link


You would be nuts to play Russian Roulette with these.

For some reason the 'professionals' who captain these things have a blind-spot where Powerlines are concerned.

And then they build these things out of combustible materials that are airlifted by rocket-power feeding hot air into them.

It's an idiots' game.

Full of hot air, and known to come crashing down to Earth every now and then.

Who does that remind me of?    :-/

lets face it herb, not everyone wants to hide in fear of everything that may go wrong,  like you do

i blame a corn-based diet

It's all about where you do your hot air ballooning. I would never do one around an urban area because there are too many dangers lurking. However I did mine out in the country and it was absolutely beautiful. Mind you, now that I've done it I probably won't do it again. Some of these balloon pilots are a bit cowboy-like.

Some years ago my wife and I want for a balloon ride over the Hunter valley. Loved every moment of it. These accidents are tragic but they should not put anyone off giving this a try.

Belgarion wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 5:07pm:

Some years ago my wife and I want for a balloon ride over the Hunter valley. Loved every moment of it. These accidents are tragic but they should not put anyone off giving this a try.

I agree  everything has its danger...

this is so awful but no need for the knee jerk.....

.they are looking into the hotair Balloon laws.. so maybe they are a bit lax....

how many times have we seen buses kill their holiday passengers... it happens...its not as if its deliberate....

Belgarion wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 5:07pm:

Some years ago my wife and I want for a balloon ride over the Hunter valley. Loved every moment of it. These accidents are tragic but they should not put anyone off giving this a try.

Not for me, thank you.

I can't count the number of so-called 'experts' in hang-gliding who have died 'under tragic circumstances' that I've read of over the years. Instructors with hundreds of hours of experience behind them ... and then a puff of wind slams them against a cliff-face ... or a sudden down-draught takes the air out of their wings.

Same with base-jumpers.

Same with para-gliders.

Same with wing-suit dudes.

Same with countless ultralights crashing into powerlines. 

It's a fool's-game.

Just in Australia alone, the death toll each year is horrendous.

Sorry, Aqua ... but I think I'll leave the fool-hardy to the alpha-studs and their derring-doo if this means that as a beta I will triumph as one of Nature's evolutionary survivors.

Increasing your chances of survival is Nature's first and foremost Law.

Dead heroes

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 6:25pm:

Just in Australia alone, the death toll each year is horrendous.

1,200 people died on Australian roads last year, Her-bert.

Did you cross a road last year, or get in a car/taxi/bus?

I can't understand why they have to be so close to those powerlines, with all that space around them for taking off with those balloons.
Twice I have been up in a hot air balloon, and nowhere near any powerlines.
Basically lots of tall trees, and then paddocks with cow poop we land in.

After our first balloon flight, with "Go Wild Ballooning" they would do this stunt, like aiming for the trees, then go upwards and over the trees.
Well, a couple of months later, my son was driving towards Yarra Glen, and said he saw the same balloon, stuck in the trees, with the basket full of people dangling.

Never did know of them doing that little stunt again.
Speaking of which, did you see this guy do this attempt, he has been practicing for 2 years..... :o :o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG8G2kWQBiw

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 9:25pm:

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 6:25pm: Just in Australia alone, the death toll each year is horrendous. 1,200 people died on Australian roads last year, Her-bert. Did you cross a road last year, or get in a car/taxi/bus?

Now here's a moot point, the police argue, that slowing down the speed and booking people (even for doing 4 ks over) etc has reduced the road toll.....and that is total fabrication....totally revenue raising lie, as the road toll statistics have proven otherwise each and every year.

Sophia wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 10:29pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 9:25pm: Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 6:25pm: Just in Australia alone, the death toll each year is horrendous. 1,200 people died on Australian roads last year, Her-bert. Did you cross a road last year, or get in a car/taxi/bus? Now here's a moot point, the police argue, that slowing down the speed and booking people (even for doing 4 ks over) etc has reduced the road toll.....and that is total fabrication....totally revenue raising lie, as the road toll statistics have proven otherwise each and every year.

It depends on the roads etc but...

