[balloon-makers] OpenSource Balloon Kits & Plans

[Jonathan Wolfe]

Yes, you can buy the Boland plans, follow the instructions, and make a =

balloon. And you can learn LOTS from Bob Ledoux's Balloon Builders Journal.
    BUT I think it would be so much more exciting for the homebuilders =

community to collaborate on a free design that would be a simple, =

entry-level balloon that would be a whole lot nicer than Boland (or any =

single individual) could come up with. The opensource model works well =

in lots of different areas (see freebeer.org for an even wackier =

example). Anyone want to participate in a collaborative balloon design? =

(Prolly we should really talk about this after the impending Fiesta =

madness, unless any of you want to come by and chat at F2...) Should I =

spring for the domain name "openballoon.org" ? Or maybe it should be =

wikiballoon.org, and we could host lots of design pages and anyone could =

edit collaboratively... There's a bunch of ways to do it.

One challenge of course is that different people think different designs =

are superior, and so it would be difficult to distill down just one =

simple design that is easy for first-timers to grasp. And maybe we start =

with one design, and then grow to add several more sophisticated ones. =

But what a tremendous resource, if we could have the diagrams, =

instructions, parts lists, suppliers, and timetables for some great =

balloon patterns all listed in one place.

I think this could actually be a huge positive contribution for =

ballooning as a whole by making it easier for the motivated DIY types to =

participate. There are no doubt thousands of people who would love to =

fly if they knew there was an easy way to build their own aircraft for a =

fraction of the cost of a new commercial one. We should help them.

Balloon builders of the world - unite!

-Jonathan Wolfe, Ph.D.
http://www.SkyDyes.net
http://www.FractalFoundation.org

P.S. I was Boland U class of '94 too! As well as a graduate of the =

Padelt Institute of Technology ' 96, and the Piccard School of Bulbosity =

'01... :)

Jerrybreed at aol.com wrote:
> Whether you purchase just the detailed step by step plans or the =

> Boland materials kit, you can finish a complete a balloon system by =

> following the instructions. If one becomes unsure or just doesn't have =

> the time or support group to finish the project.........go to Brian =

> and he will compete the project in days. Besides, Post Mills Airport =

> is a unique place ans you won't forget the =

> experience...............Jerry Reed Class of 1994 Boland U.
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