Launching air or sky lanterns is a fashionable hobby. Observing this spectacular spectacle with its beauty, the audience sometimes does not even think that it owes its appearance to the hot air balloon invented in the 18th century. In this case, safety rules are not always followed, although the one who launches the sky lantern is dealing with fire.
It is necessary
- - air flashlight;
- - balloon with helium;
- - old newspaper;
- - catalytic lighter.
Instructions
Step 1
If you want to get started with launching air lanterns, first read the instructions, which should be on the packaging of each product or inside it. For all their simplicity, air lanterns are a certified commodity and it can be dangerous to use counterfeit products. In addition, some design differences are possible for different products, which must be taken into account when starting up.
Step 2
Unpack the flashlight and inspect the shell carefully. It is important that there are no tears, holes and loose seams on it. A flashlight with a damaged shell will simply not fly. You will also need to inspect the burner mount. The torch should be in the center of the retaining ring and all fasteners should be made of steel wire.
Step 3
Be sure to take into account the weather conditions at the time of launch. Naturally, you yourself do not want to watch the flight of the flashlight in fog, snow or rain. In addition, in the rain, the shell of the flashlight gets wet, becomes heavy and may even unstick. But a strong gusty wind can also become an obstacle to launch. Take the ball by the top of the shell and lift it vertically. If the wind blows the lower part with the burner more than 30 degrees from the vertical, you should not start the flashlight. This is not only inconvenient, but also dangerous.
Step 4
Choosing the right launch site will help you not only enjoy the sight of a flying flashlight for a long time, but also avoid serious trouble. Flashlights can only be launched where there are no overhead wire lines and nearby tall trees. Flashlights should not be launched near residential buildings, gas stations, airfields. The best places to start are large city squares, sports grounds, and clearings on the banks of water bodies.
Step 5
A properly launched air torch will not start lowering while the burner is on, but if an obstacle is in its path, this heating pad can become a source of fire. Therefore, you need to determine the direction of the flashlight in advance. Like any free balloon, the flashlight flies in the direction of the wind and at its speed. Before the start of the flashlight, launch a pilot balloon, which you can use as a regular balloon filled with helium. This technique will tell you exactly the trajectory of the flashlight.
Step 6
The air torch should not be allowed to be launched by children, as this action is associated with fire. Two or three people are involved in the launch. One of them holds the shell by the upper part, the other holds the ring with the burner. The third ignites the burner. A tall person can hold both the shell and the ring at the same time. It is best to light the burner with a catalytic lighter (with a mesh) or use paper. Take a sheet of newspaper, roll it into a tourniquet, set it on fire. From this makeshift torch and ignite the torch of the flashlight.
Step 7
When setting the burner on fire, make sure that the fire does not hit the shell. If the shell does catch fire, stop starting immediately. You cannot start a burning flashlight. As the air heats up, the shell of the flashlight will fill and expand. After a while, the upper part of the shell can be released, the flashlight will retain its shape by itself. The filled shell will begin to lift the flashlight upward. When you feel this, let the sky lantern fly.
Step 8
When starting the flashlight, the ring with the torch must be kept strictly horizontal, and the shell above it in a vertical position. All attempts to compensate for the wind by tilting the flashlight will inevitably lead to a fire in the shell. If you do have to fire up your flashlights in some wind at a formal event, consider using a windbreak. As such, you can use the wall of a memorial or other structure at least 5-6 meters high, a steep river bank, and so on. But this technique requires some experience, and it is not worth resorting to it unless urgently needed.
