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Hotairballooninflight.

Hotairballoonsshapedlikebees.

HotairballoonshapedastheAbbeyofSaintGall

HotairballoonFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Thehotairballoonistheoldestsuccessfulhumancarryingflighttechnology.ThefirstuntetheredmannedhotairballoonflightwasperformedbyJeanFranoisPiltredeRozierandFranoisLaurentd'ArlandesonNovember21,1783,inParis,France,[1]inaballooncreatedbytheMontgolfierbrothers.[2]Hotairballoonsthatcanbepropelledthroughtheairratherthansimplydriftingwiththewindareknownasthermalairships.

Ahotairballoonconsistsofabagcalledtheenvelopethatiscapableofcontainingheatedair.Suspendedbeneathisagondolaorwickerbasket(insomelongdistanceorhighaltitudeballoons,acapsule),whichcarriespassengersand(usually)asourceofheat,inmostcasesanopenflame.Theheatedairinsidetheenvelopemakesitbuoyantsinceithasalowerdensitythantherelativelycoldairoutsidetheenvelope.Aswithallaircraft,hotairballoonscannotflybeyondtheatmosphere.Unlikegasballoons,theenvelopedoesnothavetobesealedatthebottomsincetheairnearthebottomoftheenvelopeisatthesamepressureastheairsurrounding.Formodernsportballoons,theenvelopeisgenerallymadefromnylonfabricandtheinletoftheballoon(closesttotheburnerflame)ismadefromfireresistantmaterialsuchasNomex.Beginningduringthemid1970s,balloonenvelopeshavebeenmadeinallkindsofshapes,suchasrocketshipsandtheshapesofvariouscommercialproducts,thoughthetraditionalshaperemainspopularformostnoncommercial,andmanycommercial,applications.

Contents

1History1.1Premodernandunmannedballoons1.2Firstmannedflight1.3Today

2Construction2.1Envelope

2.1.1Seams2.1.2Coatings2.1.3Sizesandcapacity2.1.4Vents2.1.5Shape

2.2Basket2.3Burner2.4Fueltanks2.5Instrumentation2.6Combinedmass

3Theoryofoperation3.1Generatinglift

3.1.1Montgolfier

3.1.2Hybrid



AKongminglantern,theoldesttypeofhotairballoon.

3.1.2Hybrid3.1.3Solar

4Safetyequipment4.1Inthebasket4.2Ontheoccupants4.3Onthegroundcrew

5Maintenanceandrepair5.1Maintenance5.2Repair

6Licensing6.1Balloons6.2Pilots

6.2.1InAustralia6.2.2IntheUK6.2.3IntheUnitedStatesofAmerica

7Accidentsandincidents8Manufacturers9Seealso10References11Externallinks

11.1Generalballooningsites

History

Premodernandunmannedballoons

EarlyunmannedhotairballoonswereusedinChina.ZhugeLiangoftheShuHankingdom,duringtheThreeKingdomsera(220280AD),usedairbornelanternsformilitarysignaling.TheselanternsareknownasKongminglanterns().[3][4][5]Thereisalsosomespeculation,fromademonstrationdirectedbyBritishmodernhotairballoonistJulianNottduringthelate1970s,[6]andagainin2003,[7]thathotairballoonscouldhavebeenusedasanaidfordesigningthefamousNazcagroundfiguresandlines[6]whichwerecreatedbytheNazcacultureofPerubetween400and650AD.[8]ThefirstdocumentedballoonflightinEuropewasdemonstratedbyBartolomeudeGusmo.OnAugust8,1709,inLisbon,hemanagedtoliftaballoonfullofhotairabout4.5meters(15ft)infrontofKingJohnVandthePortuguesecourt.[9][10]

Firstmannedflight

ThebrothersJosephRalfandJacquestienneMontgolfierdevelopedahotairballooninAnnonay,Ardeche,France,anddemonstrateditpubliclyonSeptember19,1783,makinganunmannedflightlasting10minutes.Afterexperimentingwithunmannedballoonsandflightswithanimals,thefirstballoonflightwithhumansaboard,atetheredflight,performedonoraroundOctober15,1783,bytienneMontgolfierwhomadeatleastonetetheredflightfromtheyardoftheReveillonworkshopintheFaubourgSaintAntoine.Laterthatsameday,PilatredeRozierbecamethesecondhumantoascendintotheair,reachinganaltitudeof24m(79ft),thelengthofthetether.[11]Thefirstfreeflightwithhumanpassengerswasmadeafewweekslater,onNovember21,1783.[12]KingLouisXVIhad



AmodeloftheMontgolfierbrothers'balloonattheLondonScienceMuseum.

