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Fort Collins boy in loose aircraft (6 yr old boy found hiding at home not in balloon)
Denver Post ^ | October 15, 2009 | Kieran Nicholson

Posted on 10/15/2009 11:45:55 AM PDT by Arec Barrwin

Rescuers are tracking and chasing a "homemade flying saucer" that is in flight with a 6-year-old, by himself, on board.

The incident started this morning in Fort Collins when the boy got into the balloon-like device, which was built by an adult, and it came loose from a tether, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.

The contraption could rise as high as 10,000 feet, the sheriff's office said.

The home-made flying saucer was last seen in flight over Weld County.

The sheriff's office is working the Federal Aviation Administration to determine how to best get the boy down.

The homemade airplane was tethered in Fort Collins when the boy got onboard and it floated away. (Lisa Ecklund via 9News)

The six-year-old boy was by himself on board the hommade aircraft. (Courtesy Lisa Ecklund, via 9News)

The craft could fly as high as 10,000 feet, according to the Weld County Sheriff's Office. (Lisa Ecklund via 9News)


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: balloon; balloonboy; denver; faa; falconheene; jiffypop; missing
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To: BuckeyeTexan

How many times have a rescue like this been attempted? Never?? Nobody has ever trained for a situation like this so it’s going to be risky no matter what.


41 posted on 10/15/2009 11:59:11 AM PDT by ninergold3 ("Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?" -Mark Lowry)
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To: ml/nj

#35.


42 posted on 10/15/2009 11:59:44 AM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: Arec Barrwin

Dear god. This is awful.


43 posted on 10/15/2009 11:59:51 AM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: GonzoGOP
Purchase a clue. I'm at 7K feet right now. There's plenty of O2 and it's nice and warm. I can ride the 6 wheeler for a couple of hours and be at 10K feet, and I'll still be fine.

/johnny

44 posted on 10/15/2009 12:00:05 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
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To: ml/nj

poking holes in the balloon may be an option. Slow release of whatever its using for lift would do the trick.


45 posted on 10/15/2009 12:00:25 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Arec Barrwin

I wonder if they could shoot holes in it to release the gas slowly.


46 posted on 10/15/2009 12:00:25 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Waste and fraud are synonymous with gov't spending)
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To: Jet Jaguar; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...
Wow.


47 posted on 10/15/2009 12:00:53 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("When France chides you for appeasement, you know you're scraping bottom." --Charles Krauthammer)
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To: driftdiver
Original post said 10k, and it is cold that is the real problem. If it is at 2K then it is probably safer to just wait until it comes down due to normal gas seepage.

Note that the skydiver wouldn't have been in danger, but if he tipped it over when he made contact the kid might fall out. The Skydiver would have had a backup parachute. But again not an issue if they are only at 2k.
48 posted on 10/15/2009 12:01:34 PM PDT by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world, and they are all out to get me.)
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To: mainepatsfan

I keep praying that the little guy freaked out when the thing started coming loose and hid.


49 posted on 10/15/2009 12:01:43 PM PDT by ninergold3 ("Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?" -Mark Lowry)
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To: ml/nj

Can’t be heavy. Use a helicopter with a long cable. hook the thing to control where it goes. Cut it open to deflate and land it.


50 posted on 10/15/2009 12:01:45 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: ml/nj
(Maybe lob sandbags into his gondola and follow him down?)

No open gondola. This thing will not come down easy.

51 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:02 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
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To: Arec Barrwin

Fox news said 25 mph and 6000 ft


52 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:06 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: Arec Barrwin

Harpoon it.


53 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:14 PM PDT by Sir Gawain
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To: Arec Barrwin

Okay, one story says “hot air balloon” another says “helium” balloon. Which is it?

If hot air, it’ll be down soon. If helium, they better start shooting it full of holes or that kid is on his way to the stratosphere.


54 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:18 PM PDT by hattend (Sarah Palin's mob minion - Mob Name: Hatman the Hitman)
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Anyone know if he has blankets or heat device? Any radio?


55 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:37 PM PDT by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: Arec Barrwin

Reminds me of Payne Stewart’s doomed flight.


56 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:51 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: ninergold3

I hope they have a plan that will work, and that the little guy doesn’t panic and try to get out.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091015/balloon_colo_091015/20091015?hub=World


57 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:52 PM PDT by Palladin (ACORN is a criminal enterprise.)
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To: BuckeyeTexan

Please pardon my ignorance, but is this 6,000 ft altitude the height above the ground? If so, then I’d guess we’re talking about the oxygen altitude equivalent of ... what — maybe 10-11K given the area? That’s still breathable, but less so for a panicked little boy.


58 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:56 PM PDT by alancarp (Obama: treat the unborn with AT LEAST as much respect as you do terrorists!!)
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To: Arec Barrwin

Put a few 1/4 inch holes in it.


59 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:59 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: hattend

That is no hot air ballon!


60 posted on 10/15/2009 12:03:19 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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