Thread: Hempleman-Adams in bag-of-hot-air drama

New Balloon Record

Apparently, according to the above article, David Hempleman-Adams now holds a couple of records for time spent in a laundry basket.

However, what caught my eye was two lines from the article, regarding his test of skill:

"The radio masts get up to 1,000ft and the balloons migrate towards them.

"During the night I got very close to one, a bit too close, but you just hope that you go to one side or the other. I thought I was going to be zapped by radio waves."

So it isn't the wind that drives balloons through the atmosphere, but they migrate towards a source of radio waves. Which, to someone who doesn't seem to appreciate that they're being constantly 'zapped' by these waves must be a real worry.

At least he managed to complete the sortie without torching the balloon.

Ah Clod mi old mate.
They used ta have sum radio on the Saracen Cmmand post vairiant that would reputedly Fry ya Goolies if you where stood next ta it when it transmitted.
The Signals guys used to tease us innocent young Reems about it.
john