[HSIS] Test Proposal for Paper Airplanes In Near-Space - High-Altitude Advertisement for the 3/5/11 Tech Expo Pig Roast

[Erik Arendall]

I would add to the flier that it is printed on a biodegradable paper and soy
ink. The last thing we want is a government agency showing up and charging
us for littering and environmental damage.

Erik

On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 5:06 PM, Ethan Chew <spacefelix at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello,
>
>       To test the veracity of the claim that paper airplanes launched from
> a high-altitude balloon can turn up halfway around the world, and because of
> the upcoming Makers Local 256 Mardi Gras Pig Roast/Tech Expo on 3/5/11, I
> propose that we do a quick and dirty test to check the claim and advertise!
>       To advertise, I would like to take 100 of our fliers, print them with
> non-toxic ink on biodegradable card stock or heavy paper, fold them into
> paper airplanes and launch them on a weather balloon.  As of now, we have
> enough experience to know how to do it from the make shop and we have two
> 800 gram weather balloons with a payload capacity of 2.5 pounds each to 17.4
> miles (91,000 feet) above sea level.  All we need is a payload net to hold
> the planes and release them at balloon burst and ~200 ft^3 of Helium at 1
> atmosphere of pressure and 25 degC.  This will be ~$25 of helium for one
> flight.  As this flight needs no recovery, no tracking systems are required
> and we can just fly with the balloon and payload carrier.
>      This is where the test comes in; I would like to launch one week
> before the expo and put a discount ticket to the event if a plane is
> recovered as well as a unique phrase attached to each ticket.  This way,
> people who come in the door claiming to have recovered a plane must verify
> it and state where they got it.  This way, we can roughly determine where
> the planes turned up.
>      I estimate this project would take two whole working days of labor and
> cost a total of ~$75 to fly ($25 for lifting gas and $50 for materials).  I
> am seeking to start building on 2/21/11 and launch on 2/27/11.  I would like
> help in finding the appropriate paper material for the airplanes, inks that
> are non-toxic and how to obtain lifting gas as well as people to help
> organize, build, test and fly the project.
>
>                 - Ethan
>
> P.S. As for regulations; for FAA, we need to remain under 4 lbs maximum
> weight and the descent flight hardware (paper airplanes, payload carrier)
> must have parachutes or glide to prevent harm to people and property below.
>  These requirements they already meet.  For environmental concerns, we are
> not flying any toxic chemicals, our balloon and airplanes are biodegradable,
> and the only potential non-biodegradable elements; payload flight line,
> payload carrier and associated ballast and recovery systems must be
> non-toxic.
>
> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 11:53 AM, <wb8elk at aol.com> wrote:
>
>>  Already in the works !!!
>>
>> - Bill
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ethan Chew <spacefelix at gmail.com>
>> To: wb8elk at aol.com
>> Cc: hsis at lists.makerslocal.org; ghallison at aol.com
>> Sent: Mon, Feb 7, 2011 8:57 am
>> Subject: Re: Paper Airplanes In Near-Space!
>>
>> If we could put trackers on some paper airplanes to try this out and see
>> how valid this is?
>>
>>               - Ethan
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 1:37 AM, <wb8elk at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Ethan,
>>>
>>>   Note closely that their website offers no confirmed proof that these
>>> "sightings" are factual...more than likely they are internet-inspired
>>> reports to see if they get a point on their map.....hey, I found one of
>>> these Samsung SD cards right here in Huntsville Alabama....(it was in my
>>> digital camera).
>>>
>>>   Now that they have gotten worldwide coverage, I imagine that they will
>>> have a 200 percent or more recovery rate from every continent on the World
>>> and maybe even the Moon. The reality is that the sightings in Germany are
>>> possibly valid...anywhere else is bogus. There is no way it can fly to South
>>> Africa without possessing anti-gravity and a mode of propulsion. The glide
>>> ratio would have to be incredible. The one Fox news report said that their
>>> plane had a 12 to 1 glide ratio so it made sense it could make it all the
>>> way around the World to America.....let's see now....just a quick fact check
>>> that I'm certain that Fox news carefully performed.....22.7 miles drop at
>>> 12:1 glide ratio....271 miles max drift....yep, that's exactly the distance
>>> from Germany to America.....Poor Lindbergh must've gone the long way around.
>>>
>>>   It just goes to show that in today's World that it's not the facts that
>>> count to get publicity and recognition...it's who has the flashiest website.
>>>
>>> - Bill WB8ELK
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Ethan Chew <spacefelix at gmail.com>
>>> To: Hacker Spaces In Space contest website <hsis at lists.makerslocal.org>;
>>> Bill Brown <wb8elk at aol.com>; Greg Allison <GregAllison at a2zaerospace.com>;
>>> gregory.h.allison at nasa.gov
>>> Sent: Fri, Feb 4, 2011 11:57 pm
>>> Subject: Paper Airplanes In Near-Space!
>>>
>>> Check it out!  These guys launched a bunch of paper airplanes from a
>>> near-space balloon.
>>>
>>>  http://projectspaceplanes.com
>>>
>>>  The amazing thing is that the planes are turning up worldwide:
>>>
>>>
>>> http://projectspaceplanes.com/post/2959260740/here-is-a-list-of-locations-that-people-have
>>>
>>>                       - Ethan
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
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