I highly recommend Kaymont for latex sounding balloons. Their 1200 gram balloon will get this payload well above 90k feet and that's pretty good for a first time balloon. Check them out at http://www.kaymont.com/



The parachute is somewhat of a personal choice, but I like the x-type parachutes from Top Flight Recovery (http://topflightrecoveryllc.homestead.com/page1.html). Have a look at their "Descent" page and pick a parachute that fits the weight of your payload. The new automated post office kiosks at the USPS are a great way to weigh your payload for free!



Now you have three separate parts to attach. You need to attach the parachute to the payload and the balloon to the parachute. The chute should always be open and ready to slow the payload's descent in case the balloon bursts. 50 lb test fishing line is the easiest way to attach everything. Find a convenient way to tie the parachute loops to the payload using one strand of fishing line about 4 feet long. Next loop an 8 foot strand of fishing line through the x-type chute. This loop should catch the X in the armpits and not prevent the chute from opening all the way when there is no tension on the loop. When your balloon is filled you'll attach this loop to the balloon and everything will be ready to go.



Helium can be found anywhere there are welders and sometimes at party stores. The helium tanks from party stores typically have a small rubber outflow valve that is very annoying. You must hold the valve to the side and it takes a long time to fill the balloon. Welding bottles and industrial bottles don't have that type of valve, but you must buy your own regulator and hose. Don't try to fill the balloon without a regulator...you will pop the balloon. I like to use the industrial gas bottle to reduce the balloon filling time from 30+ minutes to less than 5.



Filling the balloon to the proper amount is pretty easy. To get the 1000 feet per minute ascent rate you need about 1 pound more lift than your payload weight. So, make a temporary attachment for your payload and a 1 pound girly weight (could be manly too, but the extra hair is disgusting). Fill the balloon until it can easily lift the payload and the extra pound. Zip tie the top of the balloon's filler neck, zip tie the bottom of the filler neck, attach the loop of fishing line from your parachute to the filler neck between the two zip ties, fold the filler neck over the fishing line and zip tie the whole thing again. Your balloon is now attached to the payload and you're ready to launch!