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/nt-speed-limits-permanently-derestricted-20150903-gje7jc.html

Hmm... Evidence, what a wonderful idea!

Sophia wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 10:29pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 9:25pm: Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 6:25pm: Just in Australia alone, the death toll each year is horrendous. 1,200 people died on Australian roads last year, Her-bert. Did you cross a road last year, or get in a car/taxi/bus? Now here's a moot point, the police argue, that slowing down the speed and booking people (even for doing 4 ks over) etc has reduced the road toll.....and that is total fabrication....totally revenue raising lie, as the road toll statistics have proven otherwise each and every year.

I have no problem with revenue raising.

Triple the fines, I say.

Quadruple them!

I've found a fool-proof way of avoiding being fined by the police.

Are you ready for it?

Ok.

Here goes.

I don't break the law!

It's quite cunning, no?

https://media.giphy.com/media/QgixZj4y3TwnS/giphy.gif

Setanta wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 10:33pm:

Sophia wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 10:29pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 9:25pm: Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 6:25pm: Just in Australia alone, the death toll each year is horrendous. 1,200 people died on Australian roads last year, Her-bert. Did you cross a road last year, or get in a car/taxi/bus? Now here's a moot point, the police argue, that slowing down the speed and booking people (even for doing 4 ks over) etc has reduced the road toll.....and that is total fabrication....totally revenue raising lie, as the road toll statistics have proven otherwise each and every year. It depends on the roads etc but... http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/nt-speed-limits-permanently-derestricted-20150903-gje7jc.html Hmm... Evidence, what a wonderful idea!

Wow, that's quite an article, yes, some time ago I heard they had restricted their derestricted speeds, now it's been reversed and less problems......and I reckon, the faster one drives, the less time spent on the road.....problem solved! :)

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 10:36pm:

Sophia wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 10:29pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 9:25pm: Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 6:25pm: Just in Australia alone, the death toll each year is horrendous. 1,200 people died on Australian roads last year, Her-bert. Did you cross a road last year, or get in a car/taxi/bus? Now here's a moot point, the police argue, that slowing down the speed and booking people (even for doing 4 ks over) etc has reduced the road toll.....and that is total fabrication....totally revenue raising lie, as the road toll statistics have proven otherwise each and every year. I have no problem with revenue raising. Triple the fines, I say. Quadruple them! I've found a fool-proof way of avoiding being fined by the police. Are you ready for it? Ok. Here goes. I don't break the law! It's quite cunning, no? https://media.giphy.com/media/QgixZj4y3TwnS/giphy.gif

Greggory, Greggory, Greggory, I understand what law is, I have not had any fines since I can remember when, not even a parking fine.

But the police with their insistence of lowering the speed to a snails pace to lower the road toll, is a fallacy, as each year, since that false statement was made, I have remembered it, and keep seeing the news at the end of each year "the total road toll is (a figure quoted) higher than the previous year. That statement they made was to justify their making so much revenue from constantly lowering the speed limit.
We see it, where the roads can be a comfortable 70 or 80, is down to 60 for the heck of it.

Our road we live on, where we live, is the 'green wedge' between towns.
That road used to be 80 kph...then it went down to 70kph.
Then half of it went to 60 and 70 kph.
Now it's all down to 60 kph.

It's ridiculous, and even though we had a copper living next door, he didn't even know until I told him....the speed has been lowered to 60!

No warning, just bam, overnight....and yes, it's a up and down hill road, too hard to keep a steady number with the k's, plus, it's not a built up area, so why 60kph?

Yeah, I wonder  ::)

Sophia wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:02pm:

Greggory, Greggory, Greggory, I understand what law is, I have not had any fines since I can remember when, not even a parking fine. But the police with their insistence of lowering the speed to a snails pace to lower the road toll, is a fallacy, as each year, since that false statement was made, I have remembered it, and keep seeing the news at the end of each year "the total road toll is (a figure quoted) higher than the previous year. Our road we live on, where we live, is the 'green wedge' between towns. That road used to be 80 kph...then it went down to 70kph. Then half of it went to 60 and 70 kph. Now it's all down to 60 kph. It's ridiculous, and even though we had a copper living next door, he didn't even know until I told him....the speed has been lowered to 60! No warning, just bam, overnight....and yes, it's a up and down hill road, too hard to keep a steady number with the k's, plus, it's not a built up area, so why 60kph? Yeah, I wonder  ::)

An old man with dementia walked onto a 100k road around here, the solution, drop the speed limit to 80k.

