Hot Air Balloon Flights Orlando Florida Disney Area

Without a doubt the best trip I have

ever been on".

A Horn 2004

"100 times better than I ever thought

it could be".

C Michaels 2005

Words can not describe! I felt safe. I learned a bunch and I had a great time! True Professional!

T. K. Schulz 2003

About the Aircraft.

A hot air balloon is one of the most fantastic aircraft to ride in, as well as to fly.

Limited by the ability to only control up and down. The modern hot air balloon is a highly challenging aircraft to fly.

With today's modern balloons and the pilots who fly them, statistically a hot air balloon is one of the safest forms of flight.

Here is how the aircraft works.

Heating air will cause the molecules to spread apart. When the molecules spread the density of the air becomes less. Heat the air some more and it becomes lighter still. This is what we call "LIFT".

The amount of weight you can LIFT is determined by two things.

1. The amount of air. (more commonly referred to as the Volume)

2. The amount of heat you apply to that air.

Lets look at the second rule first. The limit of heat is determined by the fabric used to make the balloon. You can only heat the fabric to a certain temperature before you cause damage to the fabric. If you want to carry more weight you must have a balloon that holds more air.

This brings us to rule #1. To lift more weight you need a larger balloon. Hot air balloons come in different sizes. The size of the balloon determines the number of people it will carry.

The Fabric part of the balloon is called the Envelope. The Basket is referred to as the Gondola (gone-DOH-la) or (the bottom end). The bottom end includes the burners, basket, flight instruments and the fuel tanks. Everything that goes at the Bottom End of the balloon.

The bottom end is matched in size to the envelope. In other words a 4 passenger balloon will have a smaller gondola and envelope than a balloon that holds 8 passengers. Generally, the size of balloon used is determined by the number of people needed to be flown on that day.

SO FAR,

We have learned the terms Gondola, Bottom End, Envelope, and Volume. Volume in a balloon is determined in Cubic Feet. An average sport balloon is around 65,000 cu.ft. A passenger ride balloon can be anywhere between 90,000cu.ft. to 240,000cu.ft. Yes up to 4 times as big, as the size of a personal sport balloon.

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