hot air ballons

spatchco

am looking out the back room and have seen for the first in my life a beautiful sight 2 hot air ballons over the city[dublin] traveling west at this moment,is this a first ?

noelfirl

One of them just passed over M50 west link in last 10 mins, wonderful sight to see, particularly unexpected on Christmas day.

Run_to_da_hills

I saw them as well over the RDS, the naked flames looked scary, Do these guys carry parachutes?

andy_g

i saw them at around 1200 just west of me on the n2 heading towards dublin great to see them flying

lord lucan

i know one family that booked one of them as a xmas pressie. they booked and paid for it at the "toys for big boys" thing at the RDS. they took off from the phoenix park on xmas evening and headed west,i seen them near my gaff in lucan around 20.00 hrs. they were blessed with the weather,there was hardly a breeze that night.

PeakOutput

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I saw them as well over the RDS, the naked flames looked scary, Do these guys carry parachutes?

i dont think so. i will make sure to have one with me though when i jump out of a hot air balloon this summer. was meant to do it in august but didnt get the chance...cant wait

there used to be shows on tv fairly regularly about large hot air balloon meeting havnt seen one in years though so must of died of quite a bit

Aedan

There was loads of them over Co.Meath this summer. A total joy of a sight to behold on a bright summers evening. There is a company based in Trim in Meath who seem to have set up giving the public flights. Im nearly sure the link is www.balloons.ie or something along them lines. See it on an advertising van on the side of the road in Trim last week.

jmayo

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I saw them as well over the RDS, the naked flames looked scary, Do these guys carry parachutes?

No parachutes. They are very safe unless of course you decide to light the basket
I find it surprising they were over city centre. IAA used to have a thing about that since you are at mercy of wind where you go.
Also anywhere near Dublin control Zone was a no no.
From memory, only one allowed in city centre was Eircom sponsored balloon that was tethered in Merrion Sq or Stephen's Green just before Eircom floatation.

Aedan wrote: »

There was loads of them over Co.Meath this summer. A total joy of a sight to behold on a bright summers evening. There is a company based in Trim in Meath who seem to have set up giving the public flights. Im nearly sure the link is www.balloons.ie or something along them lines. See it on an advertising van on the side of the road in Trim last week.

That could also be because quiet a few of the guys in Dublin Balloon Club are based around Navan area.

noelfirl wrote: »

One of them just passed over M50 west link in last 10 mins, wonderful sight to see, particularly unexpected on Christmas day.

Again didn't know they would be allowed fly that close to city and Dublin ariport ?

donvito99

Yeah I saw one from Mount jerome in Rathgar, I think its because theres no flights, no ATC.

EI787

jmayo wrote: »

Again didn't know they would be allowed fly that close to city and Dublin ariport ?

This took place on Christmas Day - the only day of the year where Dublin Airport effectively shuts down. Therefore, there was no problem with having hot air balloons in the air as there were no aircraft around.

Beechman

Spotted them over Clonne on Christmas Day, one seemed to come down in Dunboyne. It was lovely to see and get a quick photo also !

bumpydog

Apologies for the late reply. We were one of the two balloons flying on Christmas Day over the City. As one poster stated, Dublin Airport is closed on Christmas Day and the IAA granted permission for us to fly in Dublin airspace. We took off from Bective Rugby Club and landed between Kilmessan and Trim, Co. Meath, two hours later. Our track took us over Herbert Park, St. Stephen's Green, the NCH, Guinness Brewery, Four Courts, Dublin Zoo, Aras an Uachtarain and Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. There are some aerial photos at www.balloons.ie in our photo gallery (click on second category - aerial photos)

Malcolm.