Balloonist to attempt flight over Mt Ruapehu

A hot air balloonist is planning to fly over Mt Ruapehu tomorrow in a warm-up for a future attempt on the much more active White Island, in the Bay of Plenty.

Carterton man Rick Walczak has flown all around the world, and makes annual flights in Japan and the United States but has never flown over an active volcano before.

He plans to take off from State Highway 4 near National Park around 6.30am, taking advantage of the calm winds of early morning. He has been checking the weather carefully and expects a westerly wind.

Ruapehu could have steam eruptions or sulphur emissions, and Mr Walczak is planning to go high to try to avoid them.

He wants to be on the ground near SH1 and Waiouru by about 10am.

Previous flights in this country included one over Mt Taranaki and an attempt on Mt Cook that was foiled by bad weather. The White Island attempt was scheduled for late summer, Mr Walczak said.

- WANGANUI CHRONICLE