Gotta turn on the news channels, it's happening live. WOOT GET TO WATCH IT CRASH
QuoteDeputies chase boy floating in balloon aircraft
Cops: 6-year-old takes off in family's experimental helium-balloon craft
FORT COLLINS. Colo. - Authorities were trying to determine Thursday how to safely bring down a 6-year-old boy who reportedly clambered into his family's experimental balloon aircraft and floated away from home, sheriff's officials said.
The bizarre scene played out live on television and prompted fears that the mushroom-shaped balloon would crash. The balloon rotated slowly in the wind, tipping precariously at times.
The boy's family had been building an experimental aircraft that had a large helium balloon attached to it at their home, KUSA-TV reported. The aircraft, which resembled a flying saucer, was approximately 20 feet by 5 feet and had a foil top.
On Thursday morning, according to the family and officials, the boy got onto the aircraft and it came loose from a tether. Larimer County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said the boy climbed into the access door and the airborne device took off.
Several people in the neighborhood saw the aircraft floating over their homes and some snapped pictures.
"We were sitting eating, out looking where they normally shoot off hot air balloons. My husband said he saw something. It went over our rooftop. Then we saw the big round balloonish thing, it was spinning," said neighbor Lisa Eklund.
Television news helicopters were also tracking the craft, which was last seen floating south of Milliken, about 40 miles north of Denver.
Officials were scrambling to figure out how to rescue the boy. The craft was floating at an elevation of about 2,500 feet.
The craft has the potential to rise to 10,000 feet, Campanella said.
Sheriff's vehicles were tracking the craft from the ground. The Colorado Army National Guard was also preparing to launch an OH-58 Kiowa helicopter to help in the response effort, said Capt. Michael Odgers.
BALLOON FEST 2009 WOOOOOOOOO
THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS AT MSNBC WENT TO TIME DELAY AT IMPACT
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 15, 2009, 02:47:39 PM
THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS AT MSNBC WENT TO TIME DELAY AT IMPACT
You gotta watch Fox for this sort of stuff.
ITS DOWN!!!!!
Looks to me like no kid.
This thread did not deliver.
Sneering Euro:
You Americans spending so many resources on an empty balloon.
Well, either it was a hoax (and the authorities searched the home and surrounding area), or:
Fort Collins suffered the first 1st grader carpet-bombing in American history.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 15, 2009, 02:42:03 PM
QuoteDeputies chase boy floating in balloon aircraft
Cops: 6-year-old takes off in family's experimental helium-balloon craft
FORT COLLINS. Colo. - Authorities were trying to determine Thursday how to safely bring down a 6-year-old boy who reportedly clambered into his family's experimental balloon aircraft and floated away from home, sheriff's officials said.
BB gun
I think you need more than one 1st grader to count as a carpet bombing. I'd figure at least a hundred or so.
Quote from: frunk on October 15, 2009, 02:57:46 PM
I think you need more than one 1st grader to count as a carpet bombing. I'd figure at least a hundred or so.
It becomes Area of Effect on landing.
I suppose it could cover a decent sized carpet.
CONSPIRACY! :tinfoil: :area52:
That's what can happen when you leave a child in a floating balloon unattended.
After further search, it was discovered that the boy was at home.
Quote from: DGuller on October 15, 2009, 05:33:19 PM
After further search, it was discovered that the boy was at home.
EXECUTE HIM! :mad:
You are kiddin/. Thats friggin hilarious if true.
This even made it to the Hong Kong morning news.
Feel good news piece of the day- kid safe and sound, parents probably looking at owing money to the FAA for the rest of their lives. :D
<_<
QuoteDuring a live interview with CNN, Falcon said he had heard his family calling his name.
"You did?" Mayumi Heene said.
"Why didn't you come out?" Richard Heene said.
Falcon answered, "You had said that we did this for a show."
Later, Richard Heene bristled when the family was asked to clarify and said he didn't know what his son meant. He didn't ask his son what he meant by "a show."
:lol: Glad I decided to opt out of the whole spectacle.
Quote from: garbon on October 15, 2009, 10:46:03 PM
<_<
QuoteDuring a live interview with CNN, Falcon said he had heard his family calling his name.
"You did?" Mayumi Heene said.
"Why didn't you come out?" Richard Heene said.
Falcon answered, "You had said that we did this for a show."
Later, Richard Heene bristled when the family was asked to clarify and said he didn't know what his son meant. He didn't ask his son what he meant by "a show."
What the fuck...
