Video: Bristol man flies balloon-powered camping chair above Joburg

We know that some on planet Earth believe that Pixar’s Up is a simply brilliant movie. We’re not about to challenge that sentiment, but there is a point at which using balloons to fly a house across the world becomes markedly unfeasible.

But what about a camping chair? That’s what this particular Bristol man decided to do north of Johannesburg this week.

Tom Morgan, the founder of British adventure-cum-charity company The Adventurists, enjoyed a two-hour flight around 2.5km above Gauteng while sitting in a balloon-lifted camping chair.

According to the Bristol Post, the flight wasn’t a realisation of Morgan’s Pixar fandom, but rather a test-slash-PR stunt in a bid to make a balloon-powered camping chair race a thing.

No. We’re not making this up.

“It was a fairly indescribable feeling, wafting across Africa on a cheap camping chair dangling from a load of balloons. Sort of peaceful and terrifying in equal measure,” Morgan told the Post after his flight.

“I came here to see if we could organise the world’s most ridiculous air race and after that flight I’m more convinced than ever that we can.”

This wasn’t Morgan’s first balloon rodeo either. His company’s website documents a number of previous attempts, including this different intern initiation.

How do you get the intern to prove himself? Only one way really. Strap him in and hope he comes back alive-ish. https://t.co/48OADQ7Mja pic.twitter.com/p2pzTJ02Hl

— The Adventurists (@TheAdventurists) October 21, 2017

“How do you get the intern to prove himself? Only one way really. Strap him in and hope he comes back alive-ish,” the tweet jokes.

And in case you’re also wondering…

i only have one question…how tf did he get down?

— Billie Jean (@SonOfSmarf) October 24, 2017

…Morgan reportedly returned to terra firma by cutting off the balloons one by one.

H/T: BBC, Bristol Post