FAQs About Hot Air Balloons
Who created the first hot air balloon?
The very first hot air balloon was created in 1783 by brothers Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier. The first hot air balloon was made of fabric that was coated with alum to prevent it from catching on fire. It traveled for eight minutes and carried a chicken, duck and sheep. When the animals survived the trip, the Montgolfier brothers knew they were on to something! Two months later, a military major and a physics professor became the first two people to ever ride in a hot air balloon.
How do hot air balloons fly?
Hot air balloons are very simple in design and use propane fuel to gain altitude. Hot air rises as compared to cold air. This rising hot air, powered by efficiently burning fuel, causes the balloon to lift. More flame makes the balloon go higher, and opening a special valve allows it to descend.
Are hot air balloons safe?
As long as they're flown by a qualified pilot in good weather, then yes! Today's companies that offer hot air balloon rides have crews of experienced people who check every aspect of the balloon and the weather before each flight. There's even a crew on the ground that follows the balloon during the entire flight. To make sure your flight is as safe as it can be, make sure the organization you fly with is qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable by doing a little research or even checking references.
How high do hot air balloons go?
The normal hot air balloon will normally reach around 3,000 feet above ground level. This is what is known as low level flight as compared to other flying vehicles like planes.
How long does a normal hot air balloon ride last?
The average hot air balloon ride lasts around an hour. The distance traveled depends on various factors like piloting and wind conditions.
When is the best time to take a hot air balloon ride?
Cool weather is preferred to hot weather. Also, most pilots prefer to fly either right after dawn or right before dusk. These times offer the best wind conditions for hot air ballooning.
Where can I find out more about hot air balloons?
The best thing to do would be to perform an Internet search. There are many different websites, clubs and organizations devoted to hot air balloons. You can even find the sites of various hot air balloon ride providers in your area and learn all the details about hot air balloons and riding in them.
Copyright 2006 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved
| Wild Blue Yonder - Edge table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.nsb-observer.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D679:wild-blue-yonder%26catid%3D34:features%26Itemid%3D52cid=1287755007ei=8eBlSZNqmcrwBNngjOkEusg=AFQjCNE2n_ofSu9oDSoCffGmGPWbXk-NGwWild Blue Yonder/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fEdge,nbsp;FLnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1New Smyrna Beach Mayor Sally Mackay was standing by, scarf wrapped around her throat, as she watched the giant bhot air balloon/b inflate to its full b./b/font/div/font/td/tr/table.. |
Membership always has its privileges - Quick DFW table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://www.quickdfw.com/sharedcontent/dws/quick/columnists/alibaster/stories/DN-life--alibaster_0108ick.ART.State.Edition1.4abc2df.htmlcid=0ei=8eBlSZNqmcrwBNngjOkEusg=AFQjCNElHXA7U4fJQpl2RmG5nKPs9M_s-QMembership always has its privileges/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fQuick DFW,nbsp;TXnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1My name is Alibaster K. Abthernabther, best-selling author, champion yacht racer, bhot/b-bair balloon/b enthusiast and your friendly Preston Hollow neighbor. b./b/font/div/font/td/tr/table.. |
EARLY RELEASE: Strategies for Reducing the Door-to-Balloon Time in Acute Myocardial Infarction Background Prompt reperfusion treatment is essential for patients who have myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation. Guidelines recommend that the interval between arrival at the hospital and intracoronary balloon inflation (door-to-balloon EURŠ.. |
Better Way to Avoid Artery Reclog? Researchers have come up with a way to keep heart arteries from reclogging after doctors use a tiny angioplasty balloon to open them: Coat the balloons with drugs EURŠ.. |
Girl's balloon floats as far as Belgium BALLOONS released in a charity race have made it all the way from Cambridge to Belgium EURŠ.. |
LEAD BALLOON IT'S getting harder and harder to tell where Jack Dee ends and Rick Spleen begins and two real tragedies confront our curmudgeonly comic tonight EURŠ.. |
Recession is no impediment for exporters in Kansas Business beyond . - Kansas.com table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.kansas.com/business/story/655291.htmlcid=0ei=8eBlSZNqmcrwBNngjOkEusg=AFQjCNHsF0mGvMZSuIXJQ0-eZk-ogUjkfARecession is no impediment for exporters in Kansas Business beyond b./b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKansas.com,nbsp;KSnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Ted J. Vlamis, vice president for the international division of Wichita#39;s Pioneer bBalloon/b, likened exporting to diversifying a stock portfolio. b./b/font/div/font/td/tr/table.. |
Vintage Planes and Pilots Buzz Airport - Edge table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-0fd=Rurl=http://www.nsb-observer.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D678:vintage-planes-and-pilots-buzz-airport-%26catid%3D45:local-sports%26Itemid%3D28cid=1287755007ei=8eBlSZNqmcrwBNngjOkEusg=AFQjCNFZtuJJXZ0eZNz4HWt6fy3boOLIvwVintage Planes and Pilots Buzz Airport/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fEdge,nbsp;FLnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1You need JavaScript enabled to view it NEW SMYRNA BEACH EUR Former Army bAir/b Corps flight trainer Jack Northrup climbed the rolling staircase next to the B-25. b./b/font/div/font/td/tr/table.. |