Skydivers?

Almost every evening in the summer I see balloons flying near where I live in Redmond WA. I have been skydiving for about a year now and have always wanted to jump out of a balloon. I have a few questions for balloonists:

How high do hot air balloons usually fly? Would you ever consider taking up a licensed skydiver? If so, how much would you charge?

Thanks

Is that WA as in Western Australia, or Washington, USA? Either way, go find your local balloon club and get to know the pilots. Often they will be prepared to chuck you out from 3000 or 5000 feet - and work out a proce between you. Some balloonists count their price in liquid measure after!!

In article , 'Brian Alexander' wrote:

Brian Most balloonist's insurance exclude skydiving jumps, also in order to accommodate the skydiving the balloon would have to operate outside the manufactures allowable performance limits. I would seek out a balloon pilot crazy enough that he has done it before.

It's not excluded in UK insurance policies. But, more importantly on what basis do you believe that the balloon would be operating outside the manufacturers performance limits?

Most meat bombing (apologies, I mean the dropping of parachutists from balloons) is done once the balloon is descending at approx. 500fpm which is inside all the manufacturers specs that I know. Once the parachutist has exited the descent will slow and result in a rise of usually less than 500fpm. These figures are for a 77,000 cu ft plus balloon. With a 56 or 65 I accept that that the intial descent would need to quicker and the resultant rise similarly so - that's why we don't do it with balloons smaller than 77's in the UK. In the UK both balloon pilots who want to drop parachutists and the parachutists themselves must attend a short course and then receive certification to do this.

For the parachutist exiting a 'stationary' object is different from falling out the back of a fast moving aircraft and for the balloon pilot it helps to understand the parachutists equipment and to run through a check with them before they jump! Properly done it is exciting and *safe* for both parties.

Dropping a skydiver is no crazier than going out on a good competition. People put their systems through just as much stress during the national championships on any given task. My insurance company (IMC) has no problem with it. It is bungee jumping they had a problem with.

Eric Hodges

Snip