Have you ever wondered how exactly Hot-Air Balloons work? Well we have the answer to your questions!
To Understand how Hot-Air balloons work you need to understand the basic principles of the how they fly; and what equipment is part of a balloon. First let's look at some of the pieces that make up a Hot-Air Balloon.
A Hot-Air Balloon is thusly named because it works off the principal that hot-air rises. Since warm air is less dense than cooler air, it rises; thus floating on the top of the cooler air below it. In nature this is known as a convection cycle; the sun heats the earth, the air above the surface heats thus shifting it upward, interestingly enough this is also the natural cause of wind. By artificially heating the air inside the envelope a balloon creates a 'bubble' of hot air inside the envelope. This mass of warm air allows the balloon to become buoyant and rise through the cooler air around it.
Now we are only missing one big piece of the puzzle in our explanation of how balloons work: "How do they get up in the air in the first place?"
The answer to just that question is something we call 'inflation'...might seem pretty obvious huh? Just like a helium balloon we inflate a hot-air balloon, but we don't use a helium tank.
Hot air balloons envelopes are stored in large canvas or nylon bags, to inflate the balloon the envelope is laid out in a long narrow line. Once the envelope is laid out the basket, burner, propane and (for safety) a quick-relase tie-down are all hooked up. The balloon is inflated with cold air on the ground by an inflator fan. An 'inflator fan' is an airplane prop mounted in a cage with a motor attached to force cold air into the mouth of the balloon. It is similar (if not exactly the same) to fans often used by fire fighters to clear buildings of smoke.
To help the fan push air into the balloon two crew members hold open the mouth and hold up the skirt so that air can be blown into the envelope. As you can see the balloon gets quite full on the ground before heat is applied.
To actually rise the balloon into the air, the same principals that allow a balloon to fly are used. The pilot lights the burner and fires a stream of flame into the envelop, heating the air within. As the air temperature increases the balloon become buoyant and rises off the ground.
Once the balloon is up and the pilot has double checked all his connections, instruments, and safety equipment you are ready to take to the sky's!
Have a question or comment about how balloons work? Please don't be shy, send it to us at: webmaster@wahlsupply.com We'll be happy to try and answer to the best of our ability.
can you steer a balloon?
No, you cannot deliberately steer a hot-air balloon. You can however, use the winds (if they are going different directions) to help maneuver yourself into better locations, but unless the wind is naturally going your way you are out of luck.
How do you know where you will land?
The simple truth is you don't. Usually before a flight a pilot will try and gauge what direction the wind is going in, through weather forecast and launching a small helium filled balloon (called a piball). However, you never can say with 100% certainty where you will land. That's all part of the fun!
How much does a balloon cost?
Just like any other hobby, that depends on how much you are willing to pay. A hot air balloon usually costs, new, somewhere between $20,000 - $120,000 for a 'standard' system. That includes the basket, burner, envelope, and all of the support systems (hoses, ropes, etc..) That does not include a trailer, inflator fan, gloves, or insurance. We like to relate it to how much you would spend for a decent bass boat.
Why do you fly so early in the morning / late in the afternoon?
Often perspective crew members ask why we get up so early to fly (usually around 6:00 take off...so you get up at 5:00am). We fly early in the mornings and later in the evenings just prior to sunset and just after sunrise because winds are usually more calm during these times of the day.
How big is a Balloon?
Again, that all depends. Our balloon, Cool-Ray is small, it's envelope encompasses 69,000 cubic feet of air. Just enough for a maximum of three passengers on a cool day; and only two on a warm one. Other balloons can get much larger some ride balloons can be upwards of 310,000 cubic feet!
Do you give rides?
At one time the Cool-Ray balloon team did occasionally do a paid ride. However since Cool-Ray is such a small balloon (only 69,000 cubic feet) we have started getting out of that business. If you want a ride for free; simply volunteer yourself as crew. Eventually you'll get to fly, and you may find you like crewing just as much!
How High Can You go?
A hot-air balloon can travel up to 12,500 feet (above mean sea-level) without the use of oxygen on board. Above that altitude the pilot must use an on-board oxygen source. Most pilots do not come close to flying that high on a regular basis because of the demands on the balloon, the time it takes to reach that altitude, and the time it takes to get down. The limit to how high you can fly in a balloon is 18,000 feet (MSL) because after that point class A airspace (mainly for commercil jet traffic) begins.
Do you have to have a pilots license?
An unusual question, but it has come up before. Yes, you do have to be, at least, a FAA certified Private Pilot with a lighter-than-air rating to fly hot-air balloons. Mike is an FAA certified Commercial Pilot and does teach people to fly.