Questions
& Answers
When
was the first balloon flight?
On September 19, 1783, a sheep, a duck, and a rooster become the first
passengers in a hot air balloon launched by the Montgolfier brothers,
Joseph and Ettienne in Versailles, France.
No one knows if these
three were served a bag of peanuts and a soda on their flight!
The first manned balloon
flight occurred on November 21,1783, in Paris.
Built from paper and
silk by the Montgolfier brothers, this balloon was piloted on its 22 minute
flight by two noblemen from the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
From the center of Paris they ascended 500 feet above the roof tops before
eventually landing miles away in the vineyards.
Local farmers were
very suspicious of this fiery dragon descending from the sky. The pilots
offered champagne to placate them and to celebrate the first human flight,
a tradition carried on to this day.
How do balloons fly?
Balloons operate through the basic principles of gravity and heat transfer.
In other words, Hot-Air rises and Cold Air descends!
As air inside the
balloon is heated, it rises. As the air inside the balloon cools, it descends.
To make the balloon fly, an inflator fan first fills the envelope with
air, which is then heated with the burners.
How do you steer
a balloon?
Winds determine a balloons direction. And winds flow in different directions,
at different speeds, and at different altitudes.
Balloonists can steer
a balloon, to a limited extent, by adjusting the balloons altitude to
make use of different wind speeds and directions.
In other words, we
put heat in to rise and gain altitude or we let air out or cool to descend
to get into the layer of air moving in the direction we want to go.
How long does a balloon flight
last?
All flights last approximately one hour and is totally dependent upon
the good graces of Mother Nature. It depends upon the weather, the winds,
fuel consumption, and landing site availability.
Your entire ballooning
experience, including pre-flight preparation, flight, and post-flight
celebration, may take anywhere from three to four hours.
What fuel do balloons use and how high do they fly?
Sport Hot-Air Balloons carry 20 to 45 gallons of liquid propane in stainless
steel fuel tanks.
Balloons typically
fly from treetop level all the way up to several thousand feet, depending
on what the pilot is trying to accomplish. The world record in a stock
Aerostar hot air balloon is over 32,000 feet!
Why do balloons fly in the early
morning and late evening?
Winds are generally most favorable the first hours after sunrise and the
last hours before sunset. The suns uneven heating of the earths surface
causes strong, variable winds. In the morning, it takes a few hours for
the sun to heat the earths surface enough to generate the thermal activity
that creates wind. In the evening, the suns intensity has diminished enough
to reduce winds to acceptable flight levels. Ideal winds are 3 to 6 mph.
Do you need a pilot's license to fly a Hot-Air Balloon?
Yes you do. There are two levels of balloon pilot ratings.
The first is a private
pilot. The pilot must have at least 10 hours of flight time in free balloons,
which must include six flights under the supervision of an instructor.
The private pilot must pass a written test, an oral test, and a flight
check prior to being issued a private pilots license.
The second rating
is a commercial pilot. The commercial pilot must have at least 35 hours
of flight time, of which at least 20 must be in balloons (the remaining
15 hours may be in other aircraft). The commercial pilot must pass an
additional written, oral, and flight check prior to being issued a commercial
pilots license. The holder of a commercial pilots license may operate
a balloon for hire and may give flight instruction.
For additional requirements
on both ratings, please consult FAA Regulation Part 61 for details.
How many passengers can you take
at a time in the balloon?
Just as there are different types of cars that can carry anywhere from
2 to 10 or 12 people, the same is true for Hot-Air Balloons.
The size of the envelope
determines how many passengers, or to be more specific, how much weight
you can carry. The bigger the envelope, the more weight you can carry.
Consequently, the bigger the envelope, the more people you can carry.
With Fantasy Ballooning,
there are anywhere from two to four passengers in the basket with the
pilot on your flight.
What
should I wear?
Dress comfortable! Wear casual cotton clothing for an outdoor
activity like a picnic in the park or a walk in the woods. Dresses are
not recommended! Wear hiking boots or tennis shoes that you don't mind
getting a little wet. Please do not wear sandals or heels since we will
be walking in fields and the ground is usually wet with dew. Dress in
layers wearing natural fiber type clothing for cooler weather.
Can
I bring a camera?
Yes, we encourage it. Some of the greatest pictures of the surrounding
area can be taken from 500 feet in the air. Don't forget to bring lots
of film and a protective case for landing...we don't want to scratch anything.
We are not responsible if you decide to throw that expensive camera off
the basket though!
What's
it like to fly in a Hot-Air Balloon?
Flying in a Hot-Air Balloon is the closest thing to being a cloud. It
is a magical and mystical moment for everyone. Call us at 386-736-1010
to take your flight!
|