Hot air balloons are a fascinating mode of transportation with a long and interesting history. They were first used in the eighteenth century and have since been continually developed and improved. Today, it’s even possible to dine in a hot air balloon!
Most people know that a hot air balloon floats and uses a burner to ascend. However, the history, workings, and details of ballooning are less known compared to other modes of transportation, such as airplanes and trains. Understandably so, as hot air ballooning is not exactly an everyday experience. In fact, you could easily call a balloon flight a magical experience that is still shrouded in mystery for many. While the magic remains, some of the mystery is unveiled: Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about ballooning.
1 – The first passengers in a hot air balloon weren’t humans, but…
Three much smaller passengers manned the first hot air balloon that was launched in France in 1783. A sheep, a rooster, and a duck were placed in a round wicker basket attached to a balloon by a rope. Amid astonishment and applause, the balloon left the ground and rose 600 meters into the sky. Damaged by a tear in the balloon’s fabric, it slowly descended eight minutes later after traveling 3.5 kilometers and landed in a forest. Against all expectations, the animals were still alive. The sheep, rooster, and duck were hailed as ‘heroes of the air’ and were rewarded with a place in Louis XVI’s Menagerie in Versailles (source).
2 – After a hot air balloon flight, you become the baron(ess) of the land where you land
French King Louis XVI witnessed the first balloon flight and was particularly fascinated. He even decided that flying in a hot air balloon was so brave that you would become the baron(ess) of the piece of land where you landed. Although this is no longer possible today, you can still become the baron(ess) of your own piece of land. During a small ceremony after the balloon flight, a piece of grass from the landing site is placed on your head and then sprinkled with a bit of champagne. From that moment on, you are the baron(ess) of that piece of land.
3 – Boarding isn’t always done standing up; sometimes it’s done lying down
It might sound a bit strange since you usually think of boarding as something you do while standing. However, sometimes you may be asked to crawl into the balloon while it’s still lying on its side. Before the hot air balloon ascends, both the basket and the balloon are laid on their sides. Some passengers may choose, or be instructed by the balloon pilot, to crawl into the basket at this point. However, most passengers board when the basket is upright. The basket doesn’t have a door but provides enough grip to easily climb in.
4 – The balloon doesn’t just fly high; it is also tall: as tall as a building!
Often, you see a hot air balloon as a dot in the sky, which might make the balloon seem smaller than it actually is. But anyone who has seen a balloon take off knows better. Depending on the type, the balloon itself is between 16 and 48 meters tall. This means the balloon is as tall as a 10-story building! (source)
5 – The driver of a hot air balloon is not called a pilot
A pilot is the driver of an airplane. The driver of a hot air balloon is called a balloonist. And becoming a balloonist is not easy. To become a balloonist, you need a license. This license can be obtained after passing several theoretical exams in subjects such as navigation and meteorology, as well as a practical exam. The practical exam comes after at least 12 training flights totaling a minimum of 16 hours and a solo flight of half an hour. There are also exams for radio and telephone communication and an English language test to ensure proper communication with air traffic control.
6 – A hot air balloon can land anywhere
Legally, a hot air balloon can land anywhere because in aviation law, hot air balloons are exempt from the requirement to land at an airport. There is a code of conduct for ballooning, which states what the balloonist should consider during landing. For example, it states that the balloonist should always look for a plot of land that appears to have the fewest restrictions from the air, with safety for people, animals, and property being the primary consideration. Often, the balloonist also knows which landowners are sensitive to landings and which ones don’t mind. He will take this into account when landing (source).
7 – A hot air balloon cannot take off near the sea
When you think about it, you’ve probably never seen a hot air balloon floating above the beach. This is because a hot air balloon is not allowed to take off near the sea. The reason is simple: a safe landing is not possible over the sea. Over land, it is possible for a balloonist to choose a safe landing site, which is why an inland take-off site must be chosen.
8 – A hot air balloon does not fly; it sails
A hot air balloon does not fly like an airplane but sails like a boat. This might sound odd, but it’s not. A hot air balloon doesn’t require propulsion but ascends by making its weight lighter with hot air than the colder surrounding air and then ‘sails’ further on the cooler air. Just like a boat that floats and continues to sail because it is lighter than the surrounding water. An airplane uses air currents and pressure differences to fly, which is a completely different principle than that of a hot air balloon.
9 – A hot air balloon is by definition uncontrollable
A pilot in a cockpit, a train conductor, and a ship’s captain: all have a steering wheel or control stick to determine the direction of the vehicle. A hot air balloon does not have this. The balloonist must rely on the wind and the burner. By using the burner, the air in the balloon can be heated, causing the balloon to rise, and the wind then determines the direction. And that’s what makes a balloon flight so exciting; it’s impossible to know in advance exactly where the wind will take you.
10 – Ballooning is the most weather-dependent outdoor activity
No other outdoor activity is as weather-dependent as a balloon flight. It must be calm, clear weather, but a clear blue sky is not necessarily a guarantee for a flight. The wind speed must not exceed force 3 on the Beaufort scale because otherwise, the force on the balloon would be too great. It also mustn’t rain. Although the balloon could still fly in light rain, it wouldn’t be pleasant for the passengers. The water runs along the balloon into the basket, and visibility is limited. And visibility is important not only for the passengers but also for the balloonist. Low-hanging clouds or fog can also be a reason not to depart, as clear visibility must be at least 8 kilometers horizontally and 500 meters vertically. Only on the day of the flight can it be determined whether the balloon can safely take off. Due to the many conditions that must be met, it often happens that a balloon flight has to be postponed until the conditions improve. The dependence on weather and wind is an integral part of the thrill and excitement that comes with ballooning.