Oops. :lmfao:
:lmfao: Priceless; busted by the kid.
:lol: Nice.
I'm watching this again, and it's hilarious how dad is now all ashen-faced and blabbering incoherently. :lmfao:
It sounds from the story I read on CNN that the family is a bunch of crazies. :huh:
QuoteIf there is a moral to the national freakout Thursday over what was believed to be a boy in a balloon over Colorado, it's this: Cable TV has helped create an absolutely crazed culture that's as vulnerable to fads, freakshows, hoaxes and hypes as America was during the 1920s and the Great Depression. And those were not exactly eras when the national psyche was in its greatest shape.
What a couple of hours of absolute madness. It was worse after the balloon finally landed, and it was discovered that the 6-year-old boy believed to have been inside could not be found. Speculation about the boy falling out began, and I saw one onscreen image of the balloon with a circle drawn around a tiny speck halfway between the balloon and the ground. It could have been almost anything -- including the falling body of a child. Can you say gruesome?
Was it the hope of rescue that had viewers galvanized to the screen -- like the 1980's saga of Baby Jessica falling down a well in Texas? Or, are we just ready to latch onto anything bizarre or out of the ordinary that pops up on the screen as long as it's not more news about Americans losing jobs?
I have to say Fox's Shepherd Smith did a nice job of giving voice to some of the TV weirdness of the moment when he said: "I can imagine you're flipping around on the channels this afternoon, you're watching your 'Judge Judy' and looking for 'Rachel Ray,' and flipping by the news stations, and there's this flying saucer creeping along Colorado, and you're like, 'What in the world is this.' I mean, like I could not flip away."
As a TV nation, I'm beginning to think we are officially flipping out. As I am sure you know by now, the boy was found safe hiding in a box in the attic of his family's home. His family is as strange as they come with a history of twice being on ABC's reality TV show "Wife Swap." A family made for freakshow and fakeshow TV if every there was one. And we are foolish enough to fall for their craziness and watch. Maybe TLC can sign them up to replace the Gosselins.
lol, I'm watching the TODAY show, and they have a reporter there live at the house.
A streaker just ran by.
All we need now is Jon and Kate to show up.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 16, 2009, 08:24:40 AM
All we need now is Jon and Kate to show up.
Wouldn't surprise me if Jon did. Kate is too busy maintaining her horrible hairstyle.
GG FAILcon.
We should toss his ass in a balloon for real next time.
Quote from: Caliga on October 16, 2009, 08:27:43 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 16, 2009, 08:24:40 AM
All we need now is Jon and Kate to show up.
Wouldn't surprise me if Jon did. Kate is too busy maintaining her horrible hairstyle.
If there is some mediocre trim in the area, he'll show up.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 16, 2009, 08:29:24 AM
If there is some mediocre trim in the area, he'll show up.
If you had to put up with that queen of the harpies all these years, you'd settle for less, too.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2009, 09:42:19 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 16, 2009, 08:29:24 AM
If there is some mediocre trim in the area, he'll show up.
If you had to put up with that queen of the harpies all these years, you'd settle for less, too.
I remember some clip shown on TV where she was screaming at him because he didn't use the coupons.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 16, 2009, 09:58:42 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2009, 09:42:19 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 16, 2009, 08:29:24 AM
If there is some mediocre trim in the area, he'll show up.
If you had to put up with that queen of the harpies all these years, you'd settle for less, too.
I remember some clip shown on TV where she was screaming at him because he didn't use the coupons.
I watched them on an interview on the Today show some time back, and he was talking about the lack of romance, and she just sorta rolled her eyes. I DONT HAVE TIME FOR LOVE
Yeah, marriage = good. Suckers.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2009, 10:01:16 AM
I watched them on an interview on the Today show some time back, and he was talking about the lack of romance, and she just sorta rolled her eyes. I DONT HAVE TIME FOR LOVE
Yeah, marriage = good. Suckers.
This might come as a shock, but not all wives behave like Kate Gosselin! :o
Quote from: Caliga on October 16, 2009, 10:04:46 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2009, 10:01:16 AM
I watched them on an interview on the Today show some time back, and he was talking about the lack of romance, and she just sorta rolled her eyes. I DONT HAVE TIME FOR LOVE
Yeah, marriage = good. Suckers.
