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