For the record, yes you need a pilot’s license to fly a hot air balloon.
And yes the “balloon police” (aka the FAA in the United States) or their equivalent governing body in other countries will stop you, and fine you.
Fuck the balloon police
Submitted 11 months ago by Stamets@lemmy.world to [deleted]
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/a64b95b4-6d92-409c-ad9e-ab0c30f2ca72.jpeg
Comments
dgmib@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Agent641@lemmy.world 11 months ago
FAA if you’re lucky. If youre unlucky, the baloon police are an F-16 with a sidewinder
rtxn@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Robert Fulton has entered the chat.
21Cabbage@lemmynsfw.com 11 months ago
I wonder if the IR sensor of a sidewinder could get a lock on the hearing element of a hot air balloon.
Rozz@lemmy.sdf.org 11 months ago
That seems like overkill
DocMcStuffin@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I don’t know if they can actually stop you. Especially the first time. But they can definitely find you and fine you. A lot. Like more than tree fiddy.
Igloojoe@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Yes. They wont kill you and take down your balloon. But you have to come back to land at some point. Then bam! You’re arrested…
bdonvr@thelemmy.club 11 months ago
You DON’T need a license for some types of flight though. Anything under 254 pounds. Ultralights and paragliders. (However that doesn’t mean there’s no rules)
moon@lemmy.cafe 11 months ago
How do they stop you mid flight though
Aux@lemmy.world 11 months ago
With helicopter mounted machine guns.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
I heard in France the balloon police are armed. With BB guns to take down offenders.
Coreidan@lemmy.world 11 months ago
1.). Yes you do it’s called a pilots license.
2.). It’s called the FAA and they will find you quick
Ottomateeverything@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Yeah, this. FAA does give a fuck. A lot of people fly drones extremely illegally but they’re too small for the FAA to notice or bother with, and most of them can’t get to real dangerous heights anyway. But try flying near an airport and you’ll find out real quick.
I still haven’t figured out if people just aren’t aware that it’s illegal or if they’re just too brazen. I think it’s the former but not really sure.
xX_fnord_Xx@lemmy.world 11 months ago
So, my hilarious stunt with 40 quad-copters tethered to a lawn chair will go off without a hitch?
spfhaar@lemmy.world 11 months ago
from me all the FPV pilots I know don’t have the license, because it’s very difficult to do because they are almost all the same things that a real airplane pilot needs to know,
Also I have seen FPV 6S drones at maximum speed even in densely populated areas always exceeding the legal limit of 120m if they had a license
blackn1ght@feddit.uk 11 months ago
The FAA are an American organisation that only has jurisdiction in the USA, so no they won’t unless you do it in the USA.
Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Though that last paragraph does apply in many places outside the US. Sometimes it’s even the US military responding outside of the US (I mean I assume they protect the airspace around their bases, but I guess I’m not really sure what kind of jurisdiction they’d have just because they have a military base).
doctorcrimson@lemmy.world 11 months ago
They will shoot you down with planes if you fly into the airspace of the state. Generally you can get away with it short term as long as you live a reasonable distance away from an airport, military installation, or weather radar.
Otherwise, sort out your estate before fucking around and finding out with the air authorities.
Existing@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Relax my guy
doctorcrimson@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I’m calmly explaining what will happen without any exageration.
frezik@midwest.social 11 months ago
I crewed for a hot air balloon place in high school. The wind once blew two balloons right over the airport runways. ATC was not happy, but those things go where the wind takes them.
Of course, those were licensed pilots.
Chickenstalker@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Most countries require a hot air balloon pilot license. Don’t fuck with the FAA. They will ruin your life.
peopleproblems@lemmy.world 11 months ago
and if the FAA don’t get you, and you are using radios, the FCC might get you. And if the FCC get you, the FAA get you.
Don’t fuck with the FAA. It’s not a fair fight. And we will lose more and more fun things to do as commercial drones take over.
frezik@midwest.social 11 months ago
There was a guy who did this with a lawn chair and helium ballons. Yes, he did get fined by the FAA.
dQw4w9WgXcQ@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Reaching almost 5000 meters is very impressive, and I love the plan of popping the balloons with a BB-gun to control the descent. I’m almost annoyed that they fined this unique effort.
