Real Life Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: World's First Wonkavator

Charlie, Willy Wonka and Grandpa Joe's soul-stirring ride in the Wonkavator (Wonka's glass-bottomed elevator) was one of the most magical moments of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. If you can't recall, here's the scene (ride begins at 3:15):

Wonka: An elevator can only go up and down, but the Wonkavator can go sideways, and slantways, and longways, and backways...

Charlie Bucket: And frontways?

Willy Wonka: ...and squareways, and front ways, and any other ways that you can think of. It can take you to any room in the whole factory just by pressing one of these buttons. Any of these buttons. Just press a button and *zing*! You're off. And up until now, I've pressed them all... except one. 

The possibility of such a device is exhilarating.Which is why the advent of the world's first glass bottomed hot air balloon is so exciting.

Unfortunately, pilot Christian Brown's hot air balloon can't go slantways, longways, backways, and squareways, but it's pretty damn amazing, anyway.

Brown says:

"We've done tethered trials before, which usually end with passengers shrieking and screaming in fear, but this is the first time we've actually taken to the skies unaided.

It was a terrifying experience.

Ordinarily, you would look over the edge of the basket to peer at the ground below but there is something very disconcerting about seeing it right beneath your feet.

It certainly isn't for the faint-hearted, but this is a totally unique experience and we have added a new dimension to ballooning."

Read more at SWNS.