Adventurer tries to cross English Channel using helium balloons

A man has taken off in a daring attempt to cross the English Channel using a cluster of helium-filled balloons.

Last month Jonathan Trapp claimed a new world record for the longest free-floating balloon flight, flying 109 miles across North Carolina Photo: BARCROFT MEDIA

To cheers from well-wishers, Jonathan Trappe lifted off from a field in Kent strapped underneath his colourful collection of gigantic inflatables.

The US adventurer, 36, is hoping to be the first person to cross the stretch of water by helium balloon.

He told Sky News shortly before taking off: ''I think we can make it. We have got a beautiful day here. We are going to fly the English Channel in a cluster of balloons.''

Mr Trappe set off from Kent Gliding Club in Challock, near Ashford - about 10 miles from the coast - shortly after 5am.

A helicopter crew filmed him rising slowly off the ground, with his seat attached to each of the several dozen balloons.

The aviator expects to reach heights of more than 7,000ft before hopefully reaching the continent later today.

But he said his final destination remained unknown because of the weather.

''Part of the adventure is you don't know when you need to land,'' he said.

Mr Trappe will reportedly lower himself by cutting off a few balloons, then fine-tune his descent rate by jettisoning water ballast.

He has already made a number of trips using his balloon cluster.

Last month he claimed a new world record for the longest free-floating balloon flight, flying 109 miles across North Carolina.

He described the English Channel as an "iconic ribbon of water that is calling", and in March visited both England and France to meet with aviation authorities.

Mr Trappe's seat pod is packed with position finding and communication equipment, but he is apparently not wearing an immersion suit. This could see him land in trouble if he is forced to ditch in the sea.

His feat is reminiscent of the hero of the recent hit animated film Up. That saw grumpy pensioner Carl Fredericksen attach hundreds of coloured balloons to his house and fly off to South America.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

cool max? :D

reminds me of :

LOL.

i KO right aft my head hit th pillow :P

-

wait.

let's think through it again.

its really ironic.

maybe she's right..

alright three months is all, from 22.05.2010 onwards.

since you still can b so happy w/o me..