A hot air balloon set down in the vicinity of South Whitefield and South Streets on Sunday evening at about 6:30 p.m.We'd seen the balloon earlier over the center of town and it appeared to be heading north and at that time was reasonably high.
Twenty minutes later we noticed it had returned and was much lower. So low in fact that we could see the people in the gondola. They didn't seem concerned as they looked down and waved to people.
We watched as it drifted over the house (to the left is the corner of our gazebo in the foreground).
We wondered as the people in it seemed unconcerned, how low they could legally fly. As it approached you had to wonder where they were heading. You could hear the flame trying to get it to rise but to no end.
As it passed over the house a chase vehicle pulled up on New Street and then shot the wrong way up Park Street to Whitefield. Moments later it was down.
While the journalist in me wanted to go see, and the kids did as well, I'd just finished grilling and decided to have my steak while it was hot (the downfall of citizen journalism I guess).
I never heard the siren go off nor did we hear any emergency vehicle sirens so I'm hoping everyone was okay.
2 comments:
I've seen them on more than a few occasions just clipping the tops of the tree's out here near Gracedale.
I often wondered the same in regard to legality, being there is a medivac chopper pad right next to Gracedale.
I have a friend who has his balloon pilots license (yes, you need one). My wife and I took a flight once while in State College and we ended up flying pretty close to the State College airfield.
I asked him once about this, and he replied that since balloons are essentially at the mercy of the winds, they have the right away. However, he did say that he will usually call the airport as a matter of courtesy to let them know he would be flying. Also, before he flies, he would check the prevailing winds (usually with a small helium balloon) and check the maps to somewhat plot a "flight plan".
If you ever have a chance to take a balloon flight, I strongly suggest it. It was great!
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