Balloons need stable winds to operate effectively and the hours just following sunrise or within 2 hours of sunset are the best for finding these winds. Since balloons move with the air, the weather is very important in deciding to whether or not to fly. The pilot chooses a launch site to use the wind currents to fly towards a suitable landing site.

The top portion is called the envelope and is usually made of nylon or polyester fabric, similar to parachute material. It is very tightly woven and is coated with a material that makes it very air tight. The nylon is used to keep the hot air in the balloon. The basket load is transferred by steel or Kevlar cables to a series of vertical load tapes which carry the load. Balloons range in size from about 54,000 cubic feet for a one- or two-person balloon to over 250,000 cubic feet for a balloon capable of carrying a pilot plus eight or ten passengers.The wicker basket has proven to be very strong for its weight and is flexible. The wicker is sometimes woven around a steel or aluminum frame, which helps to support the upright posts upon which the burner is mounted. The top rim of the basket and the uprights are usually padded and covered in suede or leather.

When the time comes to put the balloon up, the envelope is removed from the bag and laid out in a long line. The burners are attached to the uprights, and the basket is attached to the cables on the bottom of the envelope. An engine driven fan is used to inflate the envelope with cold air. When partially inflated, the air is heated by a burner and the envelope rises above the basket. With further heating, there is sufficient ‘lift’ for the balloon to fly.

To heat the air, the burners are fueled by propane gas, much the same as you probably use in your backyard barbecue grill. The burners do not run continuously; they are only used intermittently to heat the air to maintain the required lift. A standard home furnace is 200,000 BTUs. Most balloon burners produce 10-15 million BTUs, which is a LOT of power.

Depending on the weight capacity, balloons may be as tall as 75-100 feet.

You should wear whatever you feel comfortable in. There is really no need to dress up, and you might even get a little dirty depending on where you land. You should wear the type of clothing that you would expect to wear if you be going for a walk the day of the flight. A light jacket is sometimes comfortable in the fall or early spring. Layered clothing is much better than a heavy coat. Shoes should have flat soles, and the majority of top clothing should be made of cotton rather than man-made fibers. Tall passengers may find a hat useful because of the radiant heat from the burners.

With most pilots there is no problem in taking either a still or video camera with you during the flight. A hot air balloon makes a perfect camera platform and there is always plenty to photograph prior to, during and after to the flight. We do recommend, however, that you have a suitable soft case (or your pocket for small cameras) with you in which to stow the camera during the landing phase of the flight.

The simple answer is that nobody knows, exactly! The pilot will have done flight planning before the launch to ensure that the forecast wind direction does not take the balloon towards an unsuitable area. They will use the different air currents at different altitudes to steer the balloon toward a good landing place. The pilot also closely follows agreements with local landowners. This means that the balloon won’t fly too close to livestock or land in areas planted with valuable crops.

Radios are used to stay in contact with the chase crew as well as with Air Traffic Control and other aircraft flying in the vicinity.

Most balloonists enjoy low level flight. The typical balloon flight would be anywhere from tree level to about 3,000 feet above the ground.

Flying in a high sided balloon basket is not like standing in a roof or a high ladder. You don’t get that vertigo feeling. It is more like the ground is unfolding beneath you, and, because you are moving with the wind, there is no wind blowing. The basket does not rock or sway so you can’t possibly fall out.

Balloons are registered like any other aircraft and are subject to regular airworthiness checks. The FAA will not allow a balloon to be certified as airworthy unless these inspections and checks are done by authorized maintenance personnel and certified by them. All pilots are licensed by the FAA and have to pass regular flight checks.

The balloon goes wherever the wind takes it. However, pilots can seek higher or lower altitudes to find wind currents of various direction.

Normally most balloonists don’t fly high enough for much of a temperature change. In fact, on a cool morning it may be warmer at 1,000 feet than at the surface. That is why layers are the best way to dress.

An altimeter to indicate altitude, a variometer showing its rate of climb or decent, a compass to show directions, and a temperature gauge to show how hot the fabric is at the top of the balloon. Each propane tank has a fuel gauge, and the burner has a fuel pressure gauge.