This might come as a shock, but not all wives behave like Kate Gosselin! :o
I wouldn't know, I stopped banging other peoples' wives a while ago.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2009, 10:06:06 AM
Quote from: Caliga on October 16, 2009, 10:04:46 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 16, 2009, 10:01:16 AM
I watched them on an interview on the Today show some time back, and he was talking about the lack of romance, and she just sorta rolled her eyes. I DONT HAVE TIME FOR LOVE
Yeah, marriage = good. Suckers.
This might come as a shock, but not all wives behave like Kate Gosselin! :o
I wouldn't know, I stopped banging other peoples' wives a while ago.
Guilt, or the price of advil went up? :P
Quote from: HVC on October 16, 2009, 10:40:23 AM
Guilt, or the price of advil went up? :P[/quote]
:P
Banging other peoples' wives come with the unfortunate bonus of having to listen to other peoples' wives' problems.
Quote from: garbon on October 15, 2009, 10:46:03 PM
<_<
QuoteDuring a live interview with CNN, Falcon said he had heard his family calling his name.
"You did?" Mayumi Heene said.
"Why didn't you come out?" Richard Heene said.
Falcon answered, "You had said that we did this for a show."
Later, Richard Heene bristled when the family was asked to clarify and said he didn't know what his son meant. He didn't ask his son what he meant by "a show."
Gotta love people. :thumbsup:
Quote from: Caliga on October 16, 2009, 08:27:43 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 16, 2009, 08:24:40 AM
All we need now is Jon and Kate to show up.
Wouldn't surprise me if Jon did. Kate is too busy maintaining her horrible hairstyle.
:yes: :x
QuoteSheriff: Charges will be filed in balloon saga
By DAN ELLIOTT, Associated Press
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Authorities are pursuing criminal charges in the case of a boy who vanished into his parents' garage while the world feared he was trapped aboard a helium balloon — prompting speculation of a hoax.
The boy's parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene, met with Larimer County investigators for much of the afternoon, but Sheriff Jim Alderden didn't say who would be charged or what the charges would be.
Alderden didn't call Thursday's hours-long drama a hoax, but he expressed disappointment that he couldn't level more serious charges in the incident, which sent police and the military scrambling to save young Falcon Heene as millions of worried television viewers watched.
"We were looking at Class 3 misdemeanor, which hardly seems serious enough given the circumstances," Alderden said. "We are talking to the district attorney, federal officials to see if perhaps there aren't additional federal charges that are appropriate in this circumstance."
Suspicion that the balloon saga was a publicity stunt arose almost immediately after Falcon was found in the garage rafters, hiding in a cardboard box. Richard Heene, a storm chaser and inventor whose family has appeared on the reality show "Wife Swap," and his wife had said one of the boy's older brothers had said Falcon was aboard the homemade balloon when it took off.
Alderden initially said there was no reason to believe the incident was a hoax. Authorities questioned the Heenes again after Falcon turned to his dad during a CNN interview Thursday night and said "you said we did this for a show" when asked why he didn't come out of his hiding place.
Falcon got sick during two separate TV interviews Friday when asked again why he hid.
Alderden said Saturday that deputies were seeking a search warrant for the family's home, and there would be more information at a news conference Sunday.
After the sheriff went inside, Richard Heene and his wife walked out. As reporters yelled questions, all Heene said was, "I was talking to the sheriff's department just now." He then walked to his car with his wife and a friend, and they drove away.
It wasn't clear where the family was late Saturday night. By 9 p.m., an AP reporter at the family home said the couple hadn't returned after leaving the sheriff's office. Their three sons were believed to have been at home being watched by sheriff's officials earlier in the day, but their whereabouts also weren't known to reporters in the evening.
The day began with Richard Heene knocking on the windows of journalists camped outside his home and promising a "big announcement." A few hours later, he did an about-face when he told reporters that they should leave questions in a cardboard box on the front doorstep.
As Heene walked away, a reporter shouted, "Can you tell us once and for all if this is a hoax?"
"Absolutely no hoax. I want your questions in the box," Heene said, waving a cardboard container before going back into his home.
A circus-like atmosphere formed outside, including men holding signs and occasionally yelling "balloon boy." One sign read, "Put balloon boy on TV: America's Most Wanted."
Other gawkers carried aluminum-foil stovetop popcorn makers that resembled the a flying saucer-like helium balloon launched from the family's backyard Thursday, with 6-year-old Falcon Heene believed to be onboard.
The Heenes have said the balloon was supposed to be tethered to the ground when it lifted off, and no one was supposed to be aboard. A video of the launch shows the family counting down in unison, "3, 2, 1," before Richard Heene pulls a cord, setting the balloon into the air.
