoonboy.com/

[Ten Bears]

490. So the kid is safe and always was...

...isn't mass hysteria fun? Now flame away.

[HuckleB]

498. This family has a history of chasing media attention.

They subjected their kids to "Wife Swap" twice, and the father is obsessed with chasing storms.

The way they opened everything up to the media afterward, makes me wonder about how worried they really were.

The kid was showing how he got to where he hid. This all seems a bit staged to me.

[nashville_brook]

499. thank god! that's the best news ever. tears... shit.

[uppityperson]

500. 41 recs. Now 40. eom

[Trajan]

504. This thread is kinda funny .....

It is instructive as to the nature of rumor and how belief is formed ....

I admit I seen nothing about this until well after it happened, but reading this shows how people will create 'realities' that are completely false ....

[populistdriven]

506. k&r for the lessons learned - glad i was otherwise occupied yesterday