Overflite Model Hot Air Balloons

Models include  Dry Cleaner Bag Balloons and  Homemade Plastic Bag Balloons.  The heat engines are made by melting birthday candles together, either single-file, or double-file.  The frames are made with balsa wood sticks or drinking straws, shaped into either an "H" or an "X."
For Instructions and Warnings Scroll to End.

- History of Fire Balloons and Web Links -- Explores "forgotten history" of Fire Balloons.

- Ballooning and Aviation Web Links  -- Includes Plans for Model Hot Air Balloons, and other subjects.

- Volume Calculations for Cylinder Shaped Balloons  includes a table for different bag sizes.  It also describes Scaling, ie. the geometry for changes in dimensions, volume and surface area for equivilently shaped objects.

- Mathematical Models for Candle Balloon Design  builds a system of geometric models for approximating candle balloon heating, and suggests how many birthday candles to use for different volumes.

- Computerized Simulation of Candle Balloon Design & Heating - Developed by Dan Freeland from the Czech Republic

- Hot Air Balloon Laboratory -- School Science Project Lesson Plan  heats a dry cleaner bag balloon, with a hot air popcorn popper.  Measures temperature and lift.  Applies the mathematics for Gas Laws.

Traditional Paper Fire Balloons or Montgolfiers (In Italian) -  have been flying ever since the invention of the manned hot air balloon, by the Montgolfier Brothers, in 1783.  In the United States they were known as Fourth of July Balloons and were part of American Folk History, of the 19th and early 20th Centuries.  Likewise, fire balloons are also a part of World History.  To learn more, See History of Fire Balloons and Web Links.

Paper fire balloons still fly, in a number of places around the world, mainly for  Festival of Lights Celebrations.  In  Brazil - (2) balloons fly in June.  In Italy balloons fly in September.  In  Greece balloons fly for Easter.   In  Buddhist countries balloons fly in October, to celebrate Buddha's return from Heaven.

Plastic Fire Balloons were apparently invented by American GIs, during World War II.  Many of the Foo Fighter Sightings - (2)  seem a lot like fire balloons.  French Resistance Fighters and German dissidents too apparently launched paper fire balloons.  In French, "Foo" means either fire or fool.  On February 25, 1942, a Japanese submarine launched fire balloons, triggering  The Battle of Los Angeles.

 Dry cleaner bag fire balloons were apparently inspired by Kenneth Arnold's 1947 UFO Sighting.   They were then popularized by a Popular Mechanics Magazine Article.  Throughout the 20th Century, fire balloons have caused many  UFO Sightings:

- ABC TV News Report -- July 17, 2001 -- Strange Lights over New Jersey - & Possible Explanations
- 1970s UFO Sightings -- News Article - Overflite Dry Cleaner Bag Fire Balloons 

- Police Chopper Attacked by UFO in Kentucky -- Couple Confesses to Launching Dry Cleaner Bag UFO Fire Balloon --

- For Sale: Slightly Used UFO -- Needs New Candle -- Contact the Sheriff --
- Police Say Some UFO's are Fire Balloons with Candles  --
- UFO Reports and Pranks Continuing... --

- Homepage for Larry Robinson -- UFO Debunker --

- National UFO Reporting Center --Homepage -- UFO Reports Database --
- Roswell II? -- Reports from the Ongoing UFO Craze in Rockford, Illinois --
 
 

"Large Envelopes," in different sizes and shapes, can be made with thin plastic sheeting.  Look for 1/3 mil (8 micron) high-density plastic sheeting.  Welds are made with a heated pizza cutter, on top of  a wooden board.  It is amazing how well this system works!  Scotch tape repairs any weak spots.  To stabilize the balloons, the bags are tapered, and small ventilation holes are made.  This provides "negative draft," which helps to reduce the de-stabilizing effects of  "billowing."

"H-Frames" are made by tying three balsa wood sticks together with string.  Alternately "X-Frames" can be made by sticking drinking straws into each other, and pinning two sets together with a shirt pin.  But ... the "H-Frame" and balsa wood design is more advanced.  Optionally, an "H-Frame" design can be built with drinking straws.

Engines are made by melting birthday candles together with a heated fork.  Alternately, dripped wax can melt the candles together.  The most efficient engines are single-file.  They get maximum oxygen and cooling area.  To conserve space, engines can also be made double-file.  Here two single-files are melted together.  Melted wax holds the engine to the frame.

Technologically advanced balloonists can apply the information to design large volume Christmas Candle Balloons, or Homemade Candle Balloons, which can burn for around forty minutes.  Candle Powered Paper Hot Air Balloons can also be designed.  For more detailed information on design and construction -- Stay tuned!

NOTE:  For any type of experimental fire balloon, it is not a good idea to rely too much on an outside heat source.  Otherwise a too-heavy balloon might climb up at first, then land, risking a crash and burn.

 Do not fly fire balloons in any fire danger areas, especially if they are hilly or mountainous, or if it is windy or gusting.  Do not fly any faulty or damaged fire balloons.  Avoid Crash and Burns.  Balloonists are obligated not to cause any fire danger.  Also, fire balloons should not be made too large, in case they land directly in automobile traffic.

 The FAA prohibits operating any "Unmanned Free Balloon" in a hazardous manner, per  FAA/DOT 101.7   The FAA also prohibits including any significant amounts of metal, on devices that fly to altitudes where there may be aircraft.  Do not fly wire frame fire balloons.  They can be dangerous to turbine engine aircraft.  They can also short-circuit electrical power lines.

Do not fly fire balloons near airports.  Especially avoid active takeoff and landing patterns. Avoid flying fire balloons near any other prohibited or restricted areas without permission, as appropriate, unless it is very late at night -- and doesn't matter.

Build flightworthy balloons, according to the conditions. Avoid flying fire balloons in winds above ten miles per hour, especially if gusting.  Avoid damaging balloons or crashing them into obstacles. Avoid antagonizing the police or neighbors.  Monitor the complete flight of every balloon.  Be responsible, and use good judgement.
Try to make every flight a success!.

As long as candle powered fire balloons don't crash and burn, there is not a big fire danger.  The plastic bag does not appear likely to become a serious hazard either, as long it isn't very large and it doesn't land directly in automobile traffic
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 Fire Balloons launch best at sea level, in cool weather, with very little wind and no strong gusts.  For local windspeed, visit YAHOO WEATHER.  The calmest weather is generally early evening, late evening and dawn. At sunset and dawn, the red of the sun can make the balloons shimmer. For group launches try three balloons. "Best of Sights, Overflight."

NOTICE:  All Balloonists are warned that they build and fly Fire Balloons completely at their own risk, and that they are completely responsible for determining all risks, and for any consequences that result!

Remember, you are completely responsible for every balloon you fly!

 Instructions How to Build Dry Cleaner Bag Fire Balloons.  Included are balsa wood "H-frame" balloons, drinking straw "X-frame" balloons, and mixed component balloons.  Also included are specifications for the types of dry cleaner bags that can fly, and a list of supply houses.

 Instructions How to Build Homemade Bag Fire Balloons.  Only balsa wood "H-frame" balloons are included so far.  Stay tuned for information on a drinking straw frame balloons.