A flight in a hot air balloon is a unique experience. Maybe you want to plan a romantic surprise, celebrate a special anniversary or launch a product. Whatever the occasion, the actual flight lasts approximately an hour, the memories last a lifetime...

How do hot air balloon fly?

Hot air balloons are based on the very basic scientific principle that warmer air rises in cooler air (A gas balloon gets its lift from lighter than air gases, usually helium or hydrogen.) A burner fuelled by propane gas is positioned under an open balloon envelope to heat the air and make the balloon rise. When the parachute valve at the top of the envelope is opened some to the hot air escapes, and the balloon sinks. The hot air won’t escape from the hole at the bottom of the envelope because buoyancy keeps it moving up.

The colorful envelope is usually made of nylon or polyester, the same type of cloth that parachutes are made of. The envelope fabric is much tougher than it might appear. If a bird were to fly into it would almost certainly bounce off.

The balloon rides with the wind, and to move in a particular direction, the pilot ascends and descends to find the appropriate wind direction. Pilots call the weather service to get a rough idea of which way the balloon will travel, and how they should maneuver once they're in the air. Members of the hot air balloon crew follow the balloon by car to see where it lands to collect the passengers and equipment, usually about 15 miles from the launch site.

The pilot discusses possible landing sites with the ground crew by radio link. They look for a wide open space where there are no power lines and plenty of room to lay out the balloon. As soon as the balloon is in the air, the pilot is constantly looking for suitable landing sites, in case there is an emergency.

A lot of the work in hot air ballooning comes at the beginning and the end of the flight, when the crew inflates and deflates the balloon. For the spectator, this is much more spectacular than the actual balloon flight. Passengers are traditionally asked to help with the setup and inflation of the balloon, also with the milking (squeezing out the air) of the balloon after landing.

Balloonists traditionally end the flight with a toast of champagne, a practice dating back to the 1700's .

Are hot air balloons safe?

Ballooning is safe, but it is a sport and may place some physical demands on the participant.

Balloon pilots need a commercial pilot's licence (fixed-wing) to fly. They must have at least 35 hours of flight instruction, attend ground school for basic aviation training, pass a written test for hot-air balloons and have a flight check. So as long as the pilot is qualified you are in very safe hands.

In fact the pilots are so skilled at piloting a balloon that they can brush the bottom of the basket across the tops of a bush so gently that the occupants can pick a leaf as a souvenir of the flight.

The baskets are made of wicker because it is sturdy, flexible and relatively lightweight. The flexibility helps with balloon landings: If the basket were made of more rigid material, passengers would feel the brunt of the impact force. Wicker material flexes a little, absorbing some of the energy.

To check safety, balloon manufactures have performed tests and found that it is possible to fly a balloon with a hole large enough for a man to go through as long as the hole is not at the top of the envelope.

When can hot air balloons fly?

Since balloons move with the air, the weather is all important in deciding whether or not to fly. Before launching, pilots will call a weather service to find out about climate and wind conditions in an area. Pilots only fly when the weather is close to ideal -- when skies are clear and wind conditions are normal.

Balloons need stable winds to operate effectively and the hours just following sunrise are the best for finding these calm gentle winds. In some parts of the world this also applies to the hours just before sunset. The weather is cooler then and the balloon flies better in cooler weather since the hot air gets a better "lift.".. In addition there is the splendor of a beautiful sunrise or sunset. It just isn't safe to fly during the daytime when different pockets of air are rising and falling.

The weather is always of prime importance. Storms are extremely hazardous for hot air balloons with the possible danger of a lightning strike. Even rain is a problem, because it decreases visibility and damages the balloon material. Very strong winds could easily wreck the balloon. Pilots only fly when the weather is close to ideal -- when skies are clear and wind conditions are normal.

Where can hot air balloons fly?

Most of the hot air balloons are in the USA, where there are over 3,500 balloons. There are approximately 1000 in other countries.

Many parts of the world have ideal weather for hot air balloon flying and flights rarely have to be postponed. Many of the sites listed enjoy such good weather. In some areas it is also possible to fly in winter. The balloon requires less heat with the colder air, and less burner time means a quieter ride. Floating quietly above a snow covered countryside is something quite magical.