Chadus_Maximus@lemm.ee 11 months ago
I wonder what was the plan in case the gun got jammed.
byroon@lemmy.world 11 months ago
- I don’t need a license to fly this balloon. I do what I want.
- Stupid balloon police chasing my balloon in their stupid police cars.
- Check out this move. I fly out over the sea. Balloon police can’t follow me. I am never seen again
GilgameshCatBeard@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
You will have to come down eventually.
Fleamo@lemmy.world 11 months ago
If I’m low on hot air I’ll just invite [local politician] on the balloon! Oh ho ho ho
xX_fnord_Xx@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I don’t wanna come back down from this cloud.
JenIsBringingTheDrugs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 months ago
It’s taken me all this time to find out what I need
Atin@lemmy.world 11 months ago
F-22s using missiles
steal_your_face@lemmy.ml 11 months ago
What if you’re not Chinese? Checkmate.
Cort@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Balloon: *pops
WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 11 months ago
superduperenigma@lemmy.world 11 months ago
But we stole a balloon!
Yeah, on national free balloon day.
Snowpix@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
A single monkey with a dart: “I’m aboutta end this man’s whole career”
WolfhoundRO@lemmy.world 11 months ago
A single sailor with a harpoon gun: “Tally ho, lads!”
Phegan@lemmy.world 11 months ago
All balloon cops are bastards
xX_fnord_Xx@lemmy.world 11 months ago
#abcab
ElBarto@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
My country town is really into ballooning, so there’s always a bunch of balloons flying around here and there, so no one would even notice an extra one floating around, unless you were a dick and flying low.
thanks_shakey_snake@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
Man, I wish I lived in a country town that’s really into ballooning :(
tired_n_bored@lemmy.world 11 months ago
F-16 and Hawk helicopters:
dylanTheDeveloper@lemmy.world 11 months ago
US Airforce
NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social 11 months ago
I went in a hot air balloon once. Basically, once you’re up in the air, the wind takes you….where ever. It’s only controllable on one axis at that point. And the flame is fucking hot.
Neato@ttrpg.network 11 months ago
Yeah, I always wondered how the fuck you don’t crash into a building, forest or get swept out to sea. I guess you just pick really still wind days.
CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social 11 months ago
From what I’ve read the wind can point different directions at different altitudes, so you can navigate a little bit by changing your altitude, depending on the wind conditions.
key@lemmy.keychat.org 11 months ago
I think the main way is by not launching upwind of buildings, forests, or the ocean. And don’t launch when a weather system is coming in that would change wind patterns. Wind is usually fairly predictable.
OozingPositron@feddit.cl 11 months ago
FarFarAway@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I remember this time when a hot air Balloon operator, in the area, crashed the balloon into some power lines and 16 people died. Some people had to be identified by dental records. While he was a registered pilot, his company wasn’t registered with the state.
Don’t fuck with Hot Air Ballons people.
DrCatface@lemmy.world 11 months ago
'member chinese spy balloon?
LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 months ago
And the maniacs shooting at it? First thing I thought of.
dan42O@infosec.pub 11 months ago
👀
Emerald@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Image Transcription: Meme
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You don’t need a license to fly a hot air ballon.
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Even if I do, who’s going to stop me? Balloon cops?
[A background image of a yellow hot air ballon]
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altima_neo@lemmy.zip 11 months ago
Didnt work out so good for that Chinese baloon though…
Feirdro@lemmy.world 11 months ago
PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Just remember the bottle of wine for whoever owns the land you fall onto
humorlessrepost@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Spoken like someone who never had an NES.
JohnWorks@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Lemvi@lemmy.sdf.org 11 months ago
The F-22 was designed for nothing else.
MataVatnik@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Image
platypus_plumba@lemmy.world 11 months ago
What is this art style, it is so creepy. I love it.
MataVatnik@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Looks like a collage?
Classy@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Yes, it’s quite liminal isn’t it? Makes me think of old PS2 games.
Rozz@lemmy.sdf.org 11 months ago
Jeroom
smeghead3130@lemmy.world 11 months ago
MataVatnik@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Agreed
malfisya@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Is that Salvatore Ganacci?
MataVatnik@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I didn’t know there was a while genre here