| Probably one of the earliest of human wishes | | | | |
| and the subject of endless endeavor is | | | | A flying balloon is operated by partially |
| flight. More than the attendant romance to | | | | inflating the envelope with cold air and then |
| this possibility, it is the idea of utter | | | | using propane burners to inflate the balloon |
| freedom that makes flying so alluring and men | | | | through the opening or mouth. The heat |
| have not slowed down in their quest to | | | | source produces enough heat to create a |
| discover and use technology to make this | | | | difference in temperature between the air |
| dream come true. And he has, to some degree, | | | | inside the balloon and the air surrounding |
| successfully used his skill and knowledge by | | | | it. When the air temperature inside the |
| inventing the hot air balloon. | | | | balloon is higher than the ambient air, it |
| | | | becomes lighter and rises, carrying its |
| How these balloons rose to fame | | | | gondola and passengers with it. |
| | | | |
| What we have today in terms of modern balloon | | | | The altitude a balloon can reach depends on |
| technology we owe to the Josef and Etienne | | | | the difference between the temperature inside |
| Montgolfier of Annonay, France who flew the | | | | the envelope and the surrounding air. |
| first successful hot air balloon in 1783, | | | | Theoretically, the higher the temperature |
| with animals onboard as passengers. As paper | | | | difference (with the inside envelope |
| manufacturers, the brothers had initially | | | | temperature higher than the ambient air), the |
| noticed that ash rose with the flames when | | | | higher the balloon will go. However, |
| they burned paper. When animals survived the | | | | increase in temperature can cause faster |
| flight, it was decided that humans can safely | | | | degradation of nylon so internal temperature |
| go onboard. | | | | is limited to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| | | | |
| King Louis XVI, also known as Marie | | | | Why hot air balloons are so popular |
| Antoniette's husband, declared that only | | | | |
| condemned criminals should be allowed to man | | | | Modern use of flying balloons is primarily |
| balloon flights. Two very brave men, Marquis | | | | recreational, although they are also used for |
| Francois d'Arlandes and Pilatre de Rozier, a | | | | other purposes, for example, as methods of |
| physicist, successfully lobbied to be allowed | | | | transportation for scientific studies |
| to participate in the first flight. Their | | | | involving tree canopies and animal life at |
| balloons were made of cloth with hot air | | | | higher altitudes. |
| supplied by a grill. | | | | |
| | | | Hot air balloons have continued to attract |
| The military connection | | | | new enthusiasts because they are relatively |
| | | | simple to operate and are provide an |
| The earliest recorded use of hot air balloons | | | | exhilarating experience coupled with |
| were those employed during the Shu era by | | | | spectacular views. They are also relatively |
| Chinese General Zhuge Liang, a distinguished | | | | smooth and quiet, aside from the sound of |
| administrator and strategist. His unmanned | | | | occasional bursts from propane burners. |
| balloons, called Kongming lanterns, were used | | | | |
| by the military as a means to exchange | | | | Sport balloon highs |
| signals with their comrades. | | | | |
| | | | The highest altitude ever achieved on a |
| Manned use for military purposes was done by | | | | balloon was made by Vijaypat Singhania of |
| the French during the Revolutionary wars when | | | | Bombay, India, reaching 69,852 feet on |
| they used a hydrogen balloon to spy on the | | | | November 26, 2005. He broke the previous |
| Austrian army in 1794. Balloons were also | | | | record set by Per Lindstrand by 4,872 feet. |
| used by the Confederate army during the | | | | |
| American civil war, although they were | | | | The farthest flight ever completed on a hot |
| unsuccessful and incompetent enough to be | | | | air balloon was made by the Virgin Pacific |
| captured by the Union. | | | | Flyer when Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson |
| | | | of U.K. flew to Northern Canada from Japan. |
| How balloons rise | | | | They covered 7,671.91 km. on January 15, |
| | | | 1991. |
| Today's balloons are almost similar to the | | | | |
| ones flown during the early years, except | | | | The longest flight duration was clocked at 50 |
| that modern balloons use more durable and | | | | hours and 38 minutes. Two Japanese, Hirosuke |
| safer materials. Basically, a hot air | | | | Tekezawa and Michio Kanda completed this |
| balloon consists of the gondola, which | | | | flight on January 2, 1997. |
| carries the passengers and holds the heat | | | | |
| source and the balloon or envelope which | | | | The largest balloon ever built was measured |
| keeps the warm air contained. The cloth used | | | | at 2,600,000 cubic feet and was used during |
| for the balloon is usually made from nylon | | | | the Virgin Pacific Flyer record-setting |
| and the mouth closest to the flame is made | | | | flight. The manned flight also recorded the |
| from fire-resistant fabric. | | | | highest ground speed at 394 km per hour. |