“Rescue workers today began scaling down the search for a priest who was carried off the coast of Brazil four days ago by hundreds of balloons.
The Rev Adelir Antonio di Carli was last heard from on Sunday night, eight hours after he took off from the port city of Paranaguá harnessed to hundreds of brightly coloured helium-filled balloons. Strong winds had blown him off his planned route and out to sea.
The Brazilian air force today suspended its search as hopes of finding him alive faded. The navy continued to patrol waters off the coast of Santa Catarina state, but it was considering halting operations, according to the Reuters news agency.”
But of course, the daddy of Lawnchair Ballooning was Californian Larry Walters, back in 1982.
“Fearing that he might unbalance the load, he did not dare shoot any balloons with his pellet gun. Instead, he spent about two hours aloft and soared up to 16,000 feet — over three miles high.
From San Pedro, Walters and his balloons began to drift over Long Beach, and crossed the primary approach corridor of Long Beach airport. Airline pilots from both TWA and Delta reported seeing him to the control tower at Long Beach airport.
‘Now on Final Approach…’
Knowing that this was possible, Walters used his CB radio and, using Channel 9 (the emergency CB radio channel), attempted to notify the tower. The conversation was recorded by the Crest-REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Communication Team) in Corona, California.
REACT: What information do you wish me to tell them [air traffic control] at this time as to your location and your difficulty?
Walters: Ah, the difficulty is, ah, this was an unauthorized balloon launch, and, uh, I know I’m in a federal airspace, and, uh, I’m sure my ground crew has alerted the proper authority. But, uh, just call them and tell them I’m okay.
In disbelief in what they are hearing, the crew at REACT asks further questions of Walters:
REACT: What color is the balloon?
Walters: The balloons are beige in color. I’m in a bright blue sky which would be very highly visible. Over.
REACT: [Balloon] size?
Walters: Size approximately, uh, seven feet in diameter each. And I probably have about 35 left. Over.
REACT: You’re saying you have a cluster of 35 balloons??
Walters: These are 35 weather balloons. Not one single balloon, sir. It is 35 weather balloons.
REACT: Roger, stand by this frequency.
Shivering in the thin high-altitude air, he finally used his pellet gun to start popping balloons, in order to lower his altitude. Descending, he aimed, as best he could, to land at the Virginia County Club in Long Beach. But, he descended short of the golf course, and headed into a residential neighborhood in Long Beach.
“The part that was scary was the last 300 feet (before landing), with the rooftops and telephone poles coming up so fast,” Walters said. “I was praying that I wouldn’t hit one of those power lines and be fried or sizzled.” Walters said in a interview shortly after landing.”
” … and except for some congestion near mid-town everything is looking good. This is Phil Roberts, reporting from News Lounge 5 … back to you in the studio.”
![Up up and away [640x480]](http://bitsandpieces.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/imagesup-20up-20and-20away-20640x480.jpg)
“Rescue workers today began scaling down the search for a priest who was carried off the coast of Brazil four days ago by hundreds of balloons.
The Rev Adelir Antonio di Carli was last heard from on Sunday night, eight hours after he took off from the port city of Paranaguá harnessed to hundreds of brightly coloured helium-filled balloons. Strong winds had blown him off his planned route and out to sea.
The Brazilian air force today suspended its search as hopes of finding him alive faded. The navy continued to patrol waters off the coast of Santa Catarina state, but it was considering halting operations, according to the Reuters news agency.”
But of course, the daddy of Lawnchair Ballooning was Californian Larry Walters, back in 1982.
“Fearing that he might unbalance the load, he did not dare shoot any balloons with his pellet gun. Instead, he spent about two hours aloft and soared up to 16,000 feet — over three miles high.
From San Pedro, Walters and his balloons began to drift over Long Beach, and crossed the primary approach corridor of Long Beach airport. Airline pilots from both TWA and Delta reported seeing him to the control tower at Long Beach airport.
‘Now on Final Approach…’
Knowing that this was possible, Walters used his CB radio and, using Channel 9 (the emergency CB radio channel), attempted to notify the tower. The conversation was recorded by the Crest-REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Communication Team) in Corona, California.
REACT: What information do you wish me to tell them [air traffic control] at this time as to your location and your difficulty?
Walters: Ah, the difficulty is, ah, this was an unauthorized balloon launch, and, uh, I know I’m in a federal airspace, and, uh, I’m sure my ground crew has alerted the proper authority. But, uh, just call them and tell them I’m okay.
In disbelief in what they are hearing, the crew at REACT asks further questions of Walters:
REACT: What color is the balloon?
Walters: The balloons are beige in color. I’m in a bright blue sky which would be very highly visible. Over.
REACT: [Balloon] size?
Walters: Size approximately, uh, seven feet in diameter each. And I probably have about 35 left. Over.
REACT: You’re saying you have a cluster of 35 balloons??
Walters: These are 35 weather balloons. Not one single balloon, sir. It is 35 weather balloons.
REACT: Roger, stand by this frequency.
Shivering in the thin high-altitude air, he finally used his pellet gun to start popping balloons, in order to lower his altitude. Descending, he aimed, as best he could, to land at the Virginia County Club in Long Beach. But, he descended short of the golf course, and headed into a residential neighborhood in Long Beach.
“The part that was scary was the last 300 feet (before landing), with the rooftops and telephone poles coming up so fast,” Walters said. “I was praying that I wouldn’t hit one of those power lines and be fried or sizzled.” Walters said in a interview shortly after landing.”
Last but not least, there’s a great Aussie movie, loosely based on Lawnchair Larry’s story, “Danny Deckchair”.
I recommend it. A load of laughs, guaranteed.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337960/
” … and except for some congestion near mid-town everything is looking good. This is Phil Roberts, reporting from News Lounge 5 … back to you in the studio.”
Oh, you guys just blow me away.