Why build your own Balloon?
- What are the risks, rewards?
- How do you design a hot air balloon?
- Tips for the construction process
- Information about equipment and supplies needed to build a balloon
Why build a balloon?
There are four main reasons that people choose to build their own balloon. These reasons are: enjoyment, customization, knowledge, and cost.
For most of the population, sitting behind the sewing for a hundred hours, and sitting over the cutting table for a like period of time does not classify as fun. But for some people, the idea that you created your own flying balloon yields a great deal of satisfaction, pride, and enjoyment. This is one of the primary reasons people like to build their own balloons.
If you build your own balloon, you can customize it just how you like. You can choose your own fabric, gondola design, burners, instruments, etc. While most balloon manufacturers today can customize a balloon to the satisfaction of 99 percent of balloonists, there will always be those people that need just that little bit more.
Building a balloon can make a person a better pilot. There is nothing about your balloon that your not aware of, when you’ve put in every last stitch. Some fear of the unknown was removed by knowing exactly what went into the balloon.
Building your own balloon can also save you money. Homebuilt balloons cost only a third of a new system.
How long does it take?
Your first homebuilt can take about 350 hours spread over 18 months. Vertical gores can significantly decrease the time it takes you to build a balloon. This is because there is less cutting and less sewing by removing the need to stitch vertical gores together.
Can I use our home sewing machine?
No. While it may be theoretically possible, the demands of sewing a balloon will usually trash a home sewing machine. Most homebuilders use an industrial double-needle lock-stitch machine.
How much space do I need?
You don’t need a lot of space. You could use an entire hanger though, if you wanted. It is easier to keep track of what goes where when you spread out the balloon. You could make the balloon in the space of a one car garage…
How do I get started?
You need to research, research, and research. Allow some time for everything to sink in, and then repeat the research steps several more times. After you start building the balloon, keep reading and re-reading. Things become more relevant as you are actually working on the project.
There is are couple good, if old, BBJ articles on first-time homebuilding. Here is article one, and here is article two.
No amount of reading will prepare you to build a balloon however. Get some advice and oversight as you build your balloon from people that have ‘been there and done that’.
