(56K!) A hot air balloon, an Air Zoo, a frog and a big ass truck

[XCELR8]

I thought I’d share some pictures of one of my family’s hobbies. I’ve been participating in the sport my entire life and acquired my Private Pilot’s license just prior to joining the military. Anyways, here are the pictures… along with a couple random ones.

Yup… it all fits:

It’s a homemade rig. Powered by Honda for all you Honda fan :

You stretch out the envelope to allow it to fill with cold air quicker/easier. It’s not necessary, but speeds up the process. The envelope is 77,000 cubic feet in volume:

 

[XCELR8]

An Altimeter, Variometer, and a Pyrometer, not shown is a GPS, Burner Pressure and LP gauges:

This is the T3-071 burner. It runs of liquid propane and generates ~27,000,000 BTUs of heat. To put that into perspective, the average household furnace makes about ~70,000 BTUs.

My Dad:

The horn is there because a while back my Dad lost his ability to speak. (infection in his larynx) While he’d fly over, people would comment and says things to him, but because he couldn’t reply, and didn’t want to come of “stuck up” he’d reply with a honk from the horn. It’s not necessary now, obviously, but I guess it’s still up there for tradition.

Reflection in a pond:

The amount of deer in Michigan is staggering. You can throw a rock and have a 50/50 shot of hitting one. I lost count of the deer in just one 30 minute flight.

 

[XCELR8]

This is the chase vehicle. A van is used instead of an SUV because of the required room to transport passengers after a paying flight.

The metal ring thing, is actually a ingenious tool used to “milk” the air from the envelope to help deflate it.

The round disc in the top is actually called the “parachute”. It’s not used like an actual parachute, but instead it’s connected to a rope that goes to the basket. The pilot can pull the rope and vent hot air to expedite a desent:

 

[BONESTOCK]

Nice mang! Dangerous hobby.

 

[XCELR8]

This little dude was in the pond in our back yard:

My friends F150. I’d hate to know how much he has into it. And, no… it hasn’t seen mud. It’s a show truck.

No tripod + dark barn = shitty picture:

My dog, Paige:

The next pictures are from the Kalamazoo Air Zoo. This is one of the only ‘B’ model SR-71s in the world. Hence the second cockpit:

 

[XCELR8]

Neat mural:

This is the engine from the Blackbird:

B-25J Mitchell – Another good reason we don’t speak German:

 

[XCELR8]

Rocket motor from the Saturn V:

 

[BONESTOCK]

Awesome pics!!!

 

[stangd1909]

Awesome pics man.....thanks for posting!

 

[RedfireVNM]

Damn man...nice pics

 

[mineralgrey01gt]

man that was honestly one of the most interesting pic threads I have ever seen. Thanks a ton.

 

[torquemonster]

that truck is outta hand haha

 

[Powershift03]

Yea, GREAT pics! Thanks for posting them.

 

[ford_racer]

Tell your friend he has a mall crawler...

 

[ford_racer]

.

 

[Boss75]

I wanna know who the hell paints a P-40 PINK!!

EDIT: oh cool pics btw. I've always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon.

 

[XCELR8]

Thanks everyone! Any questions welcome....

 

[1tufgt]

Gr8 pictures...........

 

[Gringo185]

Sweet pics man.

SR-71 Blackbird > *

 

[Kevins89notch]

Awesome man, that looks like a blast. My grandpa was going to take me and my cousins up for a hot air balloon ride(as in pay for it) when I was about 12 or so, but I came down with strep throat, and couldn't go.