ApairofHopperballoons.

BristolInternationalBalloonFiesta

originallydecreedthatcondemnedcriminalswouldbethefirstpilots,butdeRozier,alongwithMarquisFranoisd'Arlandes,petitionedsuccessfullyforthehonor.[13][14][15]Thefirstmilitaryuseofahotairballoonhappenedin1794duringthebattleofFleurus,whentheFrenchusedtheballoonl'Entreprenantforobservation.[16]

Today

Modernhotairballoons,withanonboardheatsource,weredevelopedbyEdYost,beginningduringthe1950shisworkresultedinhisfirstsuccessfulflight,onOctober22,1960.[17]ThefirstmodernhotairballoontobemadeintheUnitedKingdom(UK)wastheBristolBelle,builtin1967.Presently,hotairballoonsareusedprimarilyforrecreation.Hotairballoonsareabletoflytoextremelyhighaltitudes.OnNovember26,2005VijaypatSinghaniasettheworldaltituderecordforhighesthotairballoonflight,reaching21,027m

(68,986ft).HetookofffromdowntownMumbai,India,andlanded240km(150mi)southinPanchale.[18]Thepreviousrecordof19,811m(64,997ft)hadbeensetbyPerLindstrandonJune6,1988,inPlano,Texas.

OnJanuary15,1991,the'VirginPacificFlyer'ballooncompletedthelongestflightinahotairballoonwhenPerLindstrand(borninSweden,butresidentintheUK)andRichardBransonoftheUKflew7,671.91km(4,767.10mi)fromJapantoNorthernCanada.Withavolumeof74thousandcubicmeters(2.6millioncubicfeet),theballoonenvelopewasthelargesteverbuiltforahotaircraft.Designedtoflyinthetransoceanicjetstreams,thePacificFlyerrecordedthefastestgroundspeedforamannedballoonat245mph(394km/h).ThelongestdurationrecordwassetbySwisspsychiatristBertrandPiccard,AugustePiccard'sgrandsonandBritonBrianJones,flyingintheBreitlingOrbiter3.Itwasthefirstnonstoptriparoundtheworldbyballoon.TheballoonleftChteaud'Oex,Switzerland,onMarch1,1999,andlandedat1:02a.m.onMarch21intheEgyptiandesert300miles(480km)southofCairo.Thetwomenexceededdistance,endurance,andtimerecords,traveling19days,21hours,and55minutes.SteveFossettexceededtherecordforbriefesttimetravelingaroundtheworldon3July2002.Thenewrecordis320h33min.[19]

Construction

Ahotairballoonformannedflightusesasinglelayered,fabricgasbag(lifting"envelope"),withanopeningatthebottomcalledthemouthorthroat.Attachedtotheenvelopeisabasket,orgondola,forcarryingthepassengers.Mountedabovethebasketandcenteredinthemouthisthe"burner",which



Ahotairballoonisinflatedpartiallywithcoldairfromagaspoweredfan,beforethepropaneburnersareusedforfinalinflation.

HotAirBalloonSafariinMaasaiMara.

injectsaflameintotheenvelope,heatingtheairwithin.Theheaterorburnerisfueledbypropane,aliquefiedgasstoredinpressurevessels,similartohighpressureforkliftcylinders.[20][21]

Envelope

Modernhotairballoonsareusuallymadeofmaterialssuchasripstopnylonordacron(apolyester).[22]

Duringthemanufacturingprocess,thematerialiscutintopanelsandsewntogether,alongwithstructuralloadtapesthatcarrytheweightofthegondolaorbasket.Theindividualsections,whichextendfromthethroattothecrown(top)oftheenvelope,areknownasgoresorgoresections.Envelopescanhaveasfewas4goresorasmanyas24ormore.[23]

Envelopesoftenhaveacrownringattheirverytop.Thisisahoopofsmoothmetal,usuallyaluminium,andapproximately1ft(0.30m)indiameter.Verticalloadtapesfromtheenvelopeareattachedtothecrownring.

Atthebottomoftheenvelopetheverticalloadtapesaresewnintoloopsthatareconnectedtocables(onecableperloadtape).Thesecables,oftenreferredtoasflyingwires,areconnectedtothebasketbycarabiners.

