How to prepare for a hot air balloon flight?

Lease Alice

The first balloon took to the skies several centuries ago. During this time, its design and operating features have remained unchanged. The dome, a basket with burners and sandbags are the basic elements of the simplest flying apparatus. If you are looking for where to fly a balloon, you can visit a lot of Internet resources that offer this kind of entertainment, in addition today, many different companies have a campaign, in which the main prize is the flight at the balloon, because of this pastime wants a very large number of people. Including can be found such a gift as a jackpot when playing slot machines at online casinos. Let’s talk more about these constructions, and also find out what is the name of a flying balloon with a basket?

What is a balloon?

A balloon is the simplest kind of flying machine. It has no engine and is completely devoid of control elements. Its main purpose is to make horizontal flights in the air. Nevertheless, modern devices allow making long horizontal flights.

So, the main elements of any balloon are:

  • The dome. During the flight, it is filled with gas and allows you to lift the structure up.
  • Burner. The part that creates the streams of hot air needed to fill the dome during the flight.
  • Basket. Designed to carry passengers, luggage and the pilot himself.

Travelling by balloon is a fascinating activity, able to cause genuine excitement in both children and adults.

A short history of the names

Let’s understand, what is the name of the balloon for flying and when it appeared?

According to unofficial data, the first ballooning was performed in 1306 in China on the day of the ascension to the throne of Emperor Fo Kien.

Nevertheless, the birthplace of the modern balloon is considered to be France. The creation of the first flying machine is credited to the Montgolfier brothers. They designed, patented and launched the first balloon in 1783.

Interesting! Montgolfier is the official name of the balloons. It is composed of the names of the brothers-inventors who created and patented the design.

The first balloon weighed about 155 kilograms. It was able to rise to 300 meters in the air and stayed in flight for only 10 minutes. During this time, the design covered a distance of 500 meters.

Safety precautions during the flight

The following meteorological conditions must be met for a safe flight in a hot air balloon:

  • Air temperature between -15 and +25 degrees Celsius.
  • Low cloudiness.
  • Wind speed of 3 to 4 meters per second.
  • Absence of heavy precipitation.
  • Not allowed to fly under any circumstances:
  • Persons under the influence of alcohol.
  • People with nervous system disorders, cardiovascular diseases and other medical contraindications.
  • Pregnant women.
  • People with disabilities of groups 1 and 2.
  • Children under 16 years old without an adult.

Smoking is prohibited on board the balloon, as well as bringing piercing and cutting objects.

Before the first hot air balloon flight it is necessary to determine how many meters the instructor to lift the flying machine in the air. This parameter is influenced by passengers’ readiness for new impressions and sensations, but most importantly – the absence of a panic fear of heights. If you follow certain rules you can safely fly even 1 km above the ground. Watching the surroundings from a bird’s eye view is very interesting, and soaring through the air is an inexpressible adventure! If you are a beginner and wonder if this activity is safe we can answer absolutely!

Landing

It is very important to listen to the instructor’s commands during the landing. To be safe passengers should observe the following rules:

  • It is necessary to secure all personal belongings: bags, cameras, etc.
  • It is forbidden to move around in the basket during landing.
  • Feet should be bent at the knees and hands should be grasped on the special railing.

Important: During landing it is strictly forbidden to hold hands on the edges of the basket. It is also forbidden to leave the basket without the instructor’s permission.

If you follow the above rules, you will get maximum pleasure from flying on a balloon.

How to dress for flying?

There are no strict requirements to the uniform for flying. First of all, you must dress for the weather. You should not freeze during the air ride.

Prefer sportswear. Be sure to take with you a hat. It can be a hat, cap or kerchief. The shoes should be comfortable. Ideal sneakers or hiking boots.

Important: on board of a balloon in no case you can not go in high heels.

Are children allowed to ride?

Children from 7 years old can fly in a hot air balloon. However, their height must be above 130 centimeters. Children and teenagers from 7 to 16 years old are not allowed on board unaccompanied.

Maximum lifting height

So, how high can a hot air balloon go?

If your goal is an introductory flight, the altitude of the balloon will be about 500 meters. From this height you can admire the surrounding scenery, take beautiful pictures and videos. The duration of such a flight does not exceed 20 minutes.

If the weather conditions allow and the client has a desire to go higher, the instructor can lift the balloon to a height of 1 kilometer. At the moment this height is considered as maximum for familiarization flight.

Professional athletes can fly dozens of kilometers in the air. In 2014, pilot Alan Eustace was able to fly a hot air balloon to an altitude of more than 40 kilometers.

Is it scary to fly in a hot air balloon? If you are afraid of heights, or it is your first flight, the feeling of fear is natural. If flying at 500-1000 meters seems extreme to you, consider a tethered hot air balloon. It rises up to 50 meters in the air.