Hot air balloons!

December 26, 2001 6:33 PM

Hot air balloons! Great site out of Belgium with a database of 850 balloons from all over the world, from panda bears (Japan) to yellow submarines (Russia), and including multiple versions of such shapes as Humpty Dumpty, Tony theTiger, and (especially) liqour bottles. And check out the album. Any balloonists out there?
posted by ferris (12 comments total)

Found at ResearchBuzz.com.
posted by ferris at 6:39 PM on December 26, 2001

The Japanese panda bear hot-air balloon looks great, but who would want to ride in a panda's scrotum?
posted by iracane at 7:44 PM on December 26, 2001

who would want to ride in a panda's scrotum?
That's honestly one of the funniest things i've seen a while. Yet, it's very good point.
My parents got to ride in a ballon shaped like the pepperidge farm goldfish this past summer. Said it was one of the coolest experiences in the world.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:14 PM on December 26, 2001

This guy looks kinda like the alarm clock I got my stepson for Christmas.

Nice link, Ferris.
posted by diddlegnome at 12:06 AM on December 27, 2001

I've that that guy somewhere before. I just can't put my finger on it.
posted by holloway at 4:22 AM on December 27, 2001

Awhile back, I enjoyed Albuquerque's balloon festival (as a spectator!).
posted by Carol Anne at 5:04 AM on December 27, 2001

i fly sailplanes (or gliders.) my instructor is certified flight instructor for airplanes, gliders, and has 35 years of flight experience. he wouldn't set foot in a hot-air balloon.

'you only have one degree of freedom!' he'd exclaim. some people call us crazy for flying around with no engine, but he (and i) are perfectly at ease with this. why won't he go one step further and enjoy ballooning, where up/down is your only freedom?

years ago i watched balloons like mr. peanut rise from central park, nyc at the start of a balloon race, and i was amazed that they would emerge from an urban center and travel so close to a densly populated coastal area. i'd love to try it, and i've greatly enjoyed my past skydiving experience. even less control there, but what a thrill factor.
posted by particle at 6:55 AM on December 27, 2001

Mr Peanut.
posted by ferris at 7:09 AM on December 27, 2001

Hey Carol Anne - mefier y6y6y6 was at the same balloon festival too. He's got pics!
posted by roboto at 12:02 PM on December 28, 2001

Here's a better link to those balloon pictures.
posted by y6y6y6 at 1:12 PM on December 28, 2001

WTF - The link worked in the preview.....

http://www.jonsullivan.com/pictures/index.php3?Submit=Search&keywords=balloon&sub=Search
posted by y6y6y6 at 1:15 PM on December 28, 2001

Oops, confession in order. I was in Albuquerque in 1985-86 and saw balloons then (one crash-landed across the street from my apartment). With Google's help, I linked to a festival photo that seemed representative and timeless.
posted by Carol Anne at 1:24 PM on December 28, 2001