Seams

ThemostcommontechniqueforsewingpanelstogetheriscalledtheFrenchfelled,Frenchfell,ordoublelapseam.[24][25][26][27]Thetwopiecesoffabricarefoldedoveroneachotherattheircommonedge,possiblywithaloadtapeaswell,andsewntogetherwithtworowsofparallelstitching.Othermethodsincludeaflatlapseam,inwhichthetwopiecesoffabricareheldtogethersimplywithtworowsofparallelstitching,andazigzag,whereparallelzigzagstitchingholdsadoublelapoffabric.[26]

Coatings

Thefabric(oratleastpartofit,thetop1/3forexample)maybecoatedwithasealer,suchassiliconeorpolyurethane,tomakeitimpermeabletoair.[28]Itisoftenthedegradationofthiscoatingandthecorrespondinglossofimpermeabilitythatendstheeffectivelifeofanenvelope,notweakeningofthefabricitself.Heat,moisture,andmechanicalwearandtearduringsetupandpackuparetheprimarycausesofdegradation.Onceanenvelopebecomestooporoustofly,itmayberetiredanddiscardedorperhapsusedasa'ragbag':coldinflatedandopenedforchildrentorunthrough.Productsforrecoatingthefabricarebecomingavailablecommercially.[29]

Sizesandcapacity



Theparachuteventatthetopofanenvelope,asseenfrombelowthroughthemouth.

Arangeofenvelopesizesisavailable.Thesmallest,oneperson,basketlessballoons(called"Hoppers"or"Cloudhoppers")haveaslittleas600m3(21,000cuft)ofenvelopevolume[30]foraperfectspheretheradiuswouldbearound5m(16ft).Attheotherendofthescale,balloonsusedbycommercialsightseeingoperationsmaybeabletocarrywellovertwodozenpeople,withenvelopevolumesofupto17,000m3(600,000cuft).[30]Themostusedsizeisabout2,800m3(99,000cuft),andcancarry3to5people.

Vents

Thetopoftheballoonusuallyhasaventofsomesort,enablingthepilottoreleasehotairtoslowanascent,startadescent,orincreasetherateofdescent,usuallyforlanding.Somehotairballoonshaveturningvents,whicharesideventsthat,whenopened,causetheballoontorotate.Suchventsareparticularlyusefulforballoonswithrectangularbaskets,tofacilitatealigningthewidersideofthebasketforlanding.[31]

Themostcommontypeoftopventisadiskshapedflapoffabriccalledaparachutevent,inventedbyTracyBarnes.[32]Thefabricisconnectedarounditsedgetoasetof"ventlines"thatconvergeinthecenter.(Thearrangementoffabricandlinesroughlyresemblesaparachutethusthename.)These"ventlines"arethemselvesconnectedtoacontrollinethatrunstothebasket.Aparachuteventisopenedbypullingonthecontrolline.Oncethecontrollineisreleased,thepressureoftheremaininghotairpushestheventfabricbackintoplace.Aparachuteventcanbeopenedbrieflywhileinflighttoinitiatearapiddescent.(Slowerdescentsareinitiatedbyallowingtheairintheballoontocoolnaturally.)Theventispulledopencompletelytocollapsetheballoonafterlanding.

Anolder,andpresentlylesscommonlyused,styleoftopventiscalleda"Velcrostyle"vent.Thistooisadiskoffabricatthetopoftheballoon.However,ratherthanhavingasetof"ventlines"thatcanrepeatedlyopenandclosethevent,theventissecuredby"hookandloop"fasteners(suchasVelcro)andisonlyopenedattheendoftheflight.BalloonsequippedwithaVelcrostyleventtypicallyhaveasecond"maneuveringvent"builtintotheside(asopposedtothetop)oftheballoon.Anothercommontypeoftopdesignisthe"SmartVent,"which,ratherthanloweringafabricdiscintotheenvelopeasinthe"parachute"type,gathersthefabrictogetherinthecenteroftheopening.Thissystemcantheoreticallybeusedforinflightmaneuvering,butismorecommonlyusedonlyasarapiddeflationdeviceforuseafterlanding,ofparticularvalueinhighwinds.Otherdesigns,suchasthe"poptop"and"MultiVent"systems,havealsoattemptedtoaddresstheneedforrapiddeflationonlanding,buttheparachutetopremainspopularasanallaroundmaneuveringanddeflationsystem.

