Monthly Archives: February 2013

Stunning HAB photos from Arizona

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Deserts provide some of the most stunning scenery to launch and fly high altitude balloons. A flight by John from the Near Space Balloon project proved this point with some stunning photos from the Mohave desert in USA.

To see more of the stunning scenery go to http://www.nearspaceballooning.com/launch3.asp

John said that there is a lot of restricted airspace around the Mohave desert so HAB flights take some planning. “It took a lot of research trying to find a place from which to launch where I could get pics of Vegas and be able to recover the balloon. The winds had to be going due east. I have been here a week and Monday turned out to be a good day. The man I bought the helium from said that the military is “really cool” around here, but to stay away from the Nevada Test Site. The airspace there is restricted up to an “unlimited” altitude. I’m sure you’ve heard of Area 51, right? I may not risk sending a balloon over it, but I spent the whole day yesterday driving out to a spot and hiking up a mountain from which you can actually see it”, said John.

For a limited time John’s flight path is visible at the BN SPOT shared page https://balloonnews.wordpress.com/bn-spot-shared-page/

 

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Balloon Fiesta 2013

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green-dragon

The countdown to the fiesta has begone. The mass launch is looking unlikely for Friday 9th or Saturday 10th August due to south westerly winds. The back up days of August 16th – 17th are backup days are looking more likely. The venue will be the Green Dragon Pub, Buttington, Welshpool.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=52.67255,-3.110247&spn=0.00176,0.005284&t=h&z=18

Participants should put in their own application to the CAA to launch from this location and at this time. They will have to take responsibility to manage their own safety.  Contact me (chrishillcox1@hotmail.com) for help in securing gas and balloons for the launch.

The pub has 5 pitches for tents or caravans. There is also plenty of accommodation locally in Welshpool. To contact the pub directly you can call 01938 553076. The pub has wifi for tracking and monitoring.

 

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A guide to IPX waterproof specifications

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Some of the trackers and cameras covered on this web site have quoted IPX waterproof standards. Some of the advertising pictures can be a little misleading so here is what the standards mean:

IPX-0
No special protection

IPX-1
Protected against falling water
Equivalent to 3-5mm rainfall per minute for a duration of 10 minutes. Unit is placed in its normal operating position.

IPX-2
Protected against falling water when tilted up to 15 degrees 
Same as IPX-1 but unit is tested in 4 fixed positions – tilted 15 degrees in each direction from normal operating position.

IPX-3
Protected against spraying water 
Water spraying up to 60 degrees from vertical at 10 liters/min at a pressure of 80-100kN/m2 for 5 min.

IPX-4
Protected against splashing water 
Same as IPX-3 but water is sprayed at all angles.

IPX-5
Protected against water jets 
Water projected at all angles through a 6.3mm nozzle at a flow rate of 12.5 liters/min at a pressure of 30kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 meters.

IPX-6
Protected against heavy seas 
Water projected at all angles through a 12.5mm nozzle at a flow rate of 100 liters/min at a pressure of 100kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 meters.

IPX-7
Protected against water immersion 
Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.

IPX-8
Protected against water submersion 
The equipment is suitable for continual submersion in water under conditions which are identified by the manufacturer.

Source : http://www.sourcingchinaproducts.com/blog/product-regulation/ipx-waterproof-specifications/

 

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