Ballooning FAQs
1.
Why do flights take place so early in the morning?
Balloons
need stable winds to operate effectively and the hours
just following sunrise are the best for finding these
winds. Since balloons move with the air, the weather is
very important in deciding to whether or not to fly. The
pilot chooses a launch site to use the wind currents to
fly towards a suitable landing site.
< BACK TO TOP
2. What kind of
cloth is the balloon made of?
The colorful envelope is usually
made of nylon or polyester, the same type of cloth that
parachutes are made of. It is very tightly woven and is
coated with a material that makes it very air tight. The
nylon is only used to keep the hot air in the balloon.
The basket load is transferred by steel or Kevlar cables
to a series of vertical load tapes which carry the load.
Balloons range in size from about 54,000 cubic feet for
a one- or two-person balloon to over 250,000 cubic feet
for a balloon capable of carrying a pilot plus eight or
ten passengers.
< BACK TO TOP
3. Why is the basket
made of wicker?
The wicker basket has proven to
be very strong for its weight and is flexible. The wicker
is sometimes woven around a steel or aluminum frame, which
helps to support the upright posts upon which the burner
is mounted. The top rim of the basket and the uprights
are usually padded and covered in suede or leather.
< BACK TO TOP
4. How is the balloon
inflated?
When the time comes to put the
balloon up, the envelope is removed from the bag and laid
out in a long line. The burners are attached to the uprights,
and the basket is attached to the cables on the bottom
of the envelope. An engine driven fan is used to inflate
the envelope with cold air. When partially inflated, the
air is heated by a burner and the envelope rises above
the basket. With further heating, there is sufficient
'lift' for the balloon to fly.
< BACK TO TOP
5. What kind of
fuel is used for the burners?
To heat the air, the burners are
fueled by propane gas, much the same as you probably use
in your backyard barbecue grill. The burners do not run
continuously; they are only used intermittently to heat
the air to maintain the required lift.
< BACK TO TOP
6. How tall are
balloons?
Depending on the weight capacity,
balloons may be as tall as 100 feet.
< BACK TO TOP
7. What should
I wear?
You should wear whatever you feel
comfortable in. There is really no need to dress up. You
should wear the type of clothing that you would expect
to wear if you be going for a walk the day of the flight.
A light jacket is sometimes comfortable in the fall or
early spring. Women should wear pants or shorts, and layered
clothing is much better than a heavy coat. Shoes should
have flat soles, and the majority of top clothing should
be made of cotton rather than man-made fibers. Tall passengers
may find a hat useful because of the radiant heat from
the burners.
< BACK TO TOP
8. Can I take a
camera?
Yes, there is no problem in taking
either a still or video camera with you during the flight.
A hot air balloon makes a perfect camera platform and
there is always plenty to photograph prior to, during
and after to the flight. We do recommend, however, that
you have a suitable soft case with you in which to stow
the camera during the landing phase of the flight.
< BACK TO TOP
9.
How long does it all take?
From start to finish, your adventure
will last about 3 hours. The inflation and preparation
of the balloon normally takes about 30 minutes. The flight
itself normally takes around one hour. After the flight,
the ceremonies take about 30 minutes and travel to and
from the hotel will take about another 30 minutes or so
each way. The balloons always carry sufficient fuel for
at least 2 hours flight time plus a 30 minute reserve
capacity.
< BACK TO TOP
10. Where will
we land?
Good question! The simple answer
is that nobody knows, exactly! The pilot will have done
flight planning before the launch to ensure that the forecast
wind direction does not take the balloon towards an unsuitable
area. S/he will use the different air currents at different
altitudes to steer the balloon toward a good landing place.
The pilot also closely follows agreements with local landowners.
This means that the balloon won't fly too close to livestock
or land in areas planted with valuable crops.
< BACK TO TOP
11. How far will
we fly?
Again...it depends on the wind
speed. Hot Air Balloons travel with the wind and an hour
flight can carry it up to 15 miles, sometimes more, sometimes
less. The balloon also flies at different altitudes. Although
the balloon is at the mercy of the wind when it comes
to direction, the vertical control of a balloon can be
very precise. It is not unusual for our pilots to be able
to brush the bottom of the basket across the tops of brush,
or inches from the ground a leaf picked from a treetop
is a very worthwhile souvenir of the flight!
< BACK TO TOP
12. How does the
chase crew know where we are?
Radios are used to stay in contact
with the chase crew as well as with Air Traffic Control
and other aircraft flying in the vicinity.
< BACK TO TOP
13. How high do
balloons fly?
Most balloonists enjoy low level
flight. The typical balloon flight would be anywhere from
tree level to about 3,000 feet above the ground.
< BACK TO TOP
14.
What if I'm afraid of heights?
Flying in a high sided balloon
basket is not like standing in a roof or a high ladder.
You don't get that vertigo feeling. It is more like the
ground is unfolding beneath you, and, because you are
moving with the wind, there is no wind blowing. The basket
does not rock or sway so you can't possibly fall out.
< BACK TO TOP
15. I sometimes
get airsick in airplanes. Is a balloon the same?
No. The turbulence which usually
causes motion sickness is completely absent in a balloon
ride. The flight of a balloon is almost too smooth to
describe.
< BACK TO TOP
16. How do we
get back to the launch field or the hotel?
The balloon is followed by a chase
vehicle and the crew. They are in constant contact with
the balloon pilot by radio and should be at the landing
site at the same time as the balloon. Once the balloon
is packed away (and the ceremonies are complete) the chase
vehicle will take you back.
< BACK TO TOP
17. How are balloon
pilots licensed?
Balloons are registered like any
other aircraft and are subject to regular airworthiness
checks. The FAA will not allow a balloon to be certified
as airworthy unless these inspections and checks are done
by authorized maintenance personnel and certified by them.
All pilots are licensed by the FAA and have to pass regular
flight checks.
< BACK TO TOP
18.
Who controls ballooning and ensures safety standards?
The Federal Aviation Administration
controls ballooning with the same strict regulations that
apply to airplanes.
< BACK TO TOP