Shape

Besidesspecialshapes,possiblyformarketingpurposes,thereareseveralvariationsonthetraditional"invertedteardrop"shape.Thesimplest,oftenusedbyhomebuilders,isahemisphereontopofatruncatedcone.Moresophisticateddesignsattempttominimizethecircumferentialstressonthefabric,withdifferentdegreesofsuccessdependingonwhethertheytakefabricweightandvaryingairdensityintoaccount.Thisshapemaybereferredtoas"natural".[33]Finally,somespecializedballoonsaredesignedtominimizeaerodynamicdrag(intheverticaldirection)toimproveflightperformanceincompetitions.[34]



HotAirBalloonBasketinFlight

Awickerbasketcapableofholding16passengers.

Aburnerdirectingaflameintotheenvelope.

Basket

Basketsarecommonlymadeofwovenwickerorrattan.Thesematerialshaveproventobesufficientlylight,strong,anddurableforballoonflight.Suchbasketsareusuallyrectangularortriangularinshape.Theyvaryinsizefromjustbigenoughfortwopeopletolargeenoughtocarrythirty.[35]Largerbasketsoftenhaveinternalpartitionsforstructuralbracingandtocompartmentalizethepassengers.Smallholesmaybewovenintothesideofthebaskettoactasfootholdsforpassengersclimbinginorout.[36]

Basketsmayalsobemadeofaluminium,especiallyacollapsiblealuminiumframewithafabricskin,toreduceweightorincreaseportability.[37]Thesemaybeusedbypilotswithoutagroundcreworwhoareattemptingtosetaltitude,duration,ordistancerecords.Otherspecialtybasketsincludethefullyenclosedgondolasusedforaroundtheworldattempts,[38]andbasketsthatconsistoflittlemorethanaseatforthepilotandperhapsonepassenger.

Burner

Theburnerunitgasifiesliquidpropane,[39]mixesitwithair,ignitesthemixture,anddirectstheflameandexhaustintothemouthoftheenvelope.Burnersvaryinpoweroutputeachwillgenerallyproduce2to3MWofheat(7to10millionBTUsperhour),withdouble,triple,orquadrupleburnerconfigurationsinstalledwheremorepowerisneeded.[40][41]Thepilotactuatesaburnerbyopeningapropanevalve,knownasablastvalve.Thevalvemaybespringloadedsothatitclosesautomatically,oritmaystayopenuntilclosedbythepilot.Theburnerhasapilotlighttoignitethepropaneandairmixture.Thepilotlightmaybelitbythepilotwithanexternaldevice,suchasaflintstrikeroralighter,orwithabuiltinpiezoelectricspark.[42]

Wheremorethanoneburnerispresent,thepilotcanuseoneormoreatatimedependingonthedesiredheatoutput.Eachburnerischaracterizedbyametalcoilofpropanetubingtheflameshootsthroughtopreheattheincomingliquidpropane.Theburnerunitmaybesuspendedfromthemouthoftheenvelope,orsupportedrigidlyoverthebasket.Theburnerunitmaybemountedonagimbaltoenablethepilottoaimtheflameandavoidoverheatingtheenvelopefabric.Aburnermayhaveasecondarypropanevalvethatreleasespropanemoreslowlyandtherebygeneratesa



Stainlesssteelfueltanks,wrappedinredinsulatingcovers,mountedvertically,andwithfuelgauges,duringrefueling.

differentsound.Thisiscalledawhisperburnerandisusedforflightoverlivestocktolessenthechanceofspookingthem.Italsogeneratesamoreyellowflameandisusedfornightglowsbecauseitlightsuptheinsideoftheenvelopebetterthantheprimaryvalve.

Fueltanks

Propanefueltanksareusuallycylindricalpressurevesselsmadefromaluminium,stainlesssteel,ortitaniumwithavalveatoneendtofeedtheburnerandtorefuel.Theymayhaveafuelgaugeandapressuregauge.Commontanksizesare10(38),15(57),and20(76)USgallons(liters).[28]Theymaybeintendedforuprightorhorizontaluse,andmaybemountedinsideoroutsidethebasket.

Thepressurenecessarytoforcethefuelthroughthelinetotheburnermaybesuppliedbythevaporpressureofthepropaneitself,ifwarmenough,orbytheintroductionofaninertgassuchasnitrogen.[42]Tanksmaybepreheatedwithelectricalheattapestoproducesufficientvaporpressureforcoldweatherflying.[43]Warmedtankswillusuallyalsobewrappedinaninsulatingblankettopreserveheatduringthesetupandflight.

