- Written On 24. October 2009 & Last modified on October 24th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Hot Air Ballooning – Tips, How Balloons Works and History
“Lets understand the facts about hot air ballooning and some inside on how it works when in air, This article also lists the history about hot air balloons..”
How Hot Air Balloons Work
What makes these balloons rise in the air? It is pretty simple: warm air rises in cool air. Hot air is lighter than cool air. But to keep the balloon rising, you need to reheat the air. Essentially, there is a burner under an open balloon envelope. When the air in the balloon cools, the pilot reheats it by firing the burner.
Balloons are aerostats (static within the air): once a balloon is aloft, it moves in sync with the air mass in which it floats. The modern hot air balloon has three main parts: the envelope, the basket, and the burner. The envelope: This is the colourful ‘balloon’ part, sewn into many patterns. Made from heat resistant, rip-stop nylon, coated internally with a plastic that contains heat. Usually, it is folded, rolled and stored in a canvas-like bag, kept in a cool, dry place and checked regularly. If well maintained, a balloon envelope lasts 500-plus flying hours. The wicker basket (also called the gondola): is woven with a tight, vertical weave, suited to resisting entanglement in branches or power lines. A urethane coating inside and out ensures the wicker resists becoming brittle or rotten from exposure to moisture. This maintains the wicker’s ability to flex, absorbing and distributing any bumps during landings.
The basket contains propane tanks and an instrument panel. The burner: The heart of the balloon, it is rigged on a rigid brace over the pilot’s head and controlled by a hand valve. Hot air balloons are plain old air as lifting gas. By heating the air inside the balloon (with blasts from the burner), the pilot makes that air less dense (lighter), than the outside air, and the balloon rises. As the internal air cools, the balloon becomes heavier and descends.
And oh, since, the balloon moves with the wind, you don’t feel any breeze. That is why, since there are no winds rushing at you, flying in a hot air balloon feels safe and calm. You lift off and move with the air!
Ballooning Tips
Never venture out on a turbulent day. Mild winter winds are the idle time to go up in a balloon. If the wind velocity on the ground exceeds 8 miles per hour / 12.87 km per hour, don’t fly. This id because the balloon will not fill up smoothly and will be dragged along the ground, which might damage it. During descent, Be wary of electric poles, wires and spires. Land on clear ground.
Hot Air Balloons in History
- September 19, 1783 : A sheep, a duck and a rooster are the first passengers in a balloon launched by Joseph and Eetienne Montgolfier.
- November 21, 1783 : Paris is the venue for the first recorded manned flight in a balloon. The paper and silk balloon takes 22 minutes and is helmed by two noblemen from the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
- January 19, 1784 : In Lyon, France,the only recorded flight by Joseph Montgolgier was made inn one of the largest balloons ever made.
- September 15, 1784 : Italian Vincenzo Lunardi makes the first balloon flight outside France, flying from Moorfields in England and landing near Ware.
- November 30, 1784 : Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American, John Jeffries launch their balloon from Rhedarium Garden, London.
- January 9, 1793 : The first balloon flies in Philadelphia, America, by Jean-Pierre Blanchard.
- October ?? : The modern hot air balloon is born. The first man-carrying free flight took place at Bruning, Nebraska. It was made from polyurethane coated nylon and the burner was propane powered.
About Balloon Mela
The International India Balloon Mela is annually organized under the aegis of the Aero Club of India. Champion pilots arrive from many countries, get a taste of India, flying over Delhi, Taj and, of course,a balloon and get free balloon rides with us.
Best Ballooning Places Around the world
America, UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, Austria, Tunisia, New Mexico, Canada, Italy, Germany, France, India and Burma.
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