Contact: Rich Kurz
Page content last updated 10/2007
A stereo view from the balloon ———›
The Trip
We launched about 8:15 and made a 45 minute flight.
Shortly after the initial thrill of lift off (VERY shortly), the pilot noted how well I gripped the frame of the basket.
There was only six horizontal inches between me and the ground distancing itself from me below.
We drifted about 2-1/2 miles to the northeast, and then, to the pilot's surprise, drifted back in the near exact reverse direction we had come.
The landing was tough.
The basket bounced a couple times and then tipped on its side and was dragged by the balloon until the rip cord finally took effect and deflated the balloon.
We then had to physically haul the balloon and basket a quarter mile across knee-high grass to the recovery vehicle.
We toasted our first successful landing and proceeded to breakfast.
Stereoviewing
There is no simple way I have found to easily teach how to view a stereo pair.
I use a couple of techniques.
The goal is to see three images and then focus on the middle image.
To help me merge the images, I hold up my hand vertically and tilt it on the vertical axis so that when I look thru the left eye,
my hand blocks the right image and for the right eye, it blocks the left image.
The balloon image works best at a distance of about 3-1/2 feet from the screen when using my reading glasses.
This image is created for the parallel viewing method.
For a brief discussion of stereo imaging and another way to view one,
click here and scroll down to "Orthostereography".
