The boy and the balloon.

**michaelr** · 16th October 2009 08:17 AM

I saw the balloon this morning for the first time. I saw it fly and watched with an awe. This is not a story about a boy and the balloon, I wish it were that simple. This is a damning report of the American idiot, and unfortunately, there are more than you may want to believe.

At first glance of this thing flying, I felt sick. How in the hell can any adult in their right mind believe that this thing could lift a pound of sand off the ground, let alone a child? How much resources were put into chasing this thing? Why in gods name did someone not say, "are we fucking stupid, why are we running after this thing?" Have we lost our ability to think clearly, to rationalize a situation that should require little to no rationalizing skills what so ever?

I tell you, it wasn't scary thinking that a child may have been in that balloon, hell no, it was damn frightening to think anyone would believe there was, and wast any resources trying to rescue the child!!!

**Amit** · 16th October 2009 08:22 AM

**Blueneck** · 16th October 2009 08:58 AM

[quote name='PoliticalHotwire' date='16 October 2009 - 10:22 AM' timestamp='1255702964' post='39236']

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**JScott** · 16th October 2009 09:58 AM

[quote name='michaelr' date='16 October 2009 - 09:17 AM' timestamp='1255702678' post='39232']

I saw the balloon this morning for the first time. I saw it fly and watched with an awe. This is not a story about a boy and the balloon, I wish it were that simple. This is a damning report of the American idiot, and unfortunately, there are more than you may want to believe.

At first glance of this thing flying, I felt sick. How in the hell can any adult in their right mind believe that this thing could lift a pound of sand off the ground, let alone a child? How much resources were put into chasing this thing? Why in gods name did someone not say, "are we fucking stupid, why are we running after this thing?" Have we lost our ability to think clearly, to rationalize a situation that should require little to no rationalizing skills what so ever?

I tell you, it wasn't scary thinking that a child may have been in that balloon, hell no, it was damn frightening to think anyone would believe there was, and wast any resources trying to rescue the child!!!

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How much helium does it take to lift a 6 year old boy? Do you know, off the cuff, the physics of helium? You dont, thats why you looked in awe. So did everyone else. Well, it was awe and horror for me.

**michaelr** · 16th October 2009 10:05 AM

[quote name='JScott' date='16 October 2009 - 08:58 AM' timestamp='1255708727' post='39292']

How much helium does it take to lift a 6 year old boy? Do you know, off the cuff, the physics of helium? You dont, thats why you looked in awe. So did everyone else. Well, it was awe and horror for me.

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Actually I do know a bit, there is no way on gods green earth that any thinking person would have thought this thing could life a kid.

I operate ham radio, we sent a helium balloon loaded with electronics including a television transmitter for the 70cm ham band into the atmosphere, it ended up in ND. It was a far sight larger than this with a 12~ pound payload.

**Helena** · 16th October 2009 10:09 AM

[quote name='PoliticalHotwire' date='16 October 2009 - 04:22 PM' timestamp='1255702964' post='39236']

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*instant right click - save*

**JScott** · 16th October 2009 10:23 AM

[quote name='michaelr' date='16 October 2009 - 11:05 AM' timestamp='1255709148' post='39296']

Actually I do know a bit, there is no way on gods green earth that any thinking person would have thought this thing could life a kid.

I operate ham radio, we sent a helium balloon loaded with electronics including a television transmitter for the 70cm ham band into the atmosphere, it ended up in ND. It was a far sight larger than this with a 12~ pound payload.

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The flying saucer-shaped silver balloon owned by the Heenes looked tobe carrying about 1,500 cubic feet of helium, Freeman estimates. "Someexperts are saying that it could not have carried anyone over 70pounds," he says. "You figure that it takes about 1,000 cubic feet ofhelium to give you 40 pounds of lift."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...ir_balloo.html

How much does a 6 year old weigh?

**Amit** · 16th October 2009 10:41 AM

I got this from elsewhere

The comments on the story are great. Appears if people applied somephysics to the problem they would have figured out the boy probably wasnot in there to begin with (source Bret Hodgson):

The diameter of the balloon : 15ft

the height of the balloon: 6ft

volume of a cylinder : 7.5 * 7.5 * PI = 1059.75 cu. ft ... Read More

account for saucer shape : ~ 70% of cylinder volume = 741.825 cu. ft

weight 1 sq ft of helium can lift: 28 grams

total lifting power of the baloon at 741.825 cu. ft. = 20,771 grams

convert grams to pounds: 45 lb and 12.67 oz

average weight of a 5 year old boy (taken from http://babybag.com/page-height.html): 44.5lbs

Given the above, it looks technically possible for a balloon of thissize to lift said child. However, I believe this to be very unlikely.

**michaelr** · 16th October 2009 10:44 AM

[quote name='JScott' date='16 October 2009 - 09:23 AM' timestamp='1255710237' post='39307']

The flying saucer-shaped silver balloon owned by the Heenes looked tobe carrying about 1,500 cubic feet of helium, Freeman estimates. "Someexperts are saying that it could not have carried anyone over 70pounds," he says. "You figure that it takes about 1,000 cubic feet ofhelium to give you 40 pounds of lift."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...ir_balloo.html

How much does a 6 year old weigh?

[/quote]

First of all, that balloon was loosely filled, I was kind of surprised it flew at all. Then it was painfully obvious it had no payload, as it barely remained up right. I got to say, it took a second to see that it was empty, and I thought, why did someone not just say "your kidding me".

Mr grand daughter is 6, she weight a speck over 50lbs.