Launch a large, unmanned, hot air balloon made of a transparent, tough, fireproof fabric. Shoot fireworks into the envelope from the basket or from a mobile ground ramp through a bottomless basket. Be illuminated by the blazing flashes of glistening rainbow and dazzled by the spangled sphere’s ricocheting sparkles.
-- FarmerJohn, Jan 06 2004

Hmm. We've used balloons to lift flares, waterfall units and saxons before now, and it's a nice effect; never used a hot air balloon though (there would be cost advantages). The material would have to have some interesting characteristics to resist both the heat of the burnign stars, and theit considerable keinetic energy, although this doesn't sound totally impractical ...... croissant.
-- 8th of 7, Jan 06 2004


Given that the balloon is filled with hot air that is coming from a burner, would there be enough oxygen left for the fireworks to burn?
-- DrCurry, Jan 06 2004


[DrC] No problem. Fireworks produce their own oxygen via oxidizers such as potassium nitrate or ammonium perchlorate.

[MrCF] Nothing’s wrong with traditional fireworks, but traditional is not the spirit of this site. Over Stockholm, hot air balloons routinely carry a dozen passengers. The balloon could be tethered and not too high for a viewable, *temporary* show. This year I’ve seen for the first time "ecological" fireworks for sale.
-- FarmerJohn, Jan 06 2004


Given that most balloons are translucent at best, I was thinking you could just stick a series of colored flashlights inside and use battery power.
-- DrCurry, Jan 06 2004


I second Curry's anno. Make it a light show in the balloon, but eschew pyrotechnics.
-- k_sra, Jan 06 2004


Many fireworks would not need oxygen to burn.. it's self contained.
-- zigness, Aug 21 2004


There are low-temperature fireworks being developed. As in, so low you can stick your hand in them and not get burned.
-- 5th Earth, Aug 22 2004



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