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hot-air balloon explodes

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xenon13
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01 Mar 2013, 2:48 am

Helium or hydrogen are used to lift dirigibles, not balloons.



Wrackspurt
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01 Mar 2013, 5:35 am

My mum hates the things and said she's surprised it hasn't happened more often. I think it's just sad. Those poor people must have been terrified.



Fnord
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01 Mar 2013, 10:48 am

Wrackspurt wrote:
My mum hates the things and said she's surprised it hasn't happened more often. I think it's just sad. Those poor people must have been terrified.

It does happen more often, though usually not with so many passengers.


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oddone
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02 Mar 2013, 4:30 am

auntblabby wrote:
why can't hot air balloons have parachutes atop the balloon in case it fails?

I think the explosion and fire would have destroyed any parachute. There are aeroplanes with ballistic recovery systems eg Cirrus SR22 and some microlights. `They use a rocket to deploy the canopy and descend the entire airframe under the parachute.

Personal parachutes would be more practical for balloonists, but passengers might think twice if they were issued with a parachute on boarding. The UK AAIB has made recommendations about personal parachutes for balloonists following the loss of a balloon and all on board during a high altitude flight a few years ago.



glow
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07 Mar 2013, 8:03 pm

Good analysis of an unseemingly preoccupied crisis spanning events over time and space. the fortune cookie here is that it wasnt travel firm thomas cook but Sky travel. and the truth is that they are closing off branches for thomas cook.