Would You and Your Kids Like to Fly a Beautiful Balloon?

This Hot Air Balloon is a work of art that actually flies up to 200 feet using hot air. But before you get all excited- and think you’re going to take this baby and fly around the world, Jules Verne –style, a word of caution. This is a project that will require a very light, skillful touch—and loads of patience, on both the part of the parent and child!

This is the kind of science experiment that strikes right at the core and unearths that child-like desire we all harbor to take flight, or at the very least to create an object that will do so! Building this balloon, with your kids, and then actually setting it free to float in the air- is likely a childhood memory your kid will cart around and cherish for a lifetime.

So now that I’ve shared how very sentimental this balloon process was for me personally, I’ll get down to the nuts and bolts of this project so that you can share it with your kids too!

Here’s the breakdown: This hot air balloon includes 15 thin paper panels and wire to support the base. You’ll need to carefully glue the panels together to make a beautiful 12, 9 or 6 foot high balloon which actually flies up to 200 feet high.

Age: Anyone can enjoy this project but it will require an adult or teenager for supervision of the assembly and launch.

Time required to complete: It can take at least five hours to glue the panels together seamlessly to ensure hot air retention and flight. The launch itself also requires a few hours…but you’ll be so busy marveling at your creation and watching it ultimately take flight that you’ll probably lose track of the time…

Cost: $19.95 for the 12 foot balloon.

Best Features: The feeling of accomplishment and sheer delight when you see this well engineered small balloon that you’ve put together with your own hands floating freely in the air. (Far more exciting and fulfilling than flying a remote controlled powered toy airplane!)

Difficult Features: Attaching the 15 panels to one another is a time consuming project that you will want to break up into a few sessions while. Not all the materials you’ll need to complete the balloon and launch it come in the packaging; you will also need glue sticks, or other glue, cooking fuel cans for the hot air and stove piping to fill your balloon. Of course adult supervision is required and you must be careful to avoid burns and fire.  But once you get out to the park…. IT IS BALLOON!

You can get it right here.