Gerry G
05-10-2007, 11:28 AM
I know Art Evans works in the radio station in the old convent at Abbotsford that was buzzed by balloon the other day. This is the second blitz that Art has survived.
I am certain that they were aiming at Art himself as there is little else there. Here is the edited article. Quote
"Balloon skims Melbourne rooftops
Dan Harrison and Reko Rennie
May 9, 2007 - 4:04PM
A hot-air balloon narrowly missed hitting buildings in Melbourne's inner east during a scenic flight this morning.
Abbotsford resident Bruce Sims was alerted to the balloon when he heard shouting from the balloon's basket as it flew over Abbotsford Street about 15 metres above the ground shortly after 7am.
"It was flying in very low along the street, just above the tops of the trees," he told theage.com.au.
"They were obviously trying to keep altitude by pumping more gas into the balloon but...they were gradually coming down lower."
Mr Sims lost sight of the balloon as it floated over the nearby Abbotsford Convent.
Kiff Saunders, the pilot of the balloon in question, told theage.com.au that he had "excellent control" of the balloon's altitude.
"A balloon can fly over an obstacle by a couple of metres in perfect control - it's not a near miss situation, it is a misconception to the person on the ground.
"The fact is just across the river from Abbotsford is one of our primary landing areas at the Yarra Bend Studley Park Golf Course, so I'm surprised to hear a resident (complain) given that our flight path over Abbotsford is quite realistic."
Abbotsford Convent foundation chief executive Maggie Maguire said a staff member saw the balloon clear the roof of the building by about five metres.
It was last seen drifting east over Collingwood Children's Farm.
None of the farm's four-legged residents had been injured by the balloon, she said.
The incident is Ms Maguire's second close encounter with a hot-air balloon in two weeks.
A fortnight ago she was woken by the noise of a balloon's gas jets and looked out the window of her Carlton bedroom to see the passengers in its basket.
"I'm wondering whether they've got some new drivers or something," she said.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said hot-air balloons occasionally had to make unplanned landings when wind conditions differed from those forecast.
"There is nothing inherently unsafe about that as long as it's done properly, it's just unexpected," he said.
theage.com.au"
I am certain that they were aiming at Art himself as there is little else there. Here is the edited article. Quote
"Balloon skims Melbourne rooftops
Dan Harrison and Reko Rennie
May 9, 2007 - 4:04PM
A hot-air balloon narrowly missed hitting buildings in Melbourne's inner east during a scenic flight this morning.
Abbotsford resident Bruce Sims was alerted to the balloon when he heard shouting from the balloon's basket as it flew over Abbotsford Street about 15 metres above the ground shortly after 7am.
"It was flying in very low along the street, just above the tops of the trees," he told theage.com.au.
"They were obviously trying to keep altitude by pumping more gas into the balloon but...they were gradually coming down lower."
Mr Sims lost sight of the balloon as it floated over the nearby Abbotsford Convent.
Kiff Saunders, the pilot of the balloon in question, told theage.com.au that he had "excellent control" of the balloon's altitude.
"A balloon can fly over an obstacle by a couple of metres in perfect control - it's not a near miss situation, it is a misconception to the person on the ground.
"The fact is just across the river from Abbotsford is one of our primary landing areas at the Yarra Bend Studley Park Golf Course, so I'm surprised to hear a resident (complain) given that our flight path over Abbotsford is quite realistic."
Abbotsford Convent foundation chief executive Maggie Maguire said a staff member saw the balloon clear the roof of the building by about five metres.
It was last seen drifting east over Collingwood Children's Farm.
None of the farm's four-legged residents had been injured by the balloon, she said.
The incident is Ms Maguire's second close encounter with a hot-air balloon in two weeks.
A fortnight ago she was woken by the noise of a balloon's gas jets and looked out the window of her Carlton bedroom to see the passengers in its basket.
"I'm wondering whether they've got some new drivers or something," she said.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said hot-air balloons occasionally had to make unplanned landings when wind conditions differed from those forecast.
"There is nothing inherently unsafe about that as long as it's done properly, it's just unexpected," he said.
theage.com.au"