Life Inspires Art! Flying Armchair goes "UP!" [Full Story]
In the Disney Pixar film 'UP!' Carl Fredricksen (the 78 year old retired balloon salesman and active dreamer) attaches hundreds of balloons to his house, and floats off into the skies. This Pixar fantasy flight bears a remarkable resemblance to the cluster balloon systems we fly in real life. They fly a house, we fly a pilot!
In fact, when you see the film you will notice that Carl Fredricksen has a favorite chair-- a comfy old red armchair that he relaxes in after his house takes to the skies. Well, we have built a real-world flying armchair based on this design. Disney/Pixar provided us full digital rotations of Carl's chair, and we created it in the real world to fly under an amazing 5-story cluster of helium balloons. Perhaps the flying chair is Carl's early design prototype: first the chair, then the house!
What a great time to be a cluster balloonist! This #1 film creates a great opportunity to delight festival and airshow audiences by hosting a real world cluster balloon flight. The film tells a truly delightful story, and connects with audiences around the world. If you run an event, and would like to send a cluster system aloft, please see the Appearances page so we can go UP!
Additional Accounts: Star Tribune Video; Ballooning Magazine
FAA Licensed pilot rated to fly hot-air and gas balloons. All flights flown in strict compliance with all Federal Aviation Regulations.
Americas Challenge: 68 hours, 46 minutes aloft! [Full Story]
AMERICA'S CHALLENGE: Successful launch of long-distance manned helium balloon from Albuquerque, New Mexico! Flight of "Rainbow in the Dark" sets new America's Challenge race duration record, claims 2nd place in distance race!
Balloon flight out of Albuquerque New Mexico piloted 1,214 miles over New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska before crossing the Missouri river and descending for landing in Iowa!
Flight details in full debrief page!
Blueberry Cluster Flies the Indiana Skies! [Full Story]
For almost 10 hours on August 31st 2008, the skies over Indiana played host to a giant 'Blueberry Cluster' of 38 helium balloons, piloted by Jonathan Trappe. Thanks to the Marshall County Hot Air Affair, the Blueberry cluster achieved an altitude of 17,930 feet-- a personal record for Mr. Trappe, and within throwing distance of the World Record. Trappe stayed below 18,000 feet to maintain strict compliance with FAA regulations for this type of flight.
The launch could not have happened without the wonderful volunteers who arose in the early pre-light hours in order to meet at the field at 4:00 am. [ ! ]Thank you all very much; we sincerely appreciate it. Specialthanks goes out to the flight's two main sponsors: the helium provider All American Welding and the overall event sponsor the Marshall County Hot Air Affair! It was the MCHAA Board members that made the flight happen. Jim, Ron, Cecil: thank you for the wonderfulopportunity to fly in Plymouth.
Additional Accounts: The South Bend Tribune
IMPORTANT: This flight was piloted by an FAA Certified pilot carrying appropriate safety and emergency equipment (transponder, aircraft radios, parachute, oxygen, etc.) Local and regional FAA air-traffic controllers were appropriately notified and the entire flight operated in strict compliance with all Federal Aviation Regulations. DO NOT attempt any ballooning activity without training from an FAA qualified instructor. Your life, and and the lives of those we share the sky with, depends on it.
"Chairway To Heaven" ascends over North Carolina! [Full Story]
Early in the morning of June 7th, from an airfield in Franklin County North Carolina, Jonathan Trappe launched his standard, unmodified office chair under a cluster of 55 helium balloons, and took to the skies!
The 4-hour flight attainted an altitude approaching 15,000 feet and covered a ground track of approximatly 50 miles. The flight was equipped with a transponder, aircraft radio, parachute and a high-altitude oxygen system; the entire flight was conducted in full compliance with all Federal Aviaiton Regulations-- and was a tremendous success!
Please join us to relive the flight!
Additional Accounts:
- BALLOONING Magazine
- News and Observer
- N & O Gallery
- Accenture
- HotAir.nl
- XLTA.org
- Triangle Business Journal
- New York Times (excerpt)
