6-year-old boy admits hoax about hot-air balloon non-ride

[FCollinsBuckeye]

I clicked this link since it looked like an interesting story and - damn! if it didn't happen in my town! This thing must've floated over my office this morning, since I'm directly between FC and Milliken. Crazy! Hope they can rescue the kid... I think I may go out and see if I can see it...

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) ? A 6-year-old boy climbed into a hot-air balloon aircraft and floated away Thursday, forcing officials to scramble to figure out how to rescue the boy.

Larimer County sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella says the device, which is shaped like a flying saucer, has the potential to rise to 10,000 feet. Sheriff's officials last saw the device floating south of Milliken, which is about 40 miles north of Denver.

Campanella says the 6-year-old climbed into the access door and was in the airborne device.

[Merih]

Holy crap...sending out a quick prayer. How in the world can they get him down???

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Wow - it was an 'experimental aircraft'. Tied up in his familes yard with a rope. Wow. Just wow. The kid will freeze if they don't get him down soon.

Officials trying to rescue 6-year-old from experimental aircraft | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan,

[martinss01]

Originally Posted by Merih

Holy crap...sending out a quick prayer. How in the world can they get him down???

[AKAKBUCK]

Originally Posted by Merih

Holy crap...sending out a quick prayer. How in the world can they get him down???

Sheriff's officials last saw the device floating south of Milliken, which is about 40 miles north of Denver

Finding it would be a good start.

Next:

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Dang - now CNN has picked it up - it's on their front page.

Colorado boy floats away in balloon - CNN.com

Poor kid - he must be freezing - he's at around 8,000 ft.

[Basebuck]

How long until Helium starts leaking out? A balloon doesn't float forever

[jazzman]

Here's the video....from CNN....scary stuff

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

[Merih]

Originally Posted by Basebuck

How long until Helium starts leaking out? A balloon doesn't float forever

That's what I'm saying...maybe its a controlled descent down?

[jmorbitz]

The fact this thing was built by his parents is pretty awesome. Sadly, this is a situation that probably could have been avoided. Regardless, the rescue tactics could be bad ass. I want this to play out in the best way possible for all parties, and there are elements for a great story here.

[Basebuck]

Originally Posted by Merih

That's what I'm saying...maybe its a controlled descent down?

Yeah, I just read that this thing is 20 ft long and 5 ft high. Could this kid hold out that long at that altitude? Is he even in there with the door being open?

Can you breath at 10,000 ft with the door open. Weird stuff

[Merih]

Just thought about it physics and chemistry wise...the thing that stops a balloon from popping is external pressure from the air. As you get higher and higher in altitude, the air pressure decreases. If the air pressure outside decreases by too much it won't be able to keep a balance with the helium pressure inside it, causing the walls to expand beyond their limit and they pop.

With regular birthday balloons, the pressure doesn't get low enough until about 3 miles up (google). That's about 16000 feet up. If this saucer can only go up 10,000 feet, then it might be okay. Then again, you're dealing with alot more pressure from helium and alot bigger of a balloon, therefore a lot higher of surface area.

Long story short, I don't know.

[OSUsushichic]

Rumor has it that he fell out. Hope he's OK.

If the kid's name really is Falcon, that tells me something about the parents.

[Merih]

Originally Posted by OSUsushichic

Rumor has it that he fell out. Hope he's OK.

Where'd you hear that rumor?

[jmorbitz]

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