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

Thu Oct 5 10:23:51 CDT 2006

The smoke balloons I have been familiar with are much later than 1857, but I
think you were speaking casually.

But in any case, the orthodox carnival smoke balloon had to be made of very
heavy fabric and heavy double lock seams to withstand the horrific stresses
and abuse inherent in that operation including the static and dynamic loads
from the flight procedure and loading system.

My postulation is: Don't use that technology.

Thirty per cent squared would be nine per cent.

"a 30% reduction" in what, Bob?

Don

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Kerr [mailto:private e-mail address] 
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 11:08 AM
To: Don Piccard; 'Paul Strazza'; private e-mail address
Subject: RE: [balloon-makers] Re: Suggestion (Boland) balloon kits Re:
[Balloonmail] Growth of ballooning

Don,

the 1957 balloon I was referring to was the smoke balloons typical of that
era.

the 30% question is from Paul, not me.

my note about the 30% is simply noting that a 30% reduction reduces both 
the the height, and the girth by 30%, so the actual reduction would be 
greater than 30%, I don't have any actual formulii in front of me, but 
maybe some else can give an exact equation if need be.

At 11:47 AM 10/5/2006, Don Piccard wrote:
>What 1857 balloon are you talking about?
>
>Why would the width (of what? - The gores?) have to be reduced by 30%?
>Could you be more specific for the literalists out here?
>
>How do you figure you get a ten per cent volume reduction?
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: private e-mail address
>[mailto:private e-mail address] On Behalf Of Robert Kerr
>Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 10:25 AM
>To: Paul Strazza; private e-mail address
>Subject: RE: [balloon-makers] Re: Suggestion (Boland) balloon kits Re:
>[Balloonmail] Growth of ballooning
>
>Just off the top of my head, yes in theory i would work, but the reduction
>in volume would be something more like 30% squared.
>
>Robert Kerr
>
>At 10:57 AM 10/5/2006, Paul Strazza wrote:
> >Robert,
> >
> >I just thought of a problem with that.. Id have to reduce my width by
30%,
> >alot more gores than needed, and alot of unescesary cutting.
> >
> >but would the theory work?
> >
> >Paul S
> >
> >Robert Kerr <private e-mail address> wrote:
> >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
> > > >>
> > > >>_______________________________________________
> > > >>Balloonmail mailing list
> > > >>private e-mail address
> > > >>http://www.interaeroleague.com/mailman/listinfo/balloonmail
> > > >
> > > >_______________________________________________
> > > >Balloonmail mailing list
> > > >private e-mail address
> > > >http://www.interaeroleague.com/mailman/listinfo/balloonmail
> > >
> > >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/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >--- http://USFamily.Net/dialup.html - $8.25/mo! --
> > >http://www.usfamily.net/dsl.html - $19.99/mo! ---
> >
> >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
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Balloonmail mailing list
> >private e-mail address
> >http://www.interaeroleague.com/mailman/listinfo/balloonmail
> >
> >
> >
> >Get your email and more, right on the
> ><http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42973/*http://www.yahoo.com/preview>new
>Yahoo.com
>
>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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>
>
>
>
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>-
>"Balloon-makers" is archived at http://www.hombc.org/balloon-makers/

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