HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR IDEAS

INTO THE AIR

A MANUAL OF POSSIBILITIES

ALTO
 LIGHTER THAN AIR
SOLAR SCULPTURE:
ALTO
INSTRUCTIONS

3
You can use different methods to connect two plastic bags to each other.
One option is using a hot iron along the seam of two overlapping plastic
sheets. Remember to place tissue paper on top of the surface to avoid
melting of the plastic. Alternatively you can place tape along the seam. And
maybe you could even invent a converging lens to fuse the plastic together?
6
At each mark, draw a line with the white-out pen that is half the width of the
strip.

OR OR

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
The essential materials needed are used plastic bags, rope, a cutter, a hot iron,
a hair dryer, tape or perhaps a lens using solar energy (if you can invent one!).

4 7
Alternatively you can use scissors, a measuring tape, a marker, a white-out pen,
thread, a ruler (or a straight-edged piece of wood) to help make the patterns.

Cutting the strips: first lay down 6 layers of precut plastic bags. Get rid of any
air trapped between the layers. If you want to optimize the cutting process to
generate less waste (or make a second sculpture), work with this formula: 6,9m
(for a sculpture with 6 strips) x - 9,65 m. Make sure the plastic layers stay in
place by securing them with a clothespin. Double the plastic to get 12 layers.
When assembling with soldered joint: cut the plastic pieces following the
reference marks using a hot iron. If you are working on the ground, put a piece
of plywood 5 mm thick underneath the cutting area in order to avoid burning
the ground. Line-up the ruler to 3 reference marks. Push strongly in order
to keep the layers squeezed together. Cut small segments, moving the ruler

1 COLLECT USED (!) PLASTIC BAGS

Collect used plastic bags – the lighter they are, the easier your sculpture will rise
and the plywood as you go. Try to adapt the cutting speed to the best suited.
Hot cutting will also solder all the layers together. Discard the unused part or
salvage it for a second Lighter-than-Air solar sculpture.

in the sun! The surface of your sculpture should be as light as possible.

2
Cut each plastic bag into the same standard shape, in order to make them
5
Using a white corrector pen, mark “0” at 5 cm from an end. Then draw a
8
Cutting the bottom of the LTA-S sculpture: to make the vertical piece the same
easier to assemble later. mark every 25 cm on the edge of the plastic. Write the distance to the top size, cut with scissors at the length 10 cm + 2,5 cm (reserved for reinforcement).
every meter (1, 2, 3, etc.). Remove the clothespin.
9
Securing the vertical tape that runs from the bottom to top of the LTAS-sculpture:
Open piece 1 and apply wide adhesive tape to connect piece 1B to piece 2A,
moving from the bottom to the top of the LTA-S sculpture. A is the right side, B
is the left side.
12
As soon as pieces 1B and 2A have separated from the main joint at 1/2 meter
15
Get some friends to help unfold the opening of the LTA-S sculpture. Be careful
long, do the same with the other pieces. Continue so from 1/2 meter long to not to get the wires tangled!
the next 1/2 meter long. There are 42 m to tear off, but it must be done slowly,
carefully, and as close as possible to the joint. Slowly pull the LTA-S sculpture
inside out.

10
Open piece 2 and tape between 2B and 3A. Continue that way until the last
piece. You will make 5 taped junctions in total. Make one junction less than the
number of pieces.
13
To reinforce the bottom of the LTA-S sculpture, use the following process: flatten
out the edge at the mouth (opening) of the sculpture, and place tape along
it for reinforcement. Place rope around the perimeter of the opening (mouth),
fold the edge over, and seal the connection with a strip of tape, thus forming a
reinforced rope tube.

11
Go back to piece 1 and tape between 1A and 6B.
Take pieces 1B and 2A (both pieces are already reinforced with tape) between
your thumb and index finger as close as possible to the joint, and hold the joint
with your other hand. Pulling slowly, pieces 1B and 2A should tear neatly along
the joint while remaining assembled at the top. Do this again, going inch by inch.
It may happen that the plastic tears. If so, fix it with tape and proceed cautiously.
14
Cut 6 strips of 1 meter-long rope to make the basket wire. Punch a hole above
the reinforcement wire (running around the whole bottom opening of the
sculpture). Put the basket wire through this hole and make a knot around the
reinforcement wire.
16
Tie the basket to the loose ends of basket wires. Adjust the lengths. To conduct a
tethered flight, you can add one more string (200 meters or less) in order to hold
and control the LTA-S sculpture.
Your Lighter Than Air solar sculpture is ready to float!
Let the Sun make it fly, let the Sun raise it high!

The location should be free of stones or sharp bushes that might damage your
sculpture while still on the ground. The launching area should be clean and the
surface preferably flat, possibly a football or basketball field with a cut lawn,
devoid of sharp objects, only soft vegetation.

It is very important to see the Sun coming up from the horizon. Choose a place
where you can see the Sun rise as early as possible. If there are large obstacles
like big trees or buildings around your chosen spot, choose another location as
the sunlight will be blocked and reach your sculpture too late.

Day and time: good weather, sunny day, no clouds, no wind or with a very light
wind (you can determine the level of wind from the leaves of the trees), possibility
to shelter behind a wall, early in the morning (from 10:ooam/11:00am the thermal
convection create more likely some wind).

The greater the difference between the outside temperature and the enclosed
volume of the sculpture, the better the lift will be.
LAUNCH YOUR LTA-S SCULPTURE WITH A LAUNCH YOUR LTA-S SCULPTURE BY
LEAF-BLOWER HAND
This method is appropriate for sculptures of any size, however it is strongly
recommended for larger ones. Get an electric leaf-blower. Hold open the
mouth of the sculpture and lift it slightly off the ground. Get someone to help
you in order to facilitate the process.
This method is recommended for small-sized sculptures. Lay the LTA-S sculpture
on the ground. Flap the side of the opening to let air in. After air fills the sculpture,
lower it back down to the ground. Repeat this motion several times until the
sculpture is sufficiently filled with air.

After the air enters the sculpture and it starts lifting off the ground, flip it
vertically. Hold the sculpture using the line. After 5-10 minutes absorbing the
heat of the Sun, the sculpture should be able to lift its own weight. Keep the
structure tethered securely at all times and be careful of the wind blowing it
towards electric lines or buildings.
The Sun will heat the enclosed air quickly and your sculpture will start to
rise. Due to the heat of the Sun, the enclosed air will continue to expand and
completely inflate the sculpture. Hold the sculpture using the line. After 5-10
minutes absorbing the heat of the Sun, the sculpture should be able to lift its own
weight. Keep the structure tethered securely at all times and be careful of the
wind blowing it towards electric lines or buildings.

HAVE A GOOD FLIGHT!

Now.... you’re ready to float! Lifted only by the power of the Sun.