After carefully designing our balloon we were finally ready to launch. Our balloon was a bit different from the other groups because we had ignored our calculations and simply fitted as many candles as we could in our tin can under our balloon. Most of the other groups averaged at around 80 candles, we used 110, though to be fair we did make sure the can was not so stuffed that no air could get in-between the candles.

We balanced the balloon over two stools so that the bottom ring of the canopy was resting on them, and the tin can and camera were dangling down underneath.

It was time to light up. The candles were lit and three of us held the canopy while the balloon inflated to stop the canopy collapsing onto the burning candles. Then our electricians started the cameras cycle and we released our balloon.

Disaster struck. Our balloon did not manage a straight line up to the ceiling instead it hit the light fitting and swayed so that the flames were licking up the sides of the canopy. Our balloon swayed several times like a pendulum and made the whole team start to bite their nails. Fortunately our balloon righted itself and accelerated quickly towards the ceiling, and the camera began its sequence.

To our great amusement the group that was going to be flying their balloon next after seeing what we had done promptly went away and started to stuff as many candles as they could into their burner/tin can., what made this even more hilarious was that they decided to put paper in their burner as well. This was a disaster for the paper blocked the air flow and made their candles burn very slowly. Their balloon made it to around two metres in the air with some help before gently sinking back down again.