A new addition to my "Ways I Don't Want to Die" list

[jhansman]

I once knew a glider pilot who refused to ride in a helicopter. "Fixed wing only" was his motto. A friend once invited me to go ballooning over Napa. I smiled and muttered, "Nuh uh..."

 

[Printer Bandit]

RIP

 

[HeXen]

You have a better chance of tripping over your cat and hitting your head and dying from a brain hemorrhage.

With my cats, that's actually a very high likelihood. They nearly killed me multiple times this past few years already.

 

[roguerower]

Only reason I would ever go on a balloon ride is so I could jump out of it.

 

[Markbnj]

Sad story. I wonder if those gondolas are still made from (at least what looks like, and apparently behaved like) straw for weight reasons? Is it really the best material? I understand they probably don't want to build balloons for the edge case of running into power lines, but by definition there is a source of open flame onboard. I think I would want to minimize the flammable materials. Also, some sort of extinguishing system might be a good idea, although again weight might be an issue. But thinking on the weight issue, wouldn't it be better to have a larger balloon and safer gondola?