Master Mag Templet - Frank's International, Inc.

aeronautical researchers, began to create
cutting-edge balloons, redefining burner
development, fuel supply, materials, and
flight characteristics. In 1963, designers
introduced the hot-air balloon basket
and, over the years, have continued to
modify the balloons, adding new materials,
safety features, and creative shapes.
In the Present Day
Today, balloon tours are a multimilliondollar
business, and balloon races and
events are held all over the world.
Tourist destinations from Napa, California,
to the south of France offer visitors
the chance to explore the sights
aboard a hot-air balloon. Some even provide
luxurious champagne brunches on
board. Balloon experts estimate there are
more than 3,500 hot-air balloons and
4,000 licensed pilots in the United States.
The price tag for a hot-air balloon rivals
that of a car or boat. Sport-sized balloons
range in price from $18,000 to $25,000.
Since their inception, hot-air balloons
have offered intrigue to adventurers
seeking record-breaking launches and
long-distance records. The helium-filled
Double Eagle II, piloted by American
businessmen Ben L. Abruzzo, Maxie L.
Anderson, and Larry Newman, made the
first successful transatlantic balloon
flight in August 1978. The balloon took
off from Presque Isle, Maine, on August
11 and landed in Miserey, France, on
August 17, setting a distance record of
5,000 km (3,000 mi) and an endurance
record of 137 hours 6 minutes.
With the conquest of the Atlantic, the
next major challenge for balloon adventurers
was to attempt to circumnavigate
the globe.
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In March 1999, Swiss psychiatrist
Bertrand Piccard, grandson of famed
balloonist and physicist Auguste
Piccard, and British pilot Brian Jones
became the first persons to complete
this journey. Flying in the Breitling
Orbiter 3, a Cameron Roziere balloon,
their trip lasted 19 days, 21 hours. The
balloon was launched from Switzerland
and landed in Egypt.
And in July 2002, American investment
executive Steve Fossett became the first
person to circle the world on a nonstop
solo flight, using a Cameron Roziere
balloon. His journey in the Spirit of
Freedom lasted 14 days, 20 hours,
traveling 33,972 km (21,109 mi) from
Kalgoorlie, Australia, to Queensland
in northeastern Australia.
Despite competition from jets, helicopters,
and other modern aircraft, hot-air
balloons remain a popular form of air
travel for those who desire a bird’s-eye
view of the world. ■
Hot-Air Balloon Q&A
Q: Who steers the hot-air balloon?
A: Balloons float with the wind. The pilot can control the balloon’s altitude to
catch a wind going in the desired direction, but the balloon cannot fly upwind
or crosswind. Pilots construct a flight plan before take-off to pinpoint the
direction the balloon will be traveling and to ensure that there are appropriate
landing sites.
Q: How do you return to your starting point after the balloon
has landed?
A: A chase crew follows the balloon on the ground in a car or truck. The crew is
in contact with the pilot, so they can plan to be close to the site where the
balloon lands.
Q: How long does it take to inflate and deflate the balloons?
A: A crew can typically inflate and launch a balloon in approximately 15 minutes
and deflate and pack up the balloon in the same amount of time after a flight
is completed.
Q: How big are hot-air balloons?
A: The typical sport balloons range in size from 65,000 to 105,000 cubic feet in
volume and stand about 70 feet tall.
Q: When is the best time to fly a balloon?
A: Most balloon rides depart early in the morning, right after sunrise, and late in
the day, right before sunset. This is when the wind is the calmest.
Q: How high do balloons fly?
A: Most balloons fly between 500 and 1,000 feet above the ground.
The world record for altitude in a hot-air balloon is 64,997 feet.