| Invented in France in 1783, hot air balloons are the | | | | temperature inside the balloon and outside, |
| oldest successful flight machines made by | | | | meaning that the air does not have to be |
| mankind. They range from very basic balloons to | | | | tremendously hot, just more than the air around |
| their advanced cousins, the airship or zeppelin. | | | | it. Most nylon balloons us a maximum of 120 |
| Ballooning is very different from other forms of | | | | degrees Celsius. |
| flight. The experience is very quiet, gives an | | | | Most flights launch early in the morning when he |
| amazing view, and the movement is very gentle. | | | | air is coolest and the winds are generally low. The |
| The giant balloon itself is called the envelope and | | | | envelope is unpacked and a fan is used to blow |
| come in a variety of spectacular colours and | | | | normal cold air into the envelope and inflate it just |
| designs, as well as unusual shapes. These days | | | | enough to establish the shape, then the burner is |
| they are made from nylon and the base from a | | | | used to heat the air inside while the users hold the |
| fire resistant material. A burner at the base, | | | | balloon down with ropes. Once the wind has been |
| usually gas, provides hot air which rises into the | | | | judged using smaller balloons the pilot can take |
| envelope and provides lift, gently causing the | | | | off, rising or descending into different air currents |
| balloon to rise into the sky. The buoyancy is | | | | to change direction. |
| closely related to the difference between air | | | | |