Cluster of balloons used in trans-Atlantic attempt

[TexasTowelie]

In this photo provided by Mark McBreairty, a balloon cluster carrying Jonathan Trappe lifts off from Caribou, Maine, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013. Unlike a conventional hot-air balloon, Trappe lifted off Thursday using hundreds of helium-filled balloons clustered together. Trappe hopes to be the first person to successfully complete a trans-Atlantic flight using the balloon cluster.

CARIBOU, Maine (AP) — Hundreds of multicolored balloons used Thursday to launch a balloonist for a trans-Atlantic crossing look like a page taken from the script of the movie "Up."

Instead of using a conventional hot-air balloon, Jonathan Trappe lifted off using more than 300 helium-filled balloons, like those used in in the animated movie.

Trappe's goal is to float across the ocean.

"The Atlantic Ocean has been crossed many times, and in many ways, but never quite like this," the North Carolina native said on his website, which detailed his efforts.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Cluster-of-balloons-used-in-trans-Atlantic-attempt-4809159.php?cmpid=hpts .

[B Calm]

1. LOL some goal!

[TexasTowelie]

4. It sort of looks like something that would be seen in a gumball machine. nt

[jberryhill]

2. I hope he enjoys swimming

[TexasTowelie]

3. I tend to agree with you.

I never saw a helium balloon stay inflated for five or six days.

[jberryhill]

6. W was president for eight years!

[trumad]

10. +1

[B Calm]

5. He'll need at least 325 helium-filled balloons to cross the ocean.

[Earth_First]

7. It appears that he's on Newfoundland this morning...

According to the satellite tracker.

[Cooley Hurd]

8. Appropriately, the Great Joe Kittinger saw him off!

On hand for Trappe's lift off was Joe Kittinger, a retired Air Force officer who once set a record for jumping from a balloon 19.5 miles up and later became the first solo balloonist to cross the Atlantic in 1984.

He also set the record for the longest skydive from a height greater than 31 kilometres (19 miles) back in 1960 - a record which stood until last year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Kittinger

[tclambert]

9. How does he come down? Shotgun?

[Hun Joro]

11. This is a really bad idea...isn't there enough plastic in the oceans?

http://balloonsblow.org/photo-gallery

[OffWithTheirHeads]

12. What could possibly go wrong?

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Loved the movie "Up" but hope

the balloon membranes are not porous, otherwise, to quote Han Solo, "...this is gonna be short trip".

[Roland99]

14. His attempt failed...technical glitch 12 hrs into the flight. He landed in Newfoundland.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57602788/n.c-mans-bid-to-cross-atlantic-under-cluster-of-helium-filled-balloons-a-bust/