Flying House

UP fan takes to the skies in a house by tying hundreds of balloons to it… just like character in Pixar film

• Will attempt to fly from Maine to Paris in his bid to cross the 2,500 mile ocean
• Made his name crossing the English Channel in 2010

A cluster-balloonist who became the first person to fly the English Channel has launched a house into the sky just like in the Disney movie 'Up'. 

Intrepid Jonathan Trappe, 38, took off just like the 78-year-old character Carl Frederickson in the hit movie.

Trappe, from Raleigh, North Carolina, stepped into the cartoon themed home before soaring above the Leon International Balloon festival in Mexico yesterday.

Taking off: A cluster-balloonist has launched a house into the sky just like in the Disney movie Up

Flying high: Intrepid Jonathan Trappe, 38, took off just like the 78-year-old character Carl Frederickson in the hit movie

Up, up and away: In the hit movie, Up, pictured, 78-year-old character Carl Frederickson takes off with his house attached to balloons

Trappe was using the event as a warm-up for his planned trans-Atlantic flight scheduled for next summer.

He aims to complete the 2,500 mile journey across the pond in a seven foot lifeboat carried by 365 huge helium balloons. 

Trappe has invested $170,000 into his Atlantic dream, for which he's been training his whole career, and now he's launching a site so ordinary people can play their part this amazing adventure.

Showing off: Trappe, from Raleigh, North Carolina, stepped into the cartoon themed home before soaring above the Leon International Balloon festival in Mexico yesterday

Journey of a lifetime: He aims to complete the 2,500 mile journey across the pond in a seven foot lifeboat carried by 365 huge helium balloons

The daredevil, is learning to sail a lifeboat, in case he needs to ditch into the ocean during the danger-filled mission.

The unique gondola will have an open roof for take-off but a canopy to protect Trappe from high-altitude winds and frost bite during the crossing.

He will fly at between 18,000ft  and 25,000ft, beating his previous world altitude record of 21,600ft, and must fly uninterrupted a distance ten times longer than his previous world record of 230 miles in order to succeed.

The adventurer, who holds records for crossing the Alps, flying the most cluster balloons, and the longest distance, has spent his entire career building up to the momentous expedition.

He said: 'I didn't wake up one day and think: 'I'm going to fly across the Atlantic.'

Planning: The adventurer, who holds records for crossing the Alps, flying the most cluster balloons, and the longest distance, has spent his entire career building up to the momentous expedition

Challenge: Mr Trappe is ready to take on the Atlantic, a challenge which has called to balloonists for decades, although five others have died in the process, and none have crossed attached to cluster-balloons

'Every attempt before this was geared towards this flight. I've been training for a long time.'

In May 2010 Trappe became famous worldwide when flew from England to Belgium dangling from scores of helium balloons. 

Now he is ready to take on the Atlantic, a challenge which has called to balloonists for decades, although five others have died in the process, and none have crossed attached to cluster-balloons.

'It's about living an interesting life - for me as the pilot and those watching,' said Trappe.

'So, one day we can look back and say: 'Humankind were able to pull this off. They did it.'

Watch Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA4-jWMyDBg