329. The Cluster Balloonist
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Cluster balloonists tie a bunch of helium balloons
a lawn chair, sit in the chair, cut
anchor rope, and go flying into the wild
yonder. To land, they cut some of the
attaching the balloons to the chair. A small
of daredevils has been enjoying this sport for
than 30 years.
They usually take a radio
communicate with people on the ground, a GPS
so they can be located, a parachute, and
of sand or water that they throw overboard
go higher. “It’s fun, but it’s not for
,” said Glenn Ford. “You have to dress warmly
higher altitudes. You should always take a life
and wear a helmet. And you need to
food and water for emergencies.” Balloonists often soar
to 6,000 feet, and many have soared to
,000 feet or higher.
A popular priest in Brazil
to try cluster ballooning. Reporters from newspapers and
stations interviewed and photographed him before take-off. He
and waved at everyone as his chair started
. “I’ll see you at one o’clock,” he yelled
everyone on the ground. It was 11 a.m.
weather, however, took a sudden turn for the
. People could see the wind driving the balloonist
the Atlantic. The bright balloons disappeared into the
clouds. The next day, a pilot in a
-engine plane saw some balloons floating 10 miles out
sea. There was no sign of the priest. “
is unbelievable,” said his best friend. “He was
expert sky diver. He had a life preserver,
inflatable life raft, and a GPS device. And,
was a priest!”
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