Setanta wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:05pm:

Sophia wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:02pm: Greggory, Greggory, Greggory, I understand what law is, I have not had any fines since I can remember when, not even a parking fine. But the police with their insistence of lowering the speed to a snails pace to lower the road toll, is a fallacy, as each year, since that false statement was made, I have remembered it, and keep seeing the news at the end of each year "the total road toll is (a figure quoted) higher than the previous year. Our road we live on, where we live, is the 'green wedge' between towns. That road used to be 80 kph...then it went down to 70kph. Then half of it went to 60 and 70 kph. Now it's all down to 60 kph. It's ridiculous, and even though we had a copper living next door, he didn't even know until I told him....the speed has been lowered to 60! No warning, just bam, overnight....and yes, it's a up and down hill road, too hard to keep a steady number with the k's, plus, it's not a built up area, so why 60kph? Yeah, I wonder  ::) An old man with dementia walked onto a 100k road around here, the solution, drop the speed limit to 80k.

Her-bert?

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:07pm:

Setanta wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:05pm: Sophia wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:02pm: Greggory, Greggory, Greggory, I understand what law is, I have not had any fines since I can remember when, not even a parking fine. But the police with their insistence of lowering the speed to a snails pace to lower the road toll, is a fallacy, as each year, since that false statement was made, I have remembered it, and keep seeing the news at the end of each year "the total road toll is (a figure quoted) higher than the previous year. Our road we live on, where we live, is the 'green wedge' between towns. That road used to be 80 kph...then it went down to 70kph. Then half of it went to 60 and 70 kph. Now it's all down to 60 kph. It's ridiculous, and even though we had a copper living next door, he didn't even know until I told him....the speed has been lowered to 60! No warning, just bam, overnight....and yes, it's a up and down hill road, too hard to keep a steady number with the k's, plus, it's not a built up area, so why 60kph? Yeah, I wonder  ::) An old man with dementia walked onto a 100k road around here, the solution, drop the speed limit to 80k. Her-bert?

No, it was fatal... Herb's still kicking.

Setanta wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:05pm:

Sophia wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:02pm: Greggory, Greggory, Greggory, I understand what law is, I have not had any fines since I can remember when, not even a parking fine. But the police with their insistence of lowering the speed to a snails pace to lower the road toll, is a fallacy, as each year, since that false statement was made, I have remembered it, and keep seeing the news at the end of each year "the total road toll is (a figure quoted) higher than the previous year. Our road we live on, where we live, is the 'green wedge' between towns. That road used to be 80 kph...then it went down to 70kph. Then half of it went to 60 and 70 kph. Now it's all down to 60 kph. It's ridiculous, and even though we had a copper living next door, he didn't even know until I told him....the speed has been lowered to 60! No warning, just bam, overnight....and yes, it's a up and down hill road, too hard to keep a steady number with the k's, plus, it's not a built up area, so why 60kph? Yeah, I wonder  ::) An old man with dementia walked onto a 100k road around here, the solution, drop the speed limit to 80k.

Is 80 going to kill anyone less?

I think the next problem is not dementia, but those that are not focusing and looking for pokemons! ::)

Sophia wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:14pm:

Setanta wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:05pm: Sophia wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:02pm: Greggory, Greggory, Greggory, I understand what law is, I have not had any fines since I can remember when, not even a parking fine. But the police with their insistence of lowering the speed to a snails pace to lower the road toll, is a fallacy, as each year, since that false statement was made, I have remembered it, and keep seeing the news at the end of each year "the total road toll is (a figure quoted) higher than the previous year. Our road we live on, where we live, is the 'green wedge' between towns. That road used to be 80 kph...then it went down to 70kph. Then half of it went to 60 and 70 kph. Now it's all down to 60 kph. It's ridiculous, and even though we had a copper living next door, he didn't even know until I told him....the speed has been lowered to 60! No warning, just bam, overnight....and yes, it's a up and down hill road, too hard to keep a steady number with the k's, plus, it's not a built up area, so why 60kph? Yeah, I wonder  ::) An old man with dementia walked onto a 100k road around here, the solution, drop the speed limit to 80k. Is 80 going to kill anyone less? I think the next problem is not dementia, but those that are not focusing and looking for pokemons! ::)

Obviously or there would be no reason to change it!  :-?

