Hot Air Balloon FAQ

How do hot air balloons work?

• Hot air balloons operate under one basic principle: hot air rises and cold air sinks! To make a balloon rise, the air inside the balloon has to be heated to a temperature hotter than the outside air.
• A hot air balloon has three major parts: the envelope, the basket, and the burner.

• The envelope is the colorful fabric bag that holds the hot air. Envelopes are made of strong, lightweight synthetic fabrics, like rip stop nylon.

• The basket is where passengers ride. Usually made of wicker, baskets are lightweight and flexible.

• The burner is positioned above the passengers’ heads and produces a huge flame to heat the air inside the envelope. Balloons use propane fuel.

   

How do hot air balloons fly?

• To descend, the pilot allows the air to cool and the balloon becomes heavier than air. The pilot has complete control of the up-and-down movements by controlling the heat in the envelope, and also by opening and closing a vent at the top of the balloon.

•  Before the balloon is launched, the pilot knows which way the wind is blowing, so he knows in which general direction the balloon will go. The air is in layers, and the different layers may be moving in different directions and at different speeds. (Have you ever noticed that the trees on the ground are still but the clouds way up high are moving fast?) So even though the pilot can't steer the balloon in any direction he chooses, he can move up and down to find a layer of air that will allow the balloon to change direction.

• During the flight the balloon is followed by the chase crew. The chase crew is usually in radio contact with the pilot, and their job is to be at the landing site when the balloon touches down.

• After the balloon lands, the crew packs the balloon back into the chase vehicle and the balloon is refueled for the next flight.

   

Why do balloons fly so early in the morning?

• Because balloons fly with the wind, winds have to be calm and below about 10 mph to fly safely. Typically, the calmest winds are found the first hour of daylight. As the sun warms the earth, thermals are created and the wind picks up and can become unpredictable.

• We have a summer/spring season where we can only fly in the morning and in the winter/fall we are able to mornings and afternoons.

   

How far and how high do balloons usually fly?

• During a passenger flight, the balloon may go up as high as 2,000 feet, but most of the time is spent cruising at around 500 feet or so. Depending on the wind speed, the balloon may travel only a couple of miles or as many as 8 or 9.

How do you become a pilot?
 

• The Federal Aviation Administration requires the balloon pilot to be 14 years of age to apply for a student license, 16 to take the exam for a private certificate, and 18 to get a commercial rating. There is no requirement for a medical certificate; however, you must sign a statement that you have no known medical defects that would make you unable to pilot a free balloon.

• You must pass an FAA written exam, obtain a prescribed number of hours of instruction depending on what type of rating you want, make a solo flight, a flight to a specific altitude, and pass a flight test.

How much do balloons cost?

• 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.

Are there many balloonists in the country?

• There are over 3,500 balloons and 4,000 licensed pilots in the U.S. There are another 1,000 or so balloons in other countries.