Sierra Nevada Corporation Stratollite

After seeing the Stratollite sculpture we created for World View, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) commissioned Custom Science Sculpture to create a second sculpture for use at trade shows and corporate exhibits.
 

SNC was using a Stratollite built by World View for research and other applications. Because the actual vehicle is hundreds of feet tall and incorporates multiple balloons, a Stratocraft, solar panels, and other systems, explaining the technology to people unfamiliar with it could be difficult.
 

The sculpture became a simple solution: instead of explaining the Stratollite, SNC could point to it.
 

This sculpture was designed specifically for life on the road. Unlike the permanent installation we created for World View, this piece needed to be repeatedly transported, assembled, displayed, and packed away.
 

We made it slightly smaller and designed a strong, adjustable internal armature to support the structure during transportation and display. We also used thicker plastic for the exterior, anticipating the handling, cleaning, and occasional contact that comes with a public trade-show environment.
 

The entire sculpture is mounted on an acrylic base with wheels and deployable stabilization wings. For transportation, the complete piece fits into a custom-built shipping crate with protective packaging designed for commercial freight.
 

The result is a piece of engineering communication designed around a real-world communications problem. SNC could bring the Stratollite to trade shows and exhibitions and give customers a physical understanding of the vehicle that would otherwise require a lengthy explanation.
 

The sculpture was commissioned specifically for SNC's needs, demonstrating how Custom Science Sculpture can adapt the materials, structure, scale, transportation, and presentation of a piece to the environment in which it will actually be used.