Bigger is not a one-time decision. Every extra cubic foot of envelope is a bill that repeats for as long as you own it.
Size costs twice
The purchase price is the part people compare. The helium is the part that decides how the next five years feel.
A 13-foot blimp takes about 170 cubic feet to fill from empty. At roughly $1.50 per cubic foot from a local welding-gas supplier, that is around $255. A 5.5-foot sphere takes about 87 cf, roughly $130.
Whatever the size, you lose about one percent of the gas a day. A bigger envelope means a bigger top-off bill forever, not just a bigger invoice on day one.
Height usually solves the problem size was meant to
People ask for a bigger blimp when the real complaint is that nobody can see the current one. Nine times out of ten the fix is altitude, not volume.
We fly at 120 feet. From there a 13-foot blimp clears rooflines, sign clutter and trees, and becomes visible from roads it was invisible from at thirty feet. A wider blimp flown low is still hidden behind the building next door.
Bigger also catches more wind
The rule does not change with size, but the consequences do. Over 25 miles per hour in the forecast, bring it in.
Wind is what takes balloons. Normal use does not wear them out in any way you will notice, and there are customers still flying the same balloon after fourteen years. A larger envelope simply gives the weather more to grab, so the forecast habit matters more as size goes up.
Our replacement warranty covers wear. It does not cover a balloon lost to weather, and no manufacturer’s does.
Ask for a quote. Call 1-800-791-1445 or email sales@arizonaballoon.com and tell us the size and whether you want it printed.
More at usblimps.com.