*If* Balloons for such purposes are of little to no feasability, -then they're precisely that, -of little to no feasability. And I'd duly Stand Corrected. Thanks for such Good, Enlightening Information and Input! [color:"black"] [/color] [email]massacre[/email]

Speaking of everyday Balloons doing some pretty crazy things, -I've once seen (a floatin about the room) one knock down a wall mounted clock above a fireplace!, -making a hell of a racket! Struck me as Really Amazing! (Well it didn't strike me!, -that allusive pun twas Unintended! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> ). [color:"black"] [/color] [email]massacre[/email]

I believe I recall once hearing on the News (circa late 60s / early 70s), -that a guy had attached enuff Balloons to his lawn chair, -and lying on such, -had risen to Airliner Height! And that some Airline Pilots had actually spotted him! When he wanted to come back down, -he just popped balloons as needed, -in order to do so.

Of course Airliners typically fly above even Everest's height! As such he'd almost certainly need some Pressurization and Oxygen, -plus Warmth! Perhaps he had something of those, -I don't know.

Does anyone know anything of either the Truth or Non-Truth of such occurance?! [color:"black"] [/color] [email]7k7k99[/email]

Your sarcasm aside, I just read a week ago about some testing with carbon ribbon for a space elevator and it seems that with 3 8' baloons they held aloft a mile of carbon and fiberglass ribbon about 6 pages of paer thick (probably close to half a mm) and that stuff isn't weight free. So, I have no problem being wrong - in fact, I welcome it in this particular case!

So, I'm sure I'd have no problem standing corrected - I just don't know if the Helium tank weight to signal proportion is a good one for backwoods carry. Maybe on a plane or liferaft it would be more reasonable?

Here's the link:
http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8725

And I do actually hope to contribute to the discussion - I find it interesting in and of itself and I don't mean to be ignorant or to slam other opinions. And I'm often the first to admit being wrong. :-) Sorry if I came off badly - that wasn't my intent.

Cheers.

http://www.delta-9.com/net47/myth/balloon.html

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

No, -I was saying that *I'M* the one likely Wrong here!, -And that *I'M* the one whose likely to Stand Corrected! By "I'd....", -I meant literally I / me!

This is an unfortunate Misunderstanding, -and I Regret it's having occurred. *Perhaps* I could have and should have been more Clearer than I was.

All due Regrets and Apologies from me.

I actually think you've provided much Good Points and Information. To which I may well have to Agree. This was the Spirit in which I have replied.

NOTE- Only the first sentence of this post was sent by me, -before it has been replied to. (I was posting from a Library, -and it was one of those times when long time users are asked to give up their computer use, -for the benefit of waiting others). So this is all that massacre had, at the time, to base his reply on. Obviously, -I've since come back to further add some things, in an Edit. [color:"black"] [/color] [email]massacre[/email]

Oh, wow... well, that's just too funny. I got the opposite from your post. Anyway, I'd REALLY like to know what they used for their balloons. You have to use something that can stretch a fair deal without leaking if you plan on going up very high, but for like 300' or something, thin and light mylar should do the trick. It's finding a 3' balloon in mylar that I've found to be troublesome.

Not to mention that Helium isn't cheap. Those military systems look interesting, but, like I said, the tanks aren't light. I'd *LOVE* to get a system aloft about 300-400' with enough lift to carry up a couple of pounds. I suppose if 45 4' Weather baloons could carry up a person in a lawn chair, maybe 3 of those is more than enough for a little stripped down 802.11g router with thin power leads to the ground!

Man... I had all but given up on that dream and it seems now this discussion has me thinking about the possibilities again. :-)

Thanks for providing the Links! I've read thru most of them.

Balloons sure did something of a Job here! I'd sure Love to sit in Mr Walter's place myself!

Not to invalidate the many Good Points you've made against Balloon Possibilities. But as you yourself now say, -if I Understand Correctly, -There may now be some "Second Look Possibilities", -as to Manned and "Equipped" Balloon Flight.

Thanks Again! And Sorry once again for our previous recent Misunderstanding. That I somehow inadvertently caused. [color:"black"] [/color] [email]massacre[/email]

So as to avoid confusion, I would like to point out that the info on the "survival balloon" was from a website and not my invention.

No worries, and yes, I'm definitely taking a second look at it. The military equipment could prove useful in some circumstances and I think maybe I got ahead of myself going for the big (and heavier) weather baloons when some large and light mylar could perhaps do the trick. If 45 4' baloons can lift a 150-180 lbs, that's way more than projected by the research I was doing where a 3' weather baloon has about 2-4oz. lift! That other means probably at least 3lb for one of those baloons.