Loading ...terror in the sky above Israel
Or: There I was, thought I was going to die!
I’ve been fortunate enough to have flown balloons literally all over the world, including above all seven continents. This has been a mix of competition, pioneering new areas, record flights and pure adventure flying. Of course, there have been plenty of very interesting situations over the decades. Flying in Israel in 1988 was interesting enough to provide a lasting memory.
The basic story is told in the images below, from Ballooning Magazine. So, if you’re interested in the story, read it first. What happened wasn’t quite like the article says. What really happened on that ‘special’ 3rd day is told in the first comment.
I was lucky for the little bit of terror I experienced, versus what’s now transpiring in Israel.
At the pre-dawn briefing on the first day, we were told that all balloons MUST be back on the ground before 9 AM. This was because the Israeli special team, the equivalent of the Blue Angels, would arrive at 9 AM sharp to begin their airshow. The first day went as planned.
The second day was a repeat of the first. It was a really fun place and environment to fly. Hanging out with the Bedouins was my favorite
On the third morning, there was dense fog blanketing the launch site. We would not be allowed to fly until the fog dissipated. Every half hour another briefing was held, until finally the fog cleared at 8:30 and we were given the OK to launch. Nothing was said about any requirement to be on the ground by 9.
On that morning, I took in the balloon with me the 14-year-old son of the man who volunteered to be my crew and chase me. All the balloons took off. Then, at 9 o’clock sharp, the Israeli special team arrived. They made three passes: on one side of the balloons, returning on the other side, and on the third pass, they came straight through the middle of the balloons! I thought that was pretty cool, but I didn’t know what to think of what happened next.
Later, after the flight, I imagined that during the three passes the jet fighter pilots had been communicating something like, “What do you guys think? Can we do this?” The answer must have been a unanimous “Yes”, because after the third pass, they broke from formation and did their full routine, IN AMONGST THE BALLOONS!!! In my balloon, I couldn’t quite believe what was happening. Jets were buzzing by this way and that, sideways, inverted, above, below, whatever. At the closest, they came within 200′, which is VERY close to have a jet screaming by a balloon.
When the jets first began doing their show, I was so concerned that I had my passenger lie on the floor and brace himself, so he couldn’t get thrown out of the basket. My concern was wake turbulence and vortices, especially when we were on the outside of a radical turn made close. I also hung on, while keeping the balloon in level flight. After a few very close passes by the jets, I was amazed to get absolutely no turbulence. I told the kid he could get up off the floor and enjoy the show. And boy, what a show it was!
In the magazine photos, the fighter jets of the special force can be seen in formation. The photos of individual jets passing close were not so interesting.
By the way- I was flying the Gold Balloon.
Holy Freaking Wow.
period