Going Up!

Solar hot air balloon lifts off from the back yard today.

Three simple ingredients. Black bags from the dollar store. .5 mil or thinner    

Cut the ends off of four garbage bags.

Find the fold and slice the sides open.

Tape the panels together and fold in half.

Tape the two short sides.

To shape the balloon bring the two side seams together and refold the open end.  

Now tape closed.

Make a 10-15" opening by slicing off  a corner.  Reinforce the edge with tape.

Make a harness by layering two layers of tape together.  

Add a third layer leaving an overlapping sticky edge to attach to the balloon.

Tape  where the bridle attaches to reinforce.

Tie your string to the bridle.

Inflate your balloon with a fan or a hair dryer.

Do this outside or you won't fit out the door.

 Tie on the fishing line.
Set your balloon outside in the sun

And watch it rise up

 and up

 up

and away.

More about solar hot air balloons here.

Tutorial here