Instrumentation

Aballoonmaybeoutfittedwithavarietyofinstrumentstoaidthepilot.Thesecommonlyincludeanaltimeter,arateofclimb(verticalspeed)indicatorknownasavariometer,envelope(air)temperature,andambient(air)temperature.[44]AGPSreceivercanbeusefultoindicategroundspeed(traditionalaircraftairspeedindicatorswouldbeuseless)anddirection.

Combinedmass

Thecombinedmassofanaveragesystemcanbecalculatedasfollows:[28]

component pounds kilograms

100,000cuft(2,800m3)envelope 250 113.4

5passengerbasket 140 63.5doubleburner 50 22.7320gallon(75.7liter)fueltanksfullofpropane 3135=405 183.75passengers 5150=750 340.2subtotal 1595 723.5

100,000cuft(2,800m3)ofheatedair 5922 2686.2

total (3.76tons)7517 3409.7

usingadensityof0.9486kg/mfordryairheatedto210F(99C).

Theoryofoperation



Thermalimageshowingtemperaturevariationinahotairballoon.

Generatinglift

Increasingtheairtemperatureinsidetheenvelopemakesitlessdensethanthesurrounding(ambient)air.Theballoonfloatsbecauseofthebuoyantforceexertedonit.ThisforceisthesameforcethatactsonobjectswhentheyareinwaterandisdescribedbyArchimedes'principle.Theamountoflift(orbuoyancy)providedbyahotairballoondependsprimarilyuponthedifferencebetweenthetemperatureoftheairinsidetheenvelopeandthetemperatureoftheairoutsidetheenvelope.Formostenvelopesmadeofnylonfabric,themaximuminternaltemperatureislimitedtoapproximately120C(250F).[45]

Itshouldbenotedthatthemeltingpointofnylonissignificantlygreaterthanthismaximumoperatingtemperatureabout230C(450F)buthighertemperaturescausethestrengthofthenylonfabrictodegrademorequicklyovertime.Withamaximumoperatingtemperatureof120C(250F),balloonenvelopescangenerallybeflownforbetween400and500hoursbeforethefabricneedstobereplaced.Manyballoonpilotsoperatetheirenvelopesattemperaturessignificantlylessthanthemaximumtoextendenvelopefabriclife.

Theliftgeneratedby100,000ft(2831.7m)ofdryairheatedtovarioustemperaturesmaybecalculatedasfollows:

airtemperature airdensity airmass liftgenerated68F,20C 1.2041kg/m 7517lb,3409.7kg 0lb,0kg210F,99C 0.9486kg/m 5922lb,2686.2kg 1595lb,723.5kg250F,120C 0.8978kg/m 5606lb,2542.4kg 1912lb,867.3kg

Thedensityofairat20C,68Fisabout1.2kg/m.Thetotalliftforaballoonof100,000ftheatedto(99C,210F)wouldbe1595lb,723.5kg.Thisisjustenoughtogenerateneutralbuoyancyforthetotalsystemmass(notincludingtheheatedairtrappedintheenvelope,ofcourse)statedintheprevioussection.Liftoffwouldrequireaslightlygreatertemperature,dependingonthedesiredrateofclimb.Inreality,theaircontainedintheenvelopeisnotallthesametemperature,astheaccompanyingthermalimageshows,andsothesecalculationsarebasedonaverages.

Fortypicalatmosphericconditions(20C,68F),ahotairballoonheatedto(99C,210F)requiresabout3.91mofenvelopevolumetolift1kilogram(62.5ft/lb).Thepreciseamountofliftprovideddependsnotonlyupontheinternaltemperaturementionedabove,buttheexternaltemperature,altitudeabovesealevel,andhumidityoftheairsurrounding.Onawarmday,aballooncannotliftasmuchasonacoolday,becausethetemperaturerequiredforlaunchwillexceedthemaximumsustainablefornylonenvelopefabric.Also,intheloweratmosphere,theliftprovidedbyahotairballoondecreasesabout3%foreach1,000meters(1%per1,000ft)ofaltitudegained.[46]

Montgolfier

StandardhotairballoonsareknownasMontgolfierballoonsandrelysolelyonthebuoyancyofhotairprovidedbytheburnerandcontainedbytheenvelope.[47]ThisstyleofballoonwasdevelopedbytheMontgolfierbrothers,andhaditsfirstpublicdemonstrationon4June1783withanunmannedflightlasting10minutes,followedlaterthatyearwithmannedflights.[48]



AVirginhotairballoonflyingoverCambridge.

