The Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Company suspended operations when a balloon struck power line wires and burst into flames. 16 people died. Ever been up in a hot air balloon? What's it like?

That is one thing I will never experience.  I would not go up in one of those things

for any reason. 

It is great. Very quiet and calm, and you feel no wind at all (the ballon follow whatever winds there may be).

Usually it is also better managed ;) Power cables are a known hazard.

I rode in a hot air balloon years ago with my sister and my mom. If it hadn't been for the rough landing, it would have been rather boring. Yes, the scenery is breathtaking. But there isn't a feeling of movement while your in the air. We didn't think much of getting hurt or killed, but as we were descending my mom noticed the pilot was continually saying flex your knees and it was a good thing we paid attention, because we hit the ground hard once and went airborn again then hit hard again and the basket ended up on its side with the balloon still pulling us while we were sideways. We could see in the distance a fence was approaching so my sister and I tried grabbing on to the brush to slow us down and the pilot told us to keep our hands inside. I remember distinctly the pilot warning us not to try and get out because if we did, the balloon would go airborn again. I guess the wind had gotten stronger and that was the reason we crashed. Our knees were shaking after the pilot finally gave us the okay to exit the basket. It was definitely scary and I don't think I'd go up in one again.

I went to a hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I had the chance to ride one or be part of the balloon chasers, for free. I chose the balloon chasers, as I am afraid of heights. One of my friends who was with me did get in the basket and rode. She loved it. She said it made her feel free like a bird. She took lots of photos which were amazing.

I imagine the rush of being that high without glass in front of you has to be a thrill. Airplane rides don't scare me though.

Only a vectored-thrust blimp, never a hot air balloon.

I went up in a hot air balloon several years ago in Taos, New Mexico. There were just the two of us in the basket. We floated over a canyon and an area that had no power lines, so there was no chance of this happening to us. It was exhilarating being able to look out over the basket and get a bird's eye view of the ground.

Hot air balloon company?  Does it have a TRUMP logo on each balloon.  Sounds like a perfect match.

I think you are on the ride of your life, Salt and you don't even know you are going to crash and burn in the Hot Air balloon of your choice here.

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 Never been in one, but saw one almost hit a high tension line in London, Ontario. 

Me too neither Sunshine. I have a fear of heights. I like the feel of the ground under my feet! Thank you for your answer and Happy Thursday! :)

 I have a fear of heights JakobA so I cannot see myself willingly getting in one of them to float up up and away! Thank you for your reply and Happy Thursday! :)

 Well for starters I have a fear of heights PC so I would not willingly get in one of them. Your experience would scare the you-know-what outta me....it sounds TERRIFYING! Thank you for your thoughtful and informative reply and yikes I'm sure glad you survived it and are here to talk about it! ((hugs))

Me too neither Marguerite! Planes are fine but I have a fear of heights too and I would NEVER willingly get in one of those balloons to  go up up and away. I like the song Up Up and Away but that's as close as I would ever get to riding in" my beautiful baloon!" What is a balloon chaser though?  Did you ride in a car and just follow the balloon? Thank you for your reply and Happy Thursday!   :)

I have a fear of heights Spunky so it is unlikely that I would voluntarily get in one of those things and float up up and away. I'd hafta to be another RosieG. This one doesn't want any part of it! Thank you for your reply and Happy Thursday!  :)

Oh dear I hope any children who may be on this site don't see this sight  Sharonna. It is too horrible for them to view. Thank you for your reply and the graphic though I must say it is one of the unlovelier ones I've ever seen you post. Not your fault of course.  You did not create it. You are just reporting it! Thank you for your reply and Happy Thursday! :)

I'm glad it was "almost". Sounds very scary.   Thank you for your reply bh and Happy Thursday! :)

 I wouldn't be surprised if among his many TRUMP engraved/embossed thingies among them is a hot air balloon with pictures of  him taking up every inch of it. I wouldn't. He probably stores it in a Trump hangar on a Trump ranch in a town named Trump somewhere in America. Thank you for your reply Sharonna! :)

Rosie, my friend has a fear of heights, too, but she was OK as long as she didn't look straight down.  She just looked out over the horizon.

Happy Thursday and TG tomorrow is Friday.

Oh. Well then maybe I could handle it! That's good to know Spunky! I'm sure the view would be beautiful providing I didn't faint! Thank you for your reply m'dear!  :)

LOL ... The view was spectacular!

When I'm in a plane I choose the window seat. Weird isn't it?  I have no  sensation of being up high for some weird reason. Yet if I am on a balcony  say 3 floors up and look down my knees go weak. They will almost buckle. That sensation is very unpleasant. Did you have the feeling of being up high viscerally Spunky? I know you know you're up high intellectually because you can see it.  But how does it make you "feel"? Did your friend tell you how it made her feel?  Thank you for your additional comment m'dear and Happy Saturday!  :)

I think that when you're in something like a plane, you don't fear the height because your physical self feels secure in a seat with the cabin all around you.  I think my friend felt comfortable in the balloon basket for the same reason - in both cases, you just look out at the horizon and don't see the ground.  I don't have a fear of heights, so when I looked down, it was like having the view f a bird in the air which was a really interesting experience. 

Happy Saturday. :)

Will  you go hot air ballooning again Spunky? Is doing it once enough or does it bear repeating? Thank you for your comment! :)