willso1 0 #1 February 4, 2011 Hey I'm sure there's plenty of you out there that have done the odd balloon jump or 2 and would love to give one a go some time. Haven't jumped for a long time and only have just over 100 jumps. How different is it from out of a plane, do you feel like your guts is in your mouth? I suppose there's less room for error and I don't want to freeze as i jump!! Any suggestions, opinions? I know I'll need some currency jumping before I think about doing one but they looks awesome fun ; ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TiaDanger 0 #2 February 4, 2011 The search function is your friend...tons of information on here already. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=search_results&search_forum=all&search_string=balloon%20jumps&sb=score&mh=25 And for the record: the appropriate ranking of cool modes of transportation is jet pack, hover board, transporter, Batmobile, and THEN giant ant. D.S. #8.8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spootch 0 #3 February 4, 2011 10 seconds later and it's just another jump... ONLY COOLER Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreefdiver 0 #4 February 4, 2011 They're fun. Much like a BASE jump (I'm guessing); no forward momentum to speak of. You jump off or let go of the basket and let gravity do the rest. Except for the use of the burners, its pretty quiet, till you hit terminal velocity, and that is another cool thing, you hear yourself pick up speed by listening to the air. I hope to put some more jumps together this spring.DS#727, DB Cooper #41, POPS #11065, SCR #13183, FA #2125, SCS #8306, HALO #309 SRA #5930 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hodges 4 #5 February 4, 2011 We did one over in Perris earlier in the year. The balloon operators had rigged up a big line so that we could swing out from the balloon before letting go. Coolest thing ever. Don't worry about the exit - it's the landing that you want to consider; you'll likely be landing off the DZ. (P.S. Sitting on the side of the basket while climbing to an altitude where a parachute might work was the worst bit for me). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TSISK 0 #6 February 4, 2011 i did one Dec 27th at the Holiday boogie in eloy and liked it so much i did another on the 28th. For some reason crawling up on the side of the basket to Jump was the scariest part. It is very quiet but 0 to 120 in 12 sec is the shit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ILUVCHUTERS 1 #7 February 4, 2011 I was so scared my first balloon jump (last Christmas, Eloy) I had about 100 jumps, it was my first time off my home DZ, and the whole landing out thing freaked me out ("what do you mean we're not landing on the DZ??") Also, just the quiet of it all, right before you jump/fall off the basket. So freaky. But so very, very cool. I love balloon jumps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sangi 0 #8 February 4, 2011 Quote How different is it from out of a plane, do you feel like your guts is in your mouth? I suppose there's less room for error and I don't want to freeze as i jump!! Yes it does feel like your guts are in your mouth and that's why it's so awesome, something that you can practically never get from a regular aircraft exit.. There's no point in worrying about the exit itself (you can tumble like a dead ragdoll and you'll be fine once you hit terminal and can get the control of your body), since you can't hit anything (it's not a BASE jump), it's the landing you have to worry about because it will be off the DZ.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLJeRIcvNvw It was my second dead air exit and one of my best ever jumps, will do it again no doubt "Dream as you'll live forever, live as you'll die today." James Dean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #9 February 5, 2011 Quote Quote How different is it from out of a plane, do you feel like your guts is in your mouth? I suppose there's less room for error and I don't want to freeze as i jump!! Yes it does feel like your guts are in your mouth and that's why it's so awesome, something that you can practically never get from a regular aircraft exit.. There's no point in worrying about the exit itself (you can tumble like a dead ragdoll and you'll be fine once you hit terminal and can get the control of your body), since you can't hit anything (it's not a BASE jump), it's the landing you have to worry about because it will be off the DZ.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLJeRIcvNvw It was my second dead air exit and one of my best ever jumps, will do it again no doubt It took you less than 5 sec to check you altitude. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterboy3412 0 #10 February 5, 2011 would you guys say its similar to a helicopter jump? i did one of those last summer and that was a blast.Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sinjin 0 #11 February 5, 2011 bring your phone for starters, you might be landing away from the balloon chase truck. when the balloon is lifting off start to study the area. roads, powerlines, landing areas. you want to land somewhat near a road, not near power lines of course. they are great fun.dont let life pass you by Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #12 February 5, 2011 Quotebring your phone for starters, you might be landing away from the balloon chase truck. when the balloon is lifting off start to study the area. roads, powerlines, landing areas. you want to land somewhat near a road, not near power lines of course. they are great fun. Good advice. Remember there are no straight lines in nature. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sangi 0 #13 February 5, 2011 I did some of my AFF jumps from a MI-8 heli, at least that heli was still moving forward a bit during exits so I didn't get to feel that gut wrenching.. Another key thing when lookin where to land after a balloon jump is watching out for the power lines, you won't be able to see the power lines themselves from altitude, but what you have to look for are the power line towers / poles."Dream as you'll live forever, live as you'll die today." James Dean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 93 #14 February 5, 2011 QuoteWe did one over in Perris earlier in the year. The balloon operators had rigged up a big line so that we could swing out from the balloon before letting go. Where was the line attached? That sounds like a great little bonus.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hodges 4 #15 February 5, 2011 The pilot added a set of handles on the crown line which I believe it attached to the very top of the balloon and is used to control it on the ground. The shape of the balloon meant that the line swang out quite far. I threw up a quick video here if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFRhLOMSkfE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreefdiver 0 #16 February 5, 2011 QuoteThe pilot added a set of handles on the crown line which I believe it attached to the very top of the balloon and is used to control it on the ground. The shape of the balloon meant that the line swang out quite far. I threw up a quick video here if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFRhLOMSkfE that was a pretty cool addition to balloon jumps!DS#727, DB Cooper #41, POPS #11065, SCR #13183, FA #2125, SCS #8306, HALO #309 SRA #5930 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_Don 0 #17 February 6, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFRhLOMSkfE Easy button! I am NOT being loud. I'm being enthusiastic! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #18 February 6, 2011 Here is a neat way of doing a balloon jump. Sparky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMpuBIJuSNEMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #19 February 6, 2011 Quote Here is a neat way of doing a balloon jump. Sparky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMpuBIJuSNE doesnt that count as two jumps!? “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites