How do you steer
a balloon
Balloons
simply float with the wind. The pilot can control the balloon's
altitude to find a wind going in the desired direction, but you cannot
fly upwind or crosswind. Preflight planning insures the pilot knows
which way the balloon will be traveling, and the pilot makes sure
there are plenty of suitable landing sites downwind.
How
long does it take to inflate and deflate the balloon?
A
good ground crew can inflate and launch a balloon in fifteen minutes or
less. It takes about the same amount of time to deflate and pack up the
balloon after the flight.
How
do you get back to where you started?
A
chase crew follows along in a van or truck. The chase crew is in radio
contact with the pilot, so they can be there when the balloon lands (or
soon afterwards).
How
much do balloons cost?
About
the same as a car or boat. The most popular sport size balloons cost
from $18,000 to $25,000 or more. Support equipment (radios, fan, extra
tanks, tools, repair kit, etc.) adds from $2,000 to $ 5,000 more. You
can also buy used balloons.
How
many hot air balloons are there?
There
are over 3,500 balloons and 4,000 licensed pilots in the U.S. There are
another 1000 or so balloons in other countries.
What are
envelopes made of?
Rip-stop
nylon is the most common material. Polyester and other fabrics are
sometimes used. The lower portions around the opening are usually made
from a fire resistant material like Nomex, similar to what race car
drivers and firemen wear.
What
fuel do hot air balloons use, and where is it carried?
Propane
is used for fuel. It is carried in aluminum or stainless steel tanks
that range from 10 to 20 gallons in size. Average fuel consumption is
about 15 gallons an hour.
How
long do balloons last?
Depending
on the care it is given, a balloon envelope may last 500 or more flying
hours. Considering that most sport pilots fly from 35-75 hours a year,
balloons do last a long time.
What if you have
to go to the bathroom?
Pre-planning is the
key! Since flights average about an hour or so, pre-planning pays off in
this regard. There are no bathrooms aboard the balloon.
What
is a balloon basket made of?
Woven
wicker is used because it is lightweight, flexible and easily repaired.
It also looks nice!
What happens if
a bird flys into a balloon?
It would likely
bounce off! The envelope fabric is much tougher than it might appear.
It is possible to fly a balloon with a hole large enough for a man to
go through as long as the hole is not at the top of the envelope.
Where
balloons really used during the civil war?
Yes.
Hydrogen balloons were used by both armies for airborne observations.
Are
all hot air balloons alike?
All
hot air balloons consist of a burner system, a basket and an envelope.
The differences are in the shape and size of the envelope, the deflation
system, the basket shape and design and the configuration, design, and
number of burners.
Can
I smoke in or around a hot air balloon?
It's
not advisable because of the possibility of propane fires
or explosions from leaks, although leaks are extremely
rare. The balloon fabric can also be damaged
by a stray spark or hot ash. There is a strict non-smoking rule at most
balloon festivals.
How
do you light the burners?
Usually
with a striker similar to that used by welders to light their welding
torches. Some burners have built-in piezo-electric ignitors. Once lit, a
pilot light keeps the fuel burning.
What
are the ropes for?
The
crown line on top of the balloon is used to stabilize the balloon during
inflation. "Tether lines" are used to tie the balloon down for
display purposes. A "drop line" is sometimes released by the
pilot just before landing so the ground crew can pull the balloon to a
desired location.
Do
you need a licence to fly a balloon?
Yes. A
Balloon Pilot Certificate is issued by the Federal Aviation
Administration in the USA. You must pass an FAA written exam, obtain a
prescribed number of hours of instruction, make a solo flight, a flight
to a specific altitude and pass a flight test. You don't have to be able
to fly an airplane since it is a completely different type of aircraft,
although many balloon pilots also fly other types of aircraft like
airplanes and helicopters.
How
old do you have to be to fly a balloon?
To
obtain a Private Pilot Certificate in the USA you must be 16 years old.
And would you believe that there are balloonists flying in their 80's!
Can
balloons fly at night?
Yes,
although balloonists seldom do because of decreased visibility and the
requirement for instruments and lights. Most balloons are certified for
day flying only.
Can
balloons fly over mountains?
Yes.
However, there are some special problems: If you come down in an area
where there are no roads it is difficult to get the balloon out Also,
mountain winds are sometimes very turbule
