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Frequently Asked Questions
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The general public and those interested in ballooning often ask a lot of the same questions. If you have questions of your own, check out our frequently asked questions below. If you don't see an answer that suits your interest, feel free to pose your question to us via the Contact Us page.
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| Q: |
What is a hot air balloon made out of?
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| A: |
Most modern balloons are made out of nylon with a special coating that helps the fabric
to retain heat. The basket is made of wicker which provides flexibility on landing and
durability.
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| Q: |
How long does a balloon usually fly?
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| A: |
A hot air balloon typically stays aloft for about one hour. A gas balloon can stay aloft
for several days. Most balloons that you see flying over your neighborhood are hot
air balloons.
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| Q: |
What makes a hot air balloon fly?
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| A: |
Heating the air inside of the balloon to a temperature warmer than the air outside of the
balloon makes the aircraft rise. The air is heated using a propane fueled burner. Most
hot air balloons carry about 30 gallons of propane in tanks located in the basket. The
balloon descends when the air inside cools.
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| Q: |
What makes a gas balloon fly?
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| A: |
Gas balloons are inflated using helium and occasionally hydrogen. The balloon is weighted
down with ballast, usually sand. As ballast is dropped from the balloon it rises. The pilot
must vent some of the gas inside the envelope in order to descend.
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| Q: |
Do you have to have a license to fly a balloon?
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| A: |
Both hot air and gas balloons require FAA certification for pilots. The aircraft is also federally
registered and regulated. Inspections are required of the aircraft and currency is required of
the pilots.
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| Q: |
Why do I see balloons flying early in the morning or late in the afternoon?
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| A: |
Since balloon flight is so reliant on good weather conditions, balloons usually fly at sunrise or
two hours before sunset. The wind is usually calmer, thermal activity is not as prevalent poor
weather is less likely to occur.
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| Q: |
How do you control one of those things?
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| A: |
A balloon is controlled through ascent and descent in an effort to find a specific wind direction.
Balloons have no horizontal power source. That means that a balloon only travels in the
direction of the wind. Through wind forecasting and pilot control an experienced pilot can
determine a flight path prior to launch and work with wind currents at different altitudes to
maintain that flight path.
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| Q: |
At what altitude does a balloon typically fly?
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| A: |
Balloons usually fly 500 to 2000 feet above the ground. Since balloons do not usually launch
or land at airports you may see them much lower as they launch or approach a landing site.
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| Q: |
How big is a balloon?
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| A: |
The average balloon holds 77,000 cubic feet of air. The range of size is from 30,000 cubic feet
to 240,000 cubic feet. The average basket holds three to four people with occupancies ranging
from one person to twenty people.
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| Q: |
What type of instrumentation is found in a balloon?
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A hot air balloon will have a variometer, which displays the rate of ascent or descent, a
pyrometer, which details the temperature inside and outside of the balloon, and an altimeter.
You will also find a gauge on each fuel tank to indicate fuel level and a gauge on the burner
indicating fuel pressure.
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| Q: |
What is the life of a balloon?
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If properly cared for a hot air balloon can last seven to ten years and five hundred hours
of flight time.
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| Q: |
How much does a hot air balloon cost?
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A new balloon can cost between $17,000 and $35,000 depending on size and options.
Used balloon systems range from $3,000 to $20,000 depending on the age and condition.
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| Q: |
How many people does it take to inflate and deflate a balloon?
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A regular shape balloon requires only four to six people as crew. Some of the large
special shape balloons require as many as twenty-five people to help inflate and
deflate the balloon.
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| Q: |
How long does it take to inflate and deflate a balloon?
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Average balloons take only about fifteen minutes to inflate and about the same amount of time
to deflate and pack away. Larger balloons may take longer.
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