# Fossetts millions wasted on a balloon ride... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 3, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191 "2002-07-03T14:00:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/21 "2002-07-03T21:22:16Z")
Slow news cycle. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/22 "2002-07-03T21:50:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Think about it - it’s a **freaking balloon**! What fun is that? Never flown in one, have you **Anth**? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/23 "2002-07-03T23:19:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Aren’t you at all relieveed that the flying-around-the-world-solo-in-a-balloon barrier has finally been broken? Who knows what mankind can now accomplish? Eating the world’s largest pizza!! ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/24 "2002-07-04T00:20:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andros \* > \*\* > > Never flown in one, have you **Anth**? \*\* Yes, I have, and it had all the terror of a death-defying experience, with none of the fun. IMO only, of course. Many people love balloon rides. I find them terrifying yet boring at the same time. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/25 "2002-07-04T02:01:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*I encourage him to spend his money. But not on a boring-assed balloon. > > Think about it - it’s a **freaking balloon**! What fun is that? > > I think he should buy a surplus Russian SST Fighter, soup the hell up out of it by attaching a rocket, and try to break some sort of round-the-World speed record. Or try to put himself into orbit. Or both, if things go terribly, terribly wrong… > > \*I’m not saying balloons and ballooning aren’t great fun to some people - just not to me, IMO. \*\* He’s already done it: westbound around the world and eastbound around the world, medium weight aircraft. If one is to take out the money aspect by which one might accuse him of buying his records while sitting on his butt, one still must face his hugely impressive sailing background, where he has proven himself a consumate sailor who has a great many records to his name, including many solo records. Had he not broken his boat (Playstation), he may very well have been the fastest around the world in a boat through the wost seas imaginable. As it is, he has had to satisfy himself with trans-atlantic records and the like. Something which stands out about him is that he actually understands weather patterns. Yes, he uses on-shore controllers. He is one of the pioneers of this sort of thing. When combined with giant cats, the integrated forecasting permits the cats to scream along, on the leading edges of fronts, rather than be caught up in the crap. They play with the weather, as no vessel ever has before, and they play where the stakes are the highest, in the southern ocean. Too bad he broke his boat. [http://www.fossettchallenge.com/SFRecords.html](http://www.fossettchallenge.com/SFRecords.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/26 "2002-07-04T02:33:51Z")
I remember the breathless media coverage when i lived in St. Louis (and worked at Wash U., his home base, so i could never escape him!) Am i alone when i say “WHO CARES?” A rich man and his balloon, sound more like a bad porno film than news. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/27 "2002-07-04T02:34:41Z")
I think he should have to do it again, but this time somewhere near the equator, where it means something to go around the world. Hell, at times he was so far south he might as well have gone to the South Pole and spun in a circle. The entire length of his trip (it wasn’t a straight line) was less that a straight line around the equator. I think he cheated and should do it all over. Of course, nobody is asking my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/28 "2002-07-04T03:05:32Z")
Well, the world is alive and well. The ‘have nots’ are griping about the ‘haves’ and those who don’t enjoy golf are vilifying those that do. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/29 "2002-07-05T11:45:08Z")
Has he landed? Last I heard, he was having trouble landing. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/30 "2002-07-05T12:23:04Z")
Yep, he’s landed safely. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/31 "2002-07-05T12:53:48Z")
The man should have taken on a real challenge. Like buying the Montreal Expos and making a winner out of them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/32 "2002-07-05T12:57:21Z")
Regarding his level of suffering - remember he was basically riding in a freezing cold closet with no bathroom facilities, had to find enough time to sleep to be able to react properly, occasionally relied on supplemental oxygen in a mask, plus steered the balloon and fixed anything that went wrong (which apparently happened numerous times during the flights he’s made). During this last flight, he had to climb to 35,000 feet to avoid nasty weather, plus his landing was delayed and was done in far from ideal conditions, resulting in the balloon’s cabin dragging across the ground at a decent rate of speed for 15 minutes, before it finally came to a standstill. Doesn’t exactly sound relaxing or easy by any means; perhaps he was remiss in not thanking his flight crew but it’s not like others have never made such omissions either. Oh, and in an interview on the Today show yesterday, he said he paid for all but the last one, which was sponsored by Budweiser; the first cost $200,000, and the next-to-last over a million. I’d bet that the first one didn’t have much in the way of helper personnel, judging by that price tag. If I had millions that’s not what I’d spend it on, but I’m not going to judge him on his choice. ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/33 "2002-07-05T13:05:44Z")
I agree with **obfusciatrist**. I want to see a REAL “around-the-world flight” - not one of these around-Antarctica, 16,000-mile jobbers! The full 25, or it shouldn’t count. {irony}But I guess those rich people think they can live by a different set of rules, those greedy, selfish … {/irony} ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/34 "2002-07-05T20:10:10Z")
More power to him! He accomplished his goal. He’s a pioneer! Ya gotta love him! ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/35 "2002-07-05T21:23:40Z")
Jealousy, pure jealousy! I know, I know, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man…” yada, yada, yada. There is no reason to judge the man because he’s rich and makes choices you would not (_you_ being generic here, since several of you chose not to judge). Personally, if I were to become rich (an unlikely circumstance) I would share my good fortune with family. But I certainly would get some nice stuff for myself as well. Whose business is it to tally everything I buy and decide whether my resources would be better spent on AIDS research? If I buy a Lexus, _should_ I have bought a Hyundai and given the difference to charity? Who has the moral right to say? You? ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/36 "2002-07-05T21:33:10Z")
By the way, **i\_rage** , I notice you have only ten posts. **Welcome to the boards!** This Pit thread has been relatively mild. Just wait until you post something really controversial and the mass of dopers start piling on in earnest! You’ll love it! (…probably) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/37 "2002-07-05T22:04:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muffin \* > **When combined with giant cats, the integrated forecasting permits the cats to scream along, on the leading edges of fronts, rather than be caught up in the crap.** Are we talking lions and tigers here, or can you get away with a bobcat and the occasional tubby housecat? Balloons aren’t my field of experimentation, but I’m glad he accomplished what he wanted to do, and maybe he’ll do something bigger next. Comparisons to Lindbergh are completely valid, Lindbergh didn’t fly the first nonstop transatlantic flight that a lot of people seem to think he did. He just did it solo, which I think is as or less impressive than spending this absurd amount of time in a balloon. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/38 "2002-07-06T01:39:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GusNSpot \* > \*\*Well, the world is alive and well. The ‘have nots’ are griping about the ‘haves’ and those who don’t enjoy golf are vilifying those that do. \*\* Don’t get me started on those fuckin’ golfers 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191/39 "2002-07-06T19:45:53Z")
To **obfusciatrist** and **RTA** : From the FAQ at Fossett’s balloon website ( [http://www.spiritoffreedom.com](http://www.spiritoffreedom.com) ): > [@](#): > > Q: What constitutes “around the world”; The Earth is 25,000 miles around at the Equator, but Fossett is staying well south and probably won’t travel that far. Will his flight still qualify? > > A: Yes. As established by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale - the International governing body of aeronautics - the rules say a pilot must set a course of waypoints within a band of the Earth that stays at least 30 degrees latitude south of the North Pole or 30 degrees north of the South Pole. The lines joining those waypoints (on a “great circle” projection) must stay outside those polar caps, although parts of the actual flight can drift inside them. Another vote for him being able to do what he wants with his own money. I certainly want the same right. Nothing new here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossetts-millions-wasted-on-a-balloon-ride/117191.md?page=1)