Intrepid Balloon Needs A Lift: Helium Sought For Civil War Replica

A helium shortage is threatening to deflate a western New York museum's plans for the July 4 launch of a manned balloon like the ones used in the Civil War to guide Union artillery against Confederate positions.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A helium shortage is threatening to deflate a western New York museum's plans for the July 4 launch of a manned balloon like the ones used in the Civil War to guide Union artillery against Confederate positions.

The Intrepid is a centerpiece of the Genesee Country Museum's 150th anniversary commemoration of the Civil War. It replicates one of the hydrogen-powered balloons troops used to telegraph intelligence that allowed ground forces to train guns on enemies they couldn't see.

But with its scheduled debut fast approaching, museum officials fear the $400,000 one-of-a-kind project will fall flat.

Helium is in short supply because of the 1996 Helium Privatization Act that called on the government to sell off most of its helium reserves by 2015.

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Comments

[MikeMcDoug]

06:33 PM on 06/18/2012

The Intrepid will fly, thanks to Macy's. The Genesee Country Village & Museum just released the following:

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Macys-Miracle-Says-Museum-CEO-Civil-War-Balloon-Take-Flight-With-Last-Minute-Helium-1670670.htm

[Sean Reeves]

05:32 PM on 06/02/2012

These toolbags are acting like these kids were shooting heroin. It's helium folks--the same element used in conjunction with oxygen to provide life support for premature infants (research "heliox"). Additionally, it's unfortunate for the father that he lost his son due to a freak helium accident, however, we needn't be trying to save everyone on the planet in the first place; there's a serious over-population issue at hand if you haven't noticed. Let people do whatever they'd like to do and worry not about the circumstances that haven't any effect on your own life.

[Canefighter]

11:02 AM on 05/21/2012

Don't let them fool you, they all used it up partying while building the Balloon breathing the Helium so they all could have funny voices.

[Forever Jung]

08:56 AM on 05/21/2012

Helium prices have "gone up" due to "Inflation".

[Louis Cyphr]

08:50 AM on 05/21/2012

"It... is...BALLOON!"

[Forever Jung]

08:55 AM on 05/21/2012

Wow. I don't think I've heard that since 1972!

[acarioti]

08:49 AM on 05/21/2012

Who needs He anyway! The ballon business has always had it's ups and downs.

[Ian Stuart]

07:14 AM on 05/21/2012

Read them all, You comedians left me very little, LOL sept maybe for a wee bit of advice for the baloon crew.......................sorry no can help....sept for ...baloon Helium thyself.

[commento]

07:08 AM on 05/21/2012

For the information of a guy who asked the question: Why not use just hot air instead of Helium?
Answer: Because Helium by virtue of having a lesser density than air, has more lifting power.

[AngelleSL]

05:29 AM on 05/21/2012

Need Helium? Get to the moon. Tons of the stuff there!
http://news.discovery.com/space/this-moon-was-made-for-mining-helium-3.html

[PWR11]

02:11 AM on 05/21/2012

All they have to do is let China know there is a demand for it!! They will be at your door with Helium to spare!... Probably our old helium that they bought for next to nothing!!

[lex19999]

05:00 AM on 05/21/2012

Wrong, O unwise 1

[acarioti]

08:48 AM on 05/21/2012

China? That's just wong!

[PWR11]

02:29 PM on 05/21/2012

Agreed wrong, But True!!

[talari]

01:09 AM on 05/21/2012

Weird. The country's florist shops have enough helium, birthday parties have enough, Macy's parade has enough helium, but now, there's not enough for this balloon. "Helium is in short supply because the government was called upon to sell their reserves." Who did they sell it to, the Martians? Where did it go? This story make no sense.

[fredrdr]

08:52 AM on 05/21/2012

Part of the privatize mania.

[commento]

12:48 AM on 05/21/2012

Without Helium, Intrepid will be a Wimp.

[dtruckdrivinfool]

12:37 AM on 05/21/2012

This silent mess will really hit the fan in a couple of years when the medical community has to pass on the cost of liquid helium to cool MRI machines and the like. It's pricey right now at 5K or so but wait till the shortage kicks in... projections put the cost of an MRI at 20K. Translation, higher insurance costs and premiums and diagnostic rejections.

[Lazerusman]

11:23 PM on 05/20/2012

1996 Helium Privatization Act??? What the hell is that???? Is that one of those things that our precious tax dollars paid for???

[razzieman]

02:55 AM on 05/21/2012

The US stock piled massive amounts of He prior to WW1 for its lighter than air qualities, in 1996 our government decided to get out of the Helium game. We've actually made significant amounts of money. We would have made more had we released our reserves incrementally, but instead they released the entire reserve to the open market. That 2.50 balloon at the market should cost upwards of 50 dollars in a few years.

[Lazerusman]

07:09 AM on 05/21/2012

Well I'll be damn... How do you expect to run a Space program if you don't have any Helium ????

[lex19999]

05:00 AM on 05/21/2012

Yes

[wojoman2]

11:11 PM on 05/20/2012

This helium shortage is still up in the air.

[jsand96876]

01:27 AM on 05/21/2012

Yes but the price of helium could balloon very soon.

[razzieman]

02:56 AM on 05/21/2012

"Light" humor I see.