A4metershighsolarballoonfloatingoverameadow.

Hybrid

The1785Rozireballoon,atypeofhybridballoon,namedafteritscreator,JeanFranoisPiltredeRozier,hasaseparatecellforalighterthanairgas(typicallyhelium,)aswellasaconebelowforhotair(asisusedinahotairballoon)toheattheheliumatnight.Hydrogengaswasusedintheveryearlystagesofdevelopmentbutwasquicklyabandonedduetotheobviousdangerofintroducinganopenflamenearthegas.AllmodernRoziereballoonsnowuseheliumasaliftinggas.[49]

Solar

Solarballoonsarehotairballoonsthatusejustsolarenergycapturedbyadarkenvelopetoheattheairinside.[50]

Safetyequipment

Tohelpensurethesafetyofpilotandpassengers,ahotairballoonmaycarryseveralpiecesofsafetyequipment.

Inthebasket

Torelighttheburnerifthepilotlightgoesoutandtheoptionalpiezoignitionfails,thepilotshouldhavereadyaccesstoameansofbackupignitionsuchasaflintsparklighter.Manysystems,especiallythosethatcarrypassengers,havecompletelyredundantfuelandburnersystems:twofueltanks,connectedtotwoseparatehoses,whichfeedtwodistinctburners.Thisenablesasafelandinginthecaseofaclogsomewhereinonesystemorifasystemmustbedisabledbecauseofafuelleak.

Afireextinguishersuitableforextinguishingpropanefiresisausefulpieceofsafetyequipmentinaballoon.Mostballoonscarrya1or2kgAB:Etypefireextinguisher.

Ahandlingordroplineismandatorysafetyequipmentinmanycountries.Itisaropeorwebbingof2030metersinlengthattachedtotheballoonbasketwithaquickreleaseconnectionatoneend.Inverycalmwindconditionstheballoonpilotcanthrowthehandlinglinefromtheballoonsothatthegroundcrewcanguidetheballoonsafelyawayfromobstructionsontheground.

Forcommercialpassengerballoons,apilotrestraintharnessismandatoryinsomecountries.Thisconsistsofahipbeltandawebbinglinethattogetherallowforsomemovementwhilepreventingthepilotfrombeingejectedfromthebasketduringahardlanding.

Furthersafetyequipmentmayincludeafirstaidkit,afireblanketandastrongrescueknife.

Ontheoccupants



Takenfromthebasket,thereflectionoftheballooncanbeseeninthelakebelow.Obstaclesinthelandscapecaninhibitsmoothretrievaloftheballoonuponlanding.

Ataminimumthepilotshouldwearflameresistantgloves.Thesecanbemadeofleatherorsomemoresophisticatedmaterial,suchasnomex.Thesewillenablethepilottoshutoffagasvalveinthecaseofaleakevenifthereisaflamepresent.Quickactiononthepilot'sparttostoptheflowofgascanturnapotentialdisasterintoaninconvenience.Inaddition,thepilotshouldwearclothingcoveringhis/herarmsandlegsandwhichismadeofnaturalfiberssuchascottonorwool.Thesewillsingeandnotburnreadilyifbroughtintocontactwithanopenflame.Manysyntheticfibers,unlessespeciallyformulatedforusenearflameorhightemperatureslikenomex,willmeltontothewearerandcancausesevereburning.Manypilotsalsoadvisetheirpassengerstowearsimilarprotectiveclothingthatcoverstheirarmsandlegs,aswellasstrongshoesorbootsthatoffergoodanklesupport.Finally,someballoonsystems,especiallythosethathangtheburnerfromtheenvelopeinsteadofsupportingitrigidlyfromthebasket,requiretheuseofhelmetsbythepilotandpassengers.

Onthegroundcrew

Thegroundcrewshouldwearglovesontheirhandswheneverthepossibilityofhandlingropesorlinesexists.Themassandexposedsurfacetoairmovementofamediumsizedballoonissufficienttocauseropefrictionburnstothehandsofanyonetryingtostoporpreventmovement.Thegroundcrewshouldalsowearsturdyshoesandatleastlongpantsincaseoftheneedtoaccessalandingorlandedballooninroughorovergrownterrain.

