Description: A hot air balloon is a large, free-floating, piloted nylon balloon based on
the fact that hotter air rises through colder air. The balloon gains flight
by using propane in attached tanks to light a flame in an attached burner
that subsequently heats the air in the balloon bag which then causes it to
float off the ground. To control the balloon vertically, a larger flame
will cause the balloon to rise higher, while opening a valve called a
parachute valve at the top of the balloon will release hot air out of the
balloon and cool the air in the balloon, causing it to descend. The nylon
skirt at the base of the balloon near the burner is covered in a special
coat of fire-resistant material to keep the balloon from catching on fire.
A hot air balloon generally carries a varried number of passengers
(depending on the size) in a wicker basket tethered to the bottom of the
balloon bag. |
