About Ballooning
Introduction to Ballooning
The modern hot air balloon consists of three main components, namely: the envelope,
which encloses the hot air; the burner, which is used to heat the air;
and the basket for carrying the pilot and passengers.
The pilot controls the ascent and descent of the balloon by means of the burner. However, at the end of the flight, after allowing the balloon to descend to within say 20 feet of the ground, the pilot opens the top of the balloon (by deflating the parachute) and vents the hot air, resulting in a rapid but (hopefully) gentle landing.
Although the height of the balloon can be controlled reasonably precisely by the pilot, the speed and direction of the balloon are largely down to the wind conditions found at the time of the flight, which will vary with both the day and the time of day. This means that no two flights are the same, even on the same day.
In fact, some control of direction is possible, due to the fact that different wind speeds and directions may often be found at different heights. An experienced pilot may be able to find a suitable air current that will take the balloon in a preferred direction.The most important decision a pilot has to make, however, is when to fly and when not to fly. The most critical factors are the wind speed and whether turbulent air conditions are expected.
Flights generally take place within two hours of dawn or sunset in the summer in the UK, to avoid thermals (and turbulent air conditions) generated during the heat of the day. Wind speeds above 25 knots are generally considered to be unflyable, and most pilots prefer to fly in wind speeds of less than 15 knots.
An old adage often quoted amongst balloonists is: "It's better to be down here wishing you were up there, than to be up there, wishing you were down here."
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