HOT AIR BALLOONS ARE AIRCRAFT
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Adapted from Balloon Zone

Balloons are aircraft, regulated under the same Federal Aviation Regulations as every other aircraft. Balloons are aerostats (static within the air), which means that once a balloon is aloft, it moves with the air mass. The modern hot air balloon is made up of three main parts: the envelope, the basket, and the burner.

The envelope is the colorful "balloon" part and is sewn into many patterns - geometric designs and custom shapes. It is made from heat resistant, rip-stop nylon. It is coated internally with a plastic which helps contain heat. The envelope is folded, rolled, and stored in a canvas-like bag kept in a cool, dry place to avoid mildew and is continuously checked for any heat damage or tears. If well maintained, a balloon envelope should last 500 or more flying hours.

The wicker basket (sometimes called the "gondola") is woven with a tight, vertical weave, well suited to resisting entanglement in branches or powerlines. A finishing urethane coating inside and out ensures the wicker will resist becoming brittle or rotten from exposure to moisture. This maintains the wicker's ability to flex, absorbing and distributing any bumps during landings. The basket contains the propane tanks and an instrument panel - usually a compass, altimeter, rate of climb indicator, fuel quantity gauge and pyrometer (envelope temperature indicator).

The heart of the balloon is the burner, usually rigged on a rigid brace over the pilot's head and controlled by means of a hand valve. Hot air balloons use air as the lifting gas. By heating the air inside the balloon (with blasts from the burner), the pilot makes that air less dense (lighter) than the outside air, and the balloon rises. As the internal air cools, the balloon becomes heavier, and descends.

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Balloon Rides