History of Ballooning
In 1782 there were two French brothers surnamed Montgolfier. They were burning trash and noticed burning pieces of paper flying up the chimney. They assumed it was the smoke that made the paper rise, and decided that if they could harness the smoke, they had discovered the secret of flight. One year later they attached a basket to their paper and linen bag, filled it with smoke from burning straw, embarked passengers - a sheep, rooster and a duck, and sent them aloft! Since the animals survived the flight (and the landing) the Montgolfiers decided ballooning was safe for mankind, and then sent two men into the air that same year. Man in flight had begun in France, 1783!

As balloons would travel further away from Paris and into the country, the farmers would come running after the balloon, to protect themselves and at landing would try to flatten the balloon with their pitchforks, thinking it was an intruder from outer space. To defend themselves, the balloonists would raise their bottle of champagne and ensure the farmers that they were from a neighboring city by the label on their bottle. They would all share a raised glass, and there began the tradition of champagne after a balloon flight

 

Adventures Aloft • 24 East Main St. • Ephrata Pa.• 17522 • (717)733-3777• (800)747-1380
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

WHY FLY A BALLOON? Man has been fascinated with the freedom and beauty of balloons and exploring the air since the first hot air balloon flight in 1783. Technological improvements in materials and fuel systems have opened ballooning to the general public since the early 1970's.

HOW DO YOU INFLATE THE BALLOON? A fan forces cold air into the envelope which partially inflates it. Later, propane heaters heat the air to complete the inflation, bringing the balloon upright.

HOW DO YOU CARRY THE FUEL? In 10 gallon aluminum tanks.

WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO BALLOONS USE? An altimeter to indicate altitude, a variometer to show if the balloon is going up or down, a compass to show direction and a temperature gauge to tell how hot the air is at the top of the balloon. Each propane tank also has a fuel gauge
HOW MUCH CAN A BALLOON LIFT? It depends on how cold the external (ambient) air is and the size of the balloon. Balloons lift better in cold air than in warm air.
WHY DO BALLOONS FLY ONLY IN THE MORNING AND EVENING? Balloons usually fly just after dawn or before dusk, because there is less wind at these times. Mornings are preferred because the air is cooler and as the day gets warmer and the sun heats the land, uneven warming of the land causes winds to rise and vertical wind currents to develop, making balloon control more difficult and potentially unsafe.

HOW MANY PEOPLE FIT IN A BALLOON BASKET? This depends on the amount of passengers the balloon system is rated for, the actual weights of the passengers, pilot, propane tanks and the temperature that day. We currently have three balloons which can carry from three to five passengers, plus a pilot.

WHERE DO YOU NORMALLY TAKE OFF? Local parks, schools and churches, with big grassy fields free from debris, and obstructions such as trees and powerlines.
HOW DO YOUR STEER A BALLOON? The balloon goes wherever the wind takes it. However, pilots can seek higher or lower altitudes to find wind currents of various direction to maneuver or "steer" the balloon.
HOW FAST CAN BALLOON FLY? As fast as the wind blows!
HOW DOES A HOT AIR BALLOON DIFFER FROM A GAS BALLOON? A hot air balloon gets it's lift from heating the air with propane fuel. A gas balloon gets it's lift from lighter than air gases, usually helium or hydrogen.
IS IT COLD IN THE BALLOON? The propane heater generates lots of noise as well as heat. When the burner is off, the flight is extremely quiet. There is no noise from the wind, since the balloon moves with it.
HOW HIGH DO YOU FLY? As high as you like, but rarely over 5,000 feet. A typical flight would be just above tree top level in the country and over 1,500 feet in populated areas.
CAN YOU FLY OVER WATER? Yes. Aeronauts (balloonists) often cross rivers and small lakes but they try to avoid situations where they might have to deflate in the water.
WHAT IS THE FABRIC PART OF THE BALLOON MADE OF? This is called the envelope and it is made from rip-stop nylon.
DOES THE BASKET SWAY WHEN YOU ARE FLYING? No. It is quite stable and makes an ideal platform for taking pictures and sightseeing.
WHY DO BALLOONISTS SERVE CHAMPAGNE AFTER A FLIGHT? Tradition. In France during the years following 1783, farmers attacked balloons that landed on their fields, often with pitchforks. To placate the farmers, the early balloonist offered them champagne to show that they were not from outerspace, but were fellow countrymen.
WHO CAN FLY A BALLOON? Ballooning is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which issues a Balloon Pilot License to those who pass an FAA written examination, obtain a prescribed number of hours in a balloon, make a solo flight and flight to altitude, pass a flight test and submit a medical statement. All balloons are cerified by the FAA and each has an Aircraft Registration Number.
WHAT DOES A HOT AIR BALLOON COST? Hot air balloons range in price based on size, model, make, age and options (like a car). A new 5 person hot air balloon will average $35,000 and this will last an average of 300 hours of flight.

WHO CAN BECOME BALLOON CHASE CREW? Almost anyone! If your balloon ride didn't satisfy your thirst for ballooning and you're looking for a hobby, please talk to your pilot about becoming part of our Balloon Team.

Adventures Aloft • 24 East Main St. • Ephrata Pa.• 17522 • (717)733-3777• (800)747-1380