[steve86]

I wonder — are the seams between individual sheets of mylar glued or ironed (like model aircraft coverings). They did a pretty good job (in the sense of an amateur’s prototype) of holding pressure. It would be a challenge to figure out the shape of the individual sheets without some kind of design tool. Anyone know what kind of framework (if any) the pressure bag structure has? I’m thinking of building a small one and sending my girls’ pet butterflies aloft (just kidding). Definitely will include a carbon composite baggage compartment.

[Gondring]

Duct tape was a component used for the cardboard and thin- plywood platform, from what was said in the press conference. I didn't see the whole thing, nor much other coverage, but there was an elegance in the design for an amateur, especially when you look at the performance upon collapse of the one section--the airfoil cross-section worked to provide lift.

Interesting coincidence...I was researching Padre Adelir Antonio de Carli, Larry Walters, Jason Ackerman/Sara Rydman, etc., when this incident with Falcon Heene went down. All of a sudden, my online searches started to lead to news stories about the "flying saucer with the 6-year-old," so the calculations of required helium for liftoff and how quickly death occurs from helium were fresh in my mind.