HOW DOES A HOT-AIR
BALLOON WORK?
A hot-air balloon is
a big bubble, and
attached to the
bubble or envelope
is a basket for the
pilot, a heat
source, and fuel.
When a balloon is
filled to capacity a
60,000 cubic foot
balloon contains
about 4,500 pounds
of air! In a hot-air
balloon, the air
inside the envelope
is heated to
temperatures of 100
degrees to 250
degrees greater than
outside air.
When the balloon
first arrives, the
envelope, and the
equipment are
squeezed into the
basket, but once
it’s laid out for
inflation it may be
as long as 60 feet
and nearly as wide!
The balloonist will
assemble his basket,
and then will force
air into the
envelope. Next, the
pilot will ignite
the propane burner,
and aim the flame
directly inside the
balloon. As the air
begins to heat, the
balloon will begin
to rise. Finally he
will shut off the
burner. Inflated,
the balloon is ready
to go!
Where will the
balloon go up in the
air? Basically
wherever the wind
takes him, but by
selecting different
altitudes, watching
compasses and
charts, pilots can
almost fly to the
destination where
they want to be.
When the pilot
decides to land, the
maneuvering vent
will be opened to
dump some of the air
and to descend more
rapidly, fuel valves
are closed and the
pilot light is blown
out. On the ground
the ‘rip-cord’ opens
the deflation port
in the crown of the
balloon. Then it is
time for the crew to
help pack and load
the balloon! Then
begins the long
drive home.
HOW DO I
GET A RIDE ON A HOT-AIR BALLOON?
The cost of
a balloon ride is
$160.00 per person.
Launch times during
the event (Friday to Sunday
evening), are approx; 6:30 am
and 6:00 pm. You must
arrive one hour
prior to launch to
register at the
information booth
for first come first
serve rides.
Rides are not
guaranteed so you
will have to keep
showing up until a
ride is available.
Top
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT
HOT AIR BALLOONS
What are hot air
balloons?
The bag, or envelope
as it is more
properly called, is
made of reinforced
fabric called
rip-stop nylon (some
balloons are made of
dacron). This
material is very
lightweight, but
very strong. The
fabric is coated on
the inside to
prevent leaks.
How is it inflated?
During the inflation
process, ballooning
becomes a group
sport. Since a
balloon is quite
unwieldy on the
ground, especially
in gusty winds, it
takes about four
people to get the
balloon inflated.
Of course, the more
people there are,
the more fun you can
have. To start off,
the envelope is
stretched out on the
ground and attached
to the basket, which
is lying on its
side. A small
gasoline-powered fan
blows hot air into
the balloon. Then
the burner is turned
on, and the air in
the balloon is
heated. The hot air
rises, lifting the
balloon upright.
What are the baskets
made of?
The baskets are made
of wicker and each
one is individually
woven by hand.
How big are hot air
balloons?
The typical sport
balloons range in
size from 65,000 to
105,000 cubic feet
in volume and stand
around 70 feet tall.
The Tele-Direct hot
air balloons are
90,000 cubic feet in
volume.
How do you steer a
hot air balloon?
Strictly speaking,
you don’t. The
balloon goes where
the wind takes it.
However, the winds
at varying altitudes
may blow in
different directions
and at different
speeds, so the trick
is to climb or
descend to an
altitude where the
wind is blowing in
the direction you
want to go.
How fast does it go?
As fast as the wind.
Or as slow. Since
the balloon has no
forward propulsion
systems, its speed
is determined
entirely by the
speed of the wind.
When is the best
time to fly a
balloon?
Usually just after
sunrise and one or
two hours before
sunset. This is the
time of day when
winds are calmest
and the air is most
stable.
How high do balloons
fly?
Most balloon flights
are between 500 and
1,000 feet above the
ground. But balloons
can fly at treetop
level or go much
higher.
How long can it stay
up?
It depends. The
balloon carries
enough fuel to
remain aloft for two
hours, but factors
like outside air
temperatures, weight
being carried in the
basket and weather
determine the
duration of the
flight.
What kind of fuel is
used?
Propane is used and
is kept in
pressurized tanks on
the floor of the
basket. The balloon
carries 30 to 40
gallons of liquid
propane. It is
carried under
pressure and passes
to the burners
through flexible
hoses. When the
valves are opened,
the propane atomizes
and is ignited by a
pilot light in the
burners. The flame
may shoot out as
much as 10 or 20
feet, making a loud
"whoosh".
How do you get the
balloon back?
With the help of the
chase crew who drive
a van or pickup
truck. This chase
crew follows the
flight of the balloon
(as well as existing
roads allow) and is
on hand to recover
the balloon when it
touches down. For
each balloon in the
sky, it takes a
dedicated ground
crew of three to
four people to make
the flight a
success. |