Malta_Dog

Normally I love that phrase. It works so well in most cases. It doesn't work when you can hurt or possibly kill others like in this case though. Better to ask permission if you are going to possibly endanger others. This thread has give me a number of reasons not to attempt this, but the risk of physically harming anyone else seems completely insubstantial. I might well emotionally distress them, yes, and piss them off a great deal. But I don't imagine that the integrity or balance of a hot-air balloon is really comprimised when it loses, what, less than 10% of its load. Nor is it going to then be too light and drift off into space. Disclaimer: I'm not a balloonist but I can say with certainty that you're deadly wrong there. Most hot air ballons (not the competition balloons) are shaped like an inverted water drop, because their max rate of ascent is much lower than their max rate of descent. If you jump from the balloon while it is not descending, the substantial loss of ballast (=you) will make it literally shoot up. Air above the enveloppe will create an aerodynamic resistance equivalent to higher pressure forcing the hot air out of the enveloppe by the hole below. The amount of hot air lost may be sufficient to induce an irrecoverable rate of descent depending to outside air t°, alt of the balloon at the moment of the jump and efficiency of the burners. Worse: the shot-up effect and aerodynamic resistance may be enough to disrupt/damage the parachute valve on top of the enveloppe, letting hot air escape inexorably and dooming the balloon and its occupants. This is also basically why hot air balloons ususally fly around dawn and dusk times, when the air is calm because turbulence can cause them the same troubles. What happens when rate of ascent is too high: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Somerset_hot_air_balloon_crash edited to correct rate of climb with rate of ascent All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Welcome to the land of cholesterol! Don't worry about the nice weather, it is really unusual and normal weather (=rain) should return shortly! All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

I hope that he was wearing a Go-Pro. The ground carton-rush must be awesome to witness! All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

My bad, I had read somewhere that the GSR750 would be sold in the US. I didn't know that Suzuki had changed its mind. Saw one the other day, nice bike for the price. Much more sporty than my BMW F800R, although I'm still convinced that I made a good choice for a daily commuter. All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Beg your pardon?? Gladius, GSR 600, GSR 750... All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Anyway, that was some serious meltdown! http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2012/images/03/28/osbon.complaint.and.affidavit.pdf?hpt=hp_t1 Kudos to all the people who took action to avoid a possible disaster. And I hope that the guy will recover from his condition, whatever the cause(s). All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Most articles aren't written anymore but generated with a few clicks: Plane mishap article generator All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Awesome, thanks

ROFLCOPTER!!! All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Awesome! The formation flying reminded me of Space Invaders All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Cool, thanks

Even gear-up warning tones Oops... All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Just one thing to remind to the 'holier than you' cagers: you are not stuck in traffic, you ARE traffic. No reason to be mad at the time lost as you are as much responsible as all the other drivers around you. Splitting lanes is legal in Belgium up to 50 kph, with a max 20 kph difference between 2 wheelers and 4 wheelers (this is a bit difficult to judge and enforce...). Police forces are very tolerant about 'creative' use of the road by the bikers as long as they ride at reasonable speeds and don't try to be noisier than a Saturn V taking off. On the highway in the daily traffic jams, most people are respectful to the bike riders and leave them enough space to pass. When the traffic problem is unexpected (i.e. caused by an acccident during the WE), the rider should be much more careful because the drivers don't think about them. The same in cities. Now, some riders are as intolerant as cagers by expecting everyone to pull aside to let them pass, and become mad when they are blocked. I will not honk nor made rude gestures at a car stuck between lanes during a change, and I even make 'thank you' gestures to drivers who required me to take action to avoid them then noticed me just a tad too late. For me, riding a bike is a zen exercise. All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Glad you're unhurt... Been there, done that (with a bit more damage to the bike, but not a scratch on me thanks to the gear). Now, when I'm splitting lanes or even riding through heavy traffic, I switch on my hi-beam and 4 blinkers. I won't get mad anymore at people who don't see me, I consider it my job to avoid everyone. That being said, people on the phone, reading the newspaper or putting make-up while driving still make my blood boil... All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

WIN! All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Maybe so, but we men have vectoring thrust! All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

@ Emmiwy and NWFlyer: thanks for the tips! Every website offering tours seems to be sold out. Bummer, but we'll find other things to enjoy in SF. Blue Skies and thanks for the help! All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Hi there, My family and I will be visiting San Francisco on Aug 11th and Aug 12th this year. I was hoping to take them to the Alcatraz Island visit with audio tour (I already did it in 1998) but I noticed yesterday on the Alcatraz Cruises website that those dates are already sold out Are there any alternatives? What would you advise us to do? Thank you for your time

I noticed that 'ALT' was blinking like crazy on the right side of the HUD? All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Bumping up the thread... All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Hello, I'm throwing this message in a bottle in the internet sea for a friend of mine: She is former prosecutor in Republic of Moldova (last jobs in Council of Europe and UN as project manager), and at this moment she is attending a master in law at the University of Washington, Seattle (criminal law). She is looking for a non-paid internship anywhere in the US in a lawyer firm, institution, private company, NGO... preferably active in one of the following domains: criminal matters, human rights or democratic developments. Period of internship: July (preferably) or August Length: 3 weeks min. If you know about an opportunity, please pass me the address so she can send an application. Thanks All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Until they fall in rags, which is around 3-5 years for me. I would like to keep them longer but, for some reason, I am a very efficient clothes-destroyer machine (like the Hulk but without the muscles ) On a side note, something funny my 9 years old boy said to me this morning... Last evening, I was busy with him cleaning up his drawers and wardrobe, putting all the now too small clothes in a bag to give to a younger cousin (I was overdue, I found a pair of pants sized for a 4 years old...) He probably confused the fact that he was growing with the years instead of his clothes reducing in size because this morning, seeing me put on a 'Batman' T-shirt that he likes a lot (a lucky charm for me when I ride my bike), he asked me: 'when your T-shirt will be too small, may I get it?' All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxXlDyTD7wo All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!

Blue Skies Mr Winters, thank you for all you and your men did for us. All your dropzone are belong to us!!!!111!