Setanta wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:15pm:

Sophia wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:14pm: Setanta wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:05pm: Sophia wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:02pm: Greggory, Greggory, Greggory, I understand what law is, I have not had any fines since I can remember when, not even a parking fine. But the police with their insistence of lowering the speed to a snails pace to lower the road toll, is a fallacy, as each year, since that false statement was made, I have remembered it, and keep seeing the news at the end of each year "the total road toll is (a figure quoted) higher than the previous year. Our road we live on, where we live, is the 'green wedge' between towns. That road used to be 80 kph...then it went down to 70kph. Then half of it went to 60 and 70 kph. Now it's all down to 60 kph. It's ridiculous, and even though we had a copper living next door, he didn't even know until I told him....the speed has been lowered to 60! No warning, just bam, overnight....and yes, it's a up and down hill road, too hard to keep a steady number with the k's, plus, it's not a built up area, so why 60kph? Yeah, I wonder  ::) An old man with dementia walked onto a 100k road around here, the solution, drop the speed limit to 80k. Is 80 going to kill anyone less? I think the next problem is not dementia, but those that are not focusing and looking for pokemons! ::) Obviously or there would be no reason to change it!  :-?

How do you feel it will make a difference for that change in the speed limit with  the road near where you live? I know that 80 has more control over a vehicle to try and stop or avoid something than at 100, but...

80 k/p/h is still fast, if you stand in it's way, a big metal car or truck, coming at you at 80 ks, won't be in your favour much.

Sophia wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:21pm:

80 k/p/h is still fast, if you stand in it's way, a big metal car or truck, coming at you at 80 ks, won't be in your favour much.

You don't do sarcasm?

Setanta wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:22pm:

Sophia wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:21pm: 80 k/p/h is still fast, if you stand in it's way, a big metal car or truck, coming at you at 80 ks, won't be in your favour much. You don't do sarcasm?

oh oops, whoosh straight over my head  ;D

AiA wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:55am:

i blame a corn-based diet

;D ;D ;D

arsehole.

Oscarphie wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 4:52pm:

It's all about where you do your hot air ballooning. I would never do one around an urban area because there are too many dangers lurking. However I did mine out in the country and it was absolutely beautiful. Mind you, now that I've done it I probably won't do it again. Some of these balloon pilots are a bit cowboy-like.

"Cowboy like" ~ yes, I believe that. Like truck drivers going down the Bulli Pass south of Sydney.

Wanting to 'perform' for the pretty girls in the basket by playing with the regulator on the fire-thingy while not watching out for telegraph wires.

This tragic lot of 15 tourists paid $US400 each = $6000 for the trip. No wonder these balloon clowns can't believe their luck to be making such effortless, easy money from the 'suckers'. Almost as easy as driving a taxi. 

John Smith wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:40am:

lets face it herb, not everyone wants to hide in fear of everything that may go wrong,  like you do

Lol, I go caving even though its risky and it makes no difference to the cave

John Smith wrote on Jul 31^st, 2016 at 11:40am:

lets face it herb, not everyone wants to hide in fear of everything that may go wrong,  like you do

link

Lord Herbert wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2016 at 11:46am:

John Smith wrote on Jul 31st, 2016 at 11:40am: lets face it herb, not everyone wants to hide in fear of everything that may go wrong,  like you do link

"'That's the only thing I want to talk about, is that he's a great pilot,' his housemate and friend Alan Lirette said from their home in Kyle, Texas."

If "great pilots" kill 16 people in one hit, I'd hate to see what the not-so-great pilots are like.