Maintenanceandrepair

Aswithaircraft,hotairballoonsrequireregularmaintenancetoremainairworthy.Asaircraftmadeoffabricandthatlackdirecthorizontalcontrol,hotairballoonsmayoccasionallyrequirerepairstoripsorsnags.Whilesomeoperations,suchascleaninganddrying,maybeperformedbytheownerorpilot,otheroperations,suchassewing,mustbeperformedbyaqualifiedrepairtechnicianandrecordedintheballoon'smaintenancelogbook.

Maintenance

Toensurelonglifeandsafeoperation,theenvelopeshouldbekeptcleananddry.Thispreventsmoldandmildewfromformingonthefabricandabrasionfromoccurringduringpacking,transport,andunpackingduetocontactwithforeignparticles.Intheeventofalandinginawet(becauseofprecipitationorearlymorningorlateeveningdew)ormuddylocation(farmer'sfield),theenvelopeshouldbecleanedandlaidoutorhungtodry.

Theburnerandfuelsystemmustalsobekeptcleantoensuresafeoperationondemand.Damagedfuelhosesneedtobereplaced.Stuckorleakyvalvesmustberepairedorreplaced.Thewickerbasketmayrequireoccasionalrefinishingorrepair.Theskidsonitsbottommayrequireoccasionalreplacement.

Balloonsinmostpartsoftheworldaremaintainedinaccordancewithafixedmanufacturer'smaintenanceschedulethatincludesregular(100flighthoursor12month)inspections,inadditiontomaintenanceworktocorrectanydamage.InAustralia,balloonsusedforcarryingcommercialpassengersmustbeinspectedandmaintainedbyapprovedworkshops.[51]



Topofballoonduringinflation.Crewissecuringparachutevent.

Repair

Inthecaseofasnag,burn,orripintheenvelopefabric,apatchmaybeappliedortheaffectedpanelcompletelyreplaced.Patchesmaybeheldinplacewithglue,tape,stitching,oracombinationofthesetechniques.Replacinganentirepanelrequiresthestitchingaroundtheoldpaneltoberemoved,andanewpaneltobesewninwiththeappropriatetechnique,thread,andstitchpattern.

Licensing

Dependingonthesizeoftheballoon,location,andintendeduse,hotairballoonsandtheirpilotsneedtocomplywithavarietyofregulations.

Balloons

AswithotheraircraftintheUSA,balloonsmustberegistered(haveanNnumber),haveanairworthinesscertificate,andpassannualinspections.Balloonsbelowacertainsize(emptyweightoflessthan155poundsor70kgincludingenvelope,basket,burnersandemptyfueltanks)canbeusedasanultralightaircraft.

Pilots

InAustralia

InAustralia,privateballoonpilotsaremanagedbytheAustralianBallooningFederation[52]andtypicallybecomemembersofregionalhotairballooningclubs.CommercialoperationscarryingfarepayingpassengersorchargingforpromotionalflightsmustoperateunderanAirOperatorsCertificatefromtheAustralianCivilAviationandSafetyAuthority(CASA)withanominatedChiefPilot.Pilotsmusthavedifferentdegreesofexperiencebeforetheyareallowedtoprogresstolargerballoons.HotairballoonsmustberegisteredaircraftwithCASAandaresubjecttoregularairworthinesschecksbyauthorisedpersonnel.[53]

IntheUK

IntheUK,thepersonincommandmustholdavalidPrivatePilot'sLicenceissuedbytheCivilAviationAuthorityspecificallyforballooningthisisknownasthePPL(B).Therearetwotypesofcommercialballoonlicences:CPL(B)RestrictedandCPL(B)(Full).TheCPL(B)Restrictedisrequiredifthepilotisundertakingworkforasponsororbeingpaidbyanexternalagenttooperateaballoon.ThepilotcanflyasponsoredballoonwitheverythingpaidforwithaPPLunlessaskedtoattendanyevent.ThenaCPL(B)Restrictedisrequired.TheCPL(B)isrequiredifthepilotisflyingpassengersformoney.TheballoonthenneedsatransportcategoryCofA(certificateofairworthiness).Ifthepilotisonlyflyingsponsor'sguests,andnotchargingmoneyforflyingotherpassengers,thenthepilotisexemptedfromholdinganAOC(airoperator'scertificate)thoughacopyofitisrequired.Forpassengerflyingtheballoonalsorequiresamaintenancelog.

