Are you brave enough to go up in a hot air balloon?
Hot Air Balloon Rides Phoenix: How Do Hot Air Balloons Work?
By: www.AerogelicBallooning.com
Do you love the idea of riding in a hot air balloon? There's nothing like soaring above the earth in a hot air balloon. But how do hot air balloons work? Find out here.
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Hot air balloons have been around since 1783, when a sheep, a duck, and a rooster flew above the heads of the Court of Versailles. They are beautiful and elegant--and a relaxing way to sightsee.
But how do hot air balloons work?
These colorful balloons are pretty ingenious. In this post, we'll walk you through the basics of hot air balloon mechanics.
Hot Air Rises, Cool Air Sinks
There are three parts to a hot air balloon: the envelope, the burner, and the basket.
The basket is where the pilot and passengers stand. The burner mixes hot air and propane to produce a flame.
Basically, hot air balloons work because hot air rises. It's lighter than cooler air and has less mass.
If you take a cubic foot of air, it's going to weigh less than an ounce. Once you heat that air by 100 degrees, the air is going to weigh seven grams less. So each cubic foot of air in the hot air balloon can lift seven grams of weight--not a very large amount.
A kilogram, or 1,000 grams, is about two pounds. For every kilogram of lift, you would need to have more than 100 cubic feet of hot air. In order to lift 1,000 pounds or more, you're going to need more than 60,000 cubic feet of heated air.
That's why the hot air balloons are so big compared to the basket. They need to be able to lift all the passengers, the burner, and the basket itself.
Up or Down?
How does a hot air balloon work in the air? The air is heated by the burner, but how does the pilot control whether the balloon moves up or down?
In order to allow the balloon to move higher in the sky, the pilot opens the burner's propane valve. That allows the flame to rise up into the envelope and the balloon rises.
When it's time to bring the balloon down, the pilot pulls on what is called the parachute valve. It's a hole in the top of the balloon that is a circle of fabric attached to a cord.
When the pilot decides that it's time to float downward, they pull on the cord and open the parachute valve. This lets the super-heated air escape and decreases the temperature inside the envelope.
Cool air sinks and the hot air balloon loses some altitude. In order to maneuver the hot air balloon from place to place, the pilot has to ride on the wind at different altitudes. They have to be aware of strong wind currents and avoid blasts of cold air that could cause the balloon to sink too quickly.
Time to Launch
How does a hot air balloon work when it's on the ground before it's inflated? Launching and landing are two of the most interesting things about hot air balloons.
To start with, the balloon is laid out on its side, empty of all gas and air. Then, the crew inflates the envelope using a cold-air fan. This takes about 15 minutes and it's great to watch.
After the envelope is inflated, the crew turns on the burner's propane flame. The air inside the envelope is heated and the basket starts to rise. The ground crew has to hold down the basket until the passengers and pilot are on board.
Since the envelope is fully inflated, the balloon will gracefully lift off the ground when it's time to travel.
Because the hot air balloon travels along the air currents, it can be difficult to pinpoint a landing spot. The ground crew has to follow the hot air balloon with a car so that they can meet the balloon when it lands.
Hot air balloons can't fly in the rain, so sometimes they have to make a quick landing.
How Do Hot Air Balloons Work? The Propane Question
You might be thinking, how do hot air balloons work on just propane? Isn't that what I use for my gas grill at home?
That's exactly right. Hot air balloons use propane that's in a liquid form, compressed in cylinders in the basket itself.
There's an intake hose that runs the length of the cylinder that acts to draw the liquid propane out. The liquid propane then flows up the hoses into the heating coil. It gets ignited by a pilot light and burns brightly, heating up the burner's metal tubes.
Once the metal tubing is hot enough, it changes the propane from a liquid to a gas before it gets ignited. This makes the propane flame more powerful and more efficient.
Modern hot air balloons also use nylon fabric for the envelope and have flame-resistant coatings on the part closest to the basket.
Should I Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride?
Hot air balloon rides are excellent for sightseeing. The balloons can cruise through mountains and over large bodies of water.
The technology has been around for hundreds of years and is getting refined all the time. It's safe and fun to go on a hot air balloon ride. There are thousands of them in use throughout the world--even one that has a glass bottom.
If you struggle with a fear of heights, a hot air balloon ride might be better than a small plane for sight-seeing. They don't go as high into the air and the ride is smoother.
Hot air balloons are beautiful, they're fascinating, and they work on such simple principles. Hot air rises, while cool air sinks. If you heat up enough hot air, you can carry more than 1,000 pounds.
It's an amazing experience--so are you ready to try it?
Drop us a line and we can help you get set up with hot air balloon rides in Phoenix. We can work with small groups and individuals. If you have a larger group, we may need to have a few balloons go up together.
Have a great time on your hot air balloon ride, and we'll see you soon!
Call Now 602-402-8041 or visit our web site at www.AerogelicBallooning.com
Becoming a balloon artist is not as easy as it sounds, it is actually very challenging and it requires a lot of training and some level of education (this is not the type of education that you are thinking of).
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