Basket Assembly Details

N-8681H Lighter Than Air Builder's Logbook
Model: Chairlift 1 * Serial Number: 2021LTA

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September 18, 2020

Met at Avian Balloon factory to discuss a small experimental hot air balloon aircraft. We began the discussions and started the design aspects. What is the payload? How many seats? What kind of propane tanks and tank size? Checked out other systems in the factory. 1 hour

October 6, 2020

Developed preliminary basket design. Made aluminum frame for the tank. Took measurements and created a mockup of the basket frame with PVC pipe. 3 hours

October 13, 2020

Took measurements. Discussed basket designs. Looked at other hoppers. 3 hours

October 30, 2020

Developed preliminary basket design. Made aluminum frame for the tank. Took measurements and created a mockup of the basket frame with PVC pipe. 3 hours

November 13, 2020

Developed measurements for the aluminum frame. Made shopping list for aluminum tubing. Looked at parts available in Spencer Aircraft catalog. Made plans to go to Alcobra Metals Inc. 3 hours

November 19, 2020

Bought tubing at Alcobra Metals Inc. Bent aluminum tubing for basket frame. 1 hour shopping, 3 hours shop

November 20, 2020

Started assembly and drilled holes into the aluminum tubing. 3 hours

November 30, 2020

Made a wood jig to assemble frame. Finished drilling holes into the aluminum tubing. Installed temporary bolts and screws. Discussed options for the seat. Shopped for seat options. 2.5 hours

December 9, 2020

Bought a chair from Target. Continued designing the basket/chair. 1.5 hours

December 30, 2020

Continued discussions about basket design. 1 hour

January 6, 2021

Forey won't let me use the table saw. He cut the plywood base for basket bottom and we experimented with chair suspension using bungies and weights. 3 hours

January 15, 2021

Designed and cut donut for tank. Cut, sanded, and rounded basket platform. Drilled and added lift for tank. 3 hours

January 25, 2021

Drilled holes in chair platform for suspension. 2 hours

January 27, 2021

Continued to design suspension chair system for Chairlift 1. 2 hours

January 29, 2021

Cut, sanded, and stained wood platform. Bought tool and hog tags for the chair's bungee suspension. 2 hours

February 16, 2021

Second coat of stain applied to plywood basket and chair platforms. Worked on the design of a middle tube for basket. Started to cut panel patterns. 3 Hours

February 1, 2021

Cut, drilled, and modified new suspension holes in chair platform. One hour 30 minutes

March 12, 2021

Bought oak at Winsor Plywood for skid plates. Forey cut basket skids. 2 hours

March 3, 2021

Added middle support aluminum beam. 3 Hours

March 11, 2021

Stop by factory to discuss the fabrication of the skid plates. 30 minutes

August 19, 2021

Rounding washers to tubing. 3 hours

September 8, 2021

Worked on the basket/chair. Cut bungee cords. 3 hours

September 14, 2021

Decided on staples for bungee cords. Went to North 40 hog ties. 1 hour

September 15, 2021

Installed bungees and staples. 3 hour

September 16, 2021

Finished chair staples installation. Installed bolts, washers, and nuts. 3 hour

October 4, 2021

Fabricated burner support system. Milled and cut metal for burner support/envelope attachment. 2 hours

October 11, 2021

Started jig construction for burner frame. 3 hours

December 15, 2021

Stopped by shop to discuss recycling Avian burner and designing the burner support. 1 hours

December 22, 2021

Added support tab to basket chair. Inventoried supplies for basket support. Made a list of items to buy. Winsor Plywood for skid plates. 3 hours

January 19, 2022

Worked on design and jig for burner support to give to welder. 3 hours

February 1, 2022

Continued fabrication of the basket floor. Cut one set of skid plates. Rounded and pounded washers. 3 hours

February 3, 2022

Cut, drilled, glued, and finished manufacturing the skid plates for chairlift load and supports. 3 hours

March 15, 2022

Fabricated and installed skid plates for basket floor. 3 hours

March 18, 2022

Continued construction of chairlift 1. Got burner support back from welder. 3 hours

April 11, 2022

Continued construction of chairlift 1. Grinded uprights. Discussed seatbelt options. Discussed design of propane hose locations, and redundant burner system. 3 hours

April 15, 2022

Recycled burner from old Avian balloon. Continued fabrication of basket and burner support system. 3 hours

April 28, 2022

Manufactured cables and fabrication of burner support mechanism. Fabricated basket sides covers. 3 hours

June 14, 2022

Continued construction of basket and cables. 3 hours

June 15, 2022

Drilled and installed skid plates. Sanded plastic uprights so as to fit in aluminum tubing. 3 hours

June 21, 2022

Continued construction and assembly of basket to envelope by manufacturing the cables and lines to basket. Created turning vent lines as well. 3 hours

July 7, 2022

Continued construction and manufacturing of basket and burner system. Discussed hoses to buy at Hose of Hose. 3 hour

July 13, 2022

Continued fabrication and construction of burner system. Bought fuel hoses at House of Hose. Removed old valves on propane tank. 3 hours

August 30, 2022

Changed values on propane tank. Took tank to propane company to get certified. Performed fuel system pressure test. Fabricated and installed individual fuel hoses. Took tank to Ferrellgas Propane to get certified. 3 hours