Man Flies Using Helium Balloons
- 11 years ago
A man travels over the Atlantic via helium balloons.
Who needs a boat or plane to cross over a section of the Atlantic?
Certainly not one South African man named Matt Silver-Vallance.
The 37-year-old traveled from Robben Island to Cape Town using only helium balloons. Donning a wetsuit, he harnessed himself to 160 balloons and flew across the water.
He also carried water filled bags to adjust his height along with an air gun and a spear-like object to pop the balloons. It took the daredevil about an hour to complete the over 3.5 mile journey.
He came up with the idea after watching a television show about astronauts and began coming up with different ways to defy gravity. The flying stunt was done in an effort to raise funds for the construction of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.
In 2010, another adventurer, Jonathan Trappe, became the first person to fly across the English channel using helium balloons. Dangling from 54 balloons, it took the then 36-year-old four hours to complete the 22 mile trip.
Who needs a boat or plane to cross over a section of the Atlantic?
Certainly not one South African man named Matt Silver-Vallance.
The 37-year-old traveled from Robben Island to Cape Town using only helium balloons. Donning a wetsuit, he harnessed himself to 160 balloons and flew across the water.
He also carried water filled bags to adjust his height along with an air gun and a spear-like object to pop the balloons. It took the daredevil about an hour to complete the over 3.5 mile journey.
He came up with the idea after watching a television show about astronauts and began coming up with different ways to defy gravity. The flying stunt was done in an effort to raise funds for the construction of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.
In 2010, another adventurer, Jonathan Trappe, became the first person to fly across the English channel using helium balloons. Dangling from 54 balloons, it took the then 36-year-old four hours to complete the 22 mile trip.