[balloon-makers] Re: Suggestion (Boland) balloon kits Re: [Balloonmail] Growth of ballooning

[Robert Kerr]

yes, but if the balloon you intend to build should look like a balloon from 
1937, or better yet 1857, then that would be the ideal pattern !!!


At 10:19 AM 10/5/2006, Don Piccard wrote:

Bob, the cone and sphere was a nice novelty in 1937, but you should be able
to do better now.  There are many reasons to use more up tio date concepts.

Don

P.S.  The geometric function that puts the 60 degree tangent point at the
midpoint was fascinating to my father's students which included Gilruth at
the time.  dp

-----Original Message-----
From: private e-mail address
[mailto:private e-mail address] On Behalf Of Robert Kerr
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 7:36 AM
To: Jonathan Wolfe; Dave Wesner
Cc: private e-mail address; private e-mail address
Subject: [balloon-makers] Re: Suggestion (Boland) balloon kits Re:
[Balloonmail] Growth of ballooning

Johnathon,

Have you looked into contacting Bob LeDoux to get a copy of the Balloon
builder Journal?

I just got my copy of the CD this week, but haven't had time to look at
much of it yet.
I know there's enough info in there to build your own balloon, and the
plans are adaptable enough to change the shape slightly without worry.

I also built my own spreadsheet for designing my own primative "cone and
sphere" balloon, but haven't had the time, nor the money now (DIV....) to
start fabrication.  If that interests you I could send you a copy of the
spreadsheet.

Robert Kerr




At 12:24 AM 10/5/2006, Jonathan Wolfe wrote:
>Oh yeah, I forgot to reply to Dave's inquiry about Boland-style kits.
>It's a great idea, and it's great to have a way for motivated people who
>can't afford to buy a new system to get into the sport.
>         From my standpoint, Boland's designs are a bit too focused on
> simplicity, lightness, and affordability. Those are not bad things at
> all, but there are many homebuilders who build envelopes that are much
> more beautifully shaped.
>         There was a conversation a while back about creating a
> collaborative "open-source" balloon design that would basically be a set
> of free and easy plans that anyone could use to build a balloon and get
> into the sport. It would incorporate the best elements from many designs.
> I think that's a terrific idea. I hope we pursue this. I hope we don't
> let the lawyers stop us.
>
>
>-Jonathan Wolfe, Ph.D.
>http://www.SkyDyes.net
>http://www.FractalFoundation.org
>
>
>
>>When I read the above, one refrain kept running through my mind: "Boland,
>>Boland, Boland."  Smaller, lighter systems, kits, "balloon camp," what
>>appears from the outside to be an enthusiastic support network for
>>homebuilders - as long as there's an option for people to pay extra for
>>full assembly, the Boland model fits the bill beautifully.  All it would
>>seem to need is more widespread promotion, and greater geographic
>>availability (I might already have done "balloon camp" were it not for
>>the travel involved).  Any comments from those more familiar with Brian
>>and his approach (Dr. Wolfe?  You tuned in, here?) who could comment on
>>the above?
>>
>>
>>-Dave Wesner
>>http://www.ballooninghistory.com
>>
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>
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Robert Kerr

University Computer Repair Technician
MSU Computer Repair,
Academic Computing and Network Services
Michigan State University
505 Computer Center
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 432-5347


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Robert Kerr

University Computer Repair Technician
MSU Computer Repair,
Academic Computing and Network Services
Michigan State University
505 Computer Center
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 432-5347


-
"Balloon-makers" is archived at http://www.hombc.org/balloon-makers/