Last weekend I was up in Perquin to help facilitate a boys camp that was lead by a fellow PCV. Each of us were in charge of several parts of the schedule. My good friend Brian came and shared his specialty: tissue paper hot air balloons. The construction of the balloons is a fairly simple process, although detailed and time consuming. Throughout the camp Brian led the boys and volunteers through the construction process. It involves gluing together several sheets of tissue paper to make the four panels of the balloon, trimming them to size and gluing them together. Then adding a thin metal wire square that holds a cloth soaked in wax and allowed to dry. To fly the balloon, one must hold it up and open and light the cloth. The hot air from the flame fills the inside of the balloon, and propels it upward, causing the balloon to take flight.
On the final morning of the camp we took the balloons out to let them fly. It was a bit windy, which makes it tricky for the hot air to fill the balloons. Almost all of them flew successfully, and the campers were thrilled!
(Brian and Daniel demonstrating how to fold and cut the paper.)
(A team of boys and PCVs holding their balloon while it fills with hot air.)
(View from below of the flame and balloon filling.)
(Lined up along the wall watching the balloon fly away.)
(Brian and Daniel demonstrating how to fold and cut the paper.)
(A team of boys and PCVs holding their balloon while it fills with hot air.)
(View from below of the flame and balloon filling.)
(Lined up along the wall watching the balloon fly away.)
Wow! Soo cool! Was there any recovery of the balloons afterwards?
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteThere is no recovery of the balloons. If everything goes well, the flame eventually dies out and the balloon floats back to earth, far far away. It should rip apart because it is so fragile.
If things don't go well, it tilts in the wind and the paper catches on fire and the left over wire falls to the ground. Luckily we didn't start any forest fires...but my friend Brian won't be lighting off any more until the rainy season starts again.