1st Inflation
The inflation happened and I was really pleased with how it went. I couldn't sleep the night before. I was tossing and turning wondering if it was straight, if I'd stuffed it completely. I was so happy when it started to fill with air and it looked fantastic. No big problems at all althought he vent does seem to be popping out.
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| First
ever cold inflation |
Inside
with the vent |
Tieing
in the vent |
Top
view |
It looks
fantastic! |
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| Side
view |
Nice
shadow |
Another
vent shot |
I
am super pleased |
time
to go home |
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| Me on
the mouth |
Inside
out |
Metering
valve pilot light |
First
hot air (big file - 200k) |
2nd Inflation
Wwas to test out the new spider web tapes I had added to the top of the balloon to hold the vent in place.
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vent with spider web
tapes
|
another shot
|
closer view
|
CASA inspection
This is the key inflation as it is when CASA (US FAA equivilant) inspector comes out and gives your work a good look over and checks key things like your registration markings and model numbers and serial number info. They also check your paperwork and that you have all the appropriate signage in and around the balloon.
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| Laying
out |
Lee
(CASA) checking serial # |
Checking
Rego marks |
Ready
to roll |
nice
use of the goalposts |
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| Inflating |
Explaining
how it all works |
Great
shot this one! |
checking
the vent |
whats
that? |
Still not happy with the vent
The first real hot inflation occured at Benalla, Victoria, where our club has a clubhouse. It was apparent from this inflation that the vent was still causing me problems and needed to be rethought completely. The vent was simply too big and not entirely circular despite my best efforts. This made the vent both impossible to pull in and also meant that it leaked a lot. Both things are not ideal!
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| Vent popping out, not
pretty |
And from the outside |
Just holding air |
Looks alright here |
and looks good here too |
1 year later
After procrastinating no end I decided to add a half panel at the top of the balloon and reduce the overall size of the parachute vent by 1m radius back to 3m. I also built the vent the correct way, in slices, and used the old vent to save on fabric costs. This gave an interesting design. Test inflated now and it all works well. Very happy.
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The new look vent panel |
Inflating |
re-tieing the shroud lines |
another look at the new top |
perspective view |
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| Inflating |
Looks good |
Vent Seals nicely |
side view |
and again |
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||
and
again |
airborne |
rob
takes over |