"Whoa!" one of the boys exclaims. Then his father says in disbelief, "Oh, my God!" He then says to someone, "You didn't put the (expletive) tether down!" and he kicks the wood frame that had held the balloon.
Falcon's brother said he saw him inside the compartment before it took off and that's why they thought he was in there when it launched. Heene said he had yelled at Falcon before the launch for getting inside.
Over the years, Richard Heene has worked as a storm chaser, a handyman and contractor, and an aspiring reality-TV star.
He and his family appeared on the ABC reality show "Wife Swap," and the show's producer said it had a show in development with the Heenes but the deal is now off. TLC also said Heene had pitched a reality show to the network months ago, but it passed on the offer.
Despite his attempts to get on TV, Heene insisted Saturday that he didn't know what kinds of questions were being asked about him because he didn't have cable.
"I'm going to place the box out front. Please write your questions down, because friends are telling me they're saying this and that. I have no idea what the news is saying," Heene said.
Can the boy be tried as an adult?
Quote from: Jaron on October 18, 2009, 12:28:38 AM
Can the boy be tried as an adult?
Isn't it more like the dad should be tried for being a child? :D
Home made balloons and calling media first...
V
This guy needs to get a real fucking job. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Jaron on October 18, 2009, 12:28:38 AM
Can the boy be tried as an adult?
This isn't Texas. Jeez.
Quote from: citizen k on October 17, 2009, 11:37:39 PM
Sheriff: Charges will be filed in balloon saga
Charges? They should get an Emmy.
Wonder what charges will be brought? Creating a public disturbance?
Quote from: DontSayBanana on October 18, 2009, 10:03:27 AM
Wonder what charges will be brought? Creating a public disturbance?
They probably have a charge related to making a false emergency services call.
Sounds like felony charges.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 18, 2009, 04:28:38 PM
Sounds like felony charges.
I'm pretty sure a false 911 call would be a felony. Incidentally, I wonder how embarrassed the police officers are over initially claiming they believed it wasn't a hoax. Reality show actors are attention whores? NEVAH!!!
Quote from: DontSayBanana on October 18, 2009, 10:03:27 AM
Wonder what charges will be brought? Creating a public disturbance?
Will they be considered a flight risk?
Quote from: DontSayBanana on October 18, 2009, 04:48:32 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on October 18, 2009, 04:28:38 PM
Sounds like felony charges.
I'm pretty sure a false 911 call would be a felony. Incidentally, I wonder how embarrassed the police officers are over initially claiming they believed it wasn't a hoax. Reality show actors are attention whores? NEVAH!!!
Apparently they actually thought it was a hoax all along, and certainly were convinced after the kid's cute slip up on CNN, but misled the family in order to trap the parents in the lie.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 18, 2009, 04:57:47 PM
Quote from: DontSayBanana on October 18, 2009, 10:03:27 AM
Wonder what charges will be brought? Creating a public disturbance?
Will they be considered a flight risk?
Boo. Hiss. Boo.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 18, 2009, 04:57:47 PM
Will they be considered a flight risk?
:lol: There's serious doubt now as to whether they'll be able to (make) bail. ;)
Quote from: Caliga on October 18, 2009, 04:59:57 PM
Apparently they actually thought it was a hoax all along, and certainly were convinced after the kid's cute slip up on CNN, but misled the family in order to trap the parents in the lie.
That's what I assumed back then. Either that, or they couldn't sound accusatory before officially filing charges. After the kid's slip, I never believed for a moment that the sheriff or any other cops that were asked about it were as naive as they sounded.
From what I have read, they are saying all these naughty little things are all misdemeanors and carry no jail time. :blink: Unless the Feds charge them with something.
Can anyone with some law knowledge confirm this?
I think next time they'll make sure the kid is in the balloon first.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 18, 2009, 10:14:59 PM
I think next time they'll make sure the kid is in the balloon first.
Judging from size of the baloon when it was on the ground, do I doubt taht it got even a small 6 yr old...
I read somewhere, that some they did it, in collaboration with a tv-station, who needed somthing to attract viewers. Will they also be punished?
Quote from: Jaron on October 18, 2009, 07:16:11 PM
Can anyone with some law knowledge confirm this?
My balloon hoax practice has been down this year, so I am a little rusty.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 18, 2009, 04:28:38 PM
Sounds like felony charges.
Citizen k's article says Class 3 misdemeanor. That's the lowest grade misdemeanor under the Colorado criminal code.