What is a Hot Air Balloon?

 Contents

• What is a Hot Air Balloon?
• How does it fly?
• When can it Fly?
• How safe is Ballooning?
• History

What is a Hot Air Balloon?

“A Hot Air Balloon is an aerostat in which the lifting force consists of hot air produced by means of a propane burner”. The burner is a high output device for converting the fuel (liquid propane) stored in the fuel cylinders into heat energy. The baskets are specially designed and manufactured to withstand repeated landings and provide a natural protective environment.

How does it fly?

Warm air rises. Most people know this and a Hot Air Balloon rises because it has warm air trapped inside the envelope. This warm air is hotter than the air outside the envelope and it is therefore less dense. This means that the air inside the balloon is lighter that that on the outside. If we have enough of this lighter air generated inside the envelope then the balloon will continue to rise. It will fly! The bigger the balloon the more hot air it can contain, the greater the lift and the greater the number of people it can carry. However the air inside the balloon is continually cooling which is why it needs to be topped up all of the time. This is why a constant source of heat is required in the form of a propane burner to maintain flight. If burning is stopped the balloon will no longer continue to rise as the temperature inside the balloon and outside become similar. For a short period of time the balloon will be in a state of balance or equilibrium. After this, with no more heat applied the balloon will gently descend.

When can it Fly?

Hot Air Balloons operate best and safely when atmospheric air conditions are dry and stable with light winds. Early in the morning and early evening tend to provide the best conditions most of the year as during the middle of the day the heat of the sun generates thermals which make the balloon very difficult to control. You can often see examples of thermals when you see large puffy clouds building up in height in the sky. Balloons are also happier flying in lighter winds and so are the passengers. Winds are also generally lighter in the mornings and evenings. 토토 Both of these reasons explain why you rarely see a balloon flying in the middle of the day. However in cold winter climates when the weather is fine and stable it is very often possible to fly for most of the day due to the lack of thermic activity.

How safe is Ballooning?

It is generally recognised that people flying in a balloon are in no greater danger than those following in the chase vehicle. Hot Air Balloon flying is one of the safest forms of aviation. Similar controls and regulations that apply to aircraft and airlines apply also to hot air balloons. Parachutes are not required by the people in the basket the same as they are not required in a passenger airliner. Ballooning is an adventure sport not a danger sport. A balloon is a very simple uncomplicated craft with very little to go wrong. All of the major items have a safety back up in case of failure. Ultramagic led by a team of experienced aeronautical engineers has the highest levels of approvals from the world’s aviation authorities. The equipment goes through rigorous testing during manufacture. It is then regularly inspected by an independent aviation inspector as well as receiving a pre-flight inspection by the pilot before each and every flight. Balloon pilots go through a very thorough training and examination process and as part of this training they are taught that if the weather is not quite suitable for a balloon flight then the flight will not take place. Safety first is the most important part of the wonderful experience of Hot Air Ballooning.

History

The Hot Air Balloon is remarkably simple in its conception and handling. The first hot air balloon was flown in 1783 in Paris using the materials available of the day. It consisted of a large bag to enclose the heat generated from a fire on the ground with a gondola attached to carry the people. The modern Hot Air Balloon consists of three main parts: Envelope (The large bag), fuel system (burner with load frame and fuel cylinders) and finally a basket of woven construction to carry the pilot and passengers. Envelopes are now made of high resistance polyamide fabric able to withstand high temperatures reinforced by polyester load tapes. These tapes carry the forces due to loading and transmit the forces to the load frame via stainless steel wires. Hot Air Ballooning. On September 19, 1783 Pilatre De Rozier, a scientist, launched the first hot air balloon called 'Aerostat Reveillon'. The passengers were a sheep, a duck and a rooster and the balloon stayed in the air for a grand total of 15 minutes before crashing back to the ground.