Balloon Flight Analysis

for Balloon Type 1

Balloon

Steve Kliewer, 7/6/02

Gondola & Rigging

Flight String

Drag Forces

Coefficient of Drag Density of air

Free Lift

Tension

R is in feet

F is in feet

V is in knots

The Minimum Upward Force and Inflation Radius
Needed to lift to 90% of altitude

Find the minimum radius such that the balloon just reaches 900 ft with 1000 ft of string.

Charts

Minimal Lift, Light Air, Line from 0 to 1000 ft

Inflation radius from 0 to 5 ft, Light Breeze, with 1000 ft of line

Minimum inflation, wind speeds from Calm to Gentle Breeze, and 1000 ft of line

The Angle of the Line from Horizontal at ground level.

Wind 5 ft diameter 6 ft diameter 7 ft diameter
Speed Angle Altitude Angle Altitude Angel Altitude
(Knots) (degrees) (feet) (degrees) (feet) (degrees) (feet)

Lift due to Helium

Density of Helium

Density of Air

Lift per volume