IntheUnitedStatesofAmerica



ThreeballoonsprepareforliftoffinOrlando,Florida.

IntheUnitedStates,apilotofahotairballoonmusthaveapilotcertificatefromtheFederalAviationAdministration(FAA)anditmustcarrytheratingof"Lighterthanairfreeballoon",andunlessthepilotisalsoqualifiedtoflygasballoons,willalsocarrythislimitation:"Limitedtohotairballoonswithairborneheater".Apilotdoesnotneedalicensetoflyanultralightaircraft,buttrainingishighlyadvised,andsomehotairballoonsmeetthecriteria.

Tocarrypayingpassengersforhire(andattendsomeballoonfestivals),apilotmusthaveacommercialpilotcertificate.Commercialhotairballoonpilotsmayalsoactashotairballoonflightinstructors.Whilemostballoonpilotsflyforthepurejoyoffloatingthroughtheair,manyareabletomakealivingasaprofessionalballoonpilot.Someprofessionalpilotsflycommercialpassengersightseeingflights,whileothersflycorporateadvertisingballoons.[54]

Accidentsandincidents

1989AliceSpringshotairballooncrash:On13August1989,twohotairballoonscollidedatAliceSprings,NorthernTerritory,Australia,causingonetofall,killingall13peopleonboard.2011Somersethotairballooncrash:On1January2011,ahotairballoonattemptingahighaltitudeflightcrashedatPratten'sBowlsClubinWestfield,Somerset,nearBath,England,killingbothpeopleonboard.2012Cartertonhotairballooncrash:On7January2012,ahotairballooncollidedwithapowerline,caughtfireandcrashedatCarterton,NorthIsland,NewZealand,killingall11peopleonboard.2012LjubljanaMarsheshotairballooncrash:On23August2012,astormblewahotairballoontotheground,causingittocatchfireonimpactnearLjubljana,Slovenia.Thecrashkilled6ofthe32peopleonboard,andinjuredtheother26.2013Luxorhotairballooncrash:On26February2013,ahotairballooncarryingforeigntouristsignitedandcrashedneartheancientcityofLuxor,Egypt,killing19ofthe21peopleonboard,makingitthedeadliestballoonaccidentinhistory.[55]

Manufacturers

ThelargestmanufacturerofhotairballoonsintheworldisCameronBalloonscompanyofBristol,England,whichalsoownsLindstrandBalloonsofOswestry,England.CameronBalloons,LindstrandBalloonsandanotherEnglishballoonmanufacturingcompany,ThunderandColt(sinceacquiredbyCameron),havebeeninnovatorsanddevelopersofspecialshapedballoons.Thesehotairballoonsusethesameprincipleofliftasconventionalinvertedteardropshapedballoonsbutoftensectionsofthespecialballoonenvelopeshapedonotcontributetotheballoon'sabilitytostayaloft.

ThesecondlargestmanufacturerofhotairballoonsintheworldisUltramagiccompany,basedinSpain,whichproducesfrom80to120balloonsperyear.Ultramagiccanproduceverylargeballoons,suchastheN500thataccommodatesasmanyas27personsinthebasket,andhasalsoproducedmanyballoonswithspecialshapes,aswellascoldairinflatables.

IntheUSAAerostarInternational,Inc.ofSiouxFalls,SouthDakotawasNorthAmerica'slargestballoonmanufacturerandaclosesecondinworldmanufacturingbeforeceasingtobuildballoonsinJanuary2007.FireflyBalloons,formerlyTheBalloonWorks,isamanufacturerofhotairballoonsin



OneofthelastAerostarInternational,Inc.RX8balloons.

HotairballoonoverCappadocia.

HotairballoonsinflightoverBagan,Myanmar.

Statesville,NorthCarolina.AnothermanufacturerisHeadBalloons,Inc.ofHelen,Georgia.

ThemajormanufacturersinCanadaareSundanceBalloonsandFantasySkyPromotions.OthermanufacturersincludeKavanaghBalloonsofAustralia,SchroederFireBalloonsofGermany,andKubicekBalloonsoftheCzechRepublic.

Seealso

AviationBalloonsatelliteBarrageballoonCinebulleClusterballooningEspionageballoonEarlyflyingmachinesHighaltitudeballoonHistoryofmilitaryballooningHotairballoonfestivalHotairballooningLighterthanairListofballoonusesBlimpObservationballoonResearchballoonSkylanternSkyhookballoonZeppelin

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