Ballooning FAQ's
1. Where are your tours?
We offer tours in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Temecula Wine
Country, Perris Valley, Los Angeles and San Diego.
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2. What kind of cloth is the balloon made of?
The colorful envelope is usually made of nylon or polyester, the same type of cloth that
parachutes are made of. It is very tightly woven and is coated with a material that makes it
very air tight. The nylon is only used to keep the hot air in the balloon. The basket load is
transferred by steel or Kevlar cables to a series of vertical load tapes which carry the load.
Balloons range in size from about 54,000 cubic feet for a one- or two-person balloon to
over 250,000 cubic feet for a balloon capable of carrying a pilot plus eight or ten
passengers.
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3. Why is the basket made of wicker?
The wicker basket has proven to be very strong for its weight and is flexible. The wicker is
sometimes woven around a steel or aluminum frame, which helps to support the upright
posts upon which the burner is mounted. The top rim of the basket and the uprights are
usually padded and covered in suede or leather.
<BACK TO TOP
4. How is the hot air balloon inflated?
When the time comes to put the balloon up, the envelope is removed from the bag and
laid out in a long line. The burners are attached to the uprights, and the basket is attached
to the cables on the bottom of the envelope. An engine driven fan is used to inflate the
envelope with cold air. When partially inflated, the air is heated by a burner and the
envelope rises above the basket. With further heating, there is sufficient 'lift' for the balloon
to fly.
<BACK TO TOP
5. What kind of fuel is used for the burners?
To heat the air, the burners are fueled by propane gas, much the same as you probably
use in your backyard barbecue grill. The burners do not run continuously; they are only
used intermittently to heat the air to maintain the required lift.
<BACK TO TOP
6. How tall are balloons?
Depending on the weight capacity, hot air balloons may be as tall as 100 feet.
<BACK TO TOP
7. What should I wear?
You should wear whatever you feel comfortable in. There is really no need to dress up.
You should wear the type of clothing that you would expect to wear if you be going for a
walk the day of the flight. A light jacket is sometimes comfortable in the fall or early spring.
Women should wear pants or shorts, and layered clothing is much better than a heavy
coat. Shoes should have flat soles, and the majority of top clothing should be made of
cotton rather than man made fibers. Tall passengers may find a hat useful because of the
radiant heat from the burners.
<BACK TO TOP
8. Can I take a camera?
Yes, there is no problem in taking either a still or video camera with you during the flight. A
hot air balloon makes a perfect camera platform and there is always plenty to photograph
prior to, during and after the flight. We do recommend, however, that you have a suitable
soft case with you in which to slow the camera during the landing phase of the flight.
<BACK TO TOP
9. How long does it all take?
From start to finish, your adventure will last about 3 hours. The inflation and preparation of
the balloon normally takes about 30 minutes. The flight itself normally takes around one
hour. After the flight, the ceremonies take about 30 minutes. The balloons always carry
sufficient fuel for at least 2 hours flight time plus a 30 minute reserve capacity.
<BACK TO TOP
10. Where will we land?
Good question! The simple answer is that nobody knows, exactly! The pilot will have done
flight planning before the launch to ensure that the forecast wind direction does not take
the balloon towards an unsuitable area. S/he will use the different air currents at different
altitudes to steer the balloon toward a good landing place. The pilot also closely follows
agreements with local landowners. This means that the hot air balloon won't fly too close
to livestock or land in areas planted with valuable crops.
<BACK TO TOP
11. How far will we fly
It varies by wind condition. Hot air balloons travel with the wind and an hour flight can carry
it up to 15 miles, sometimes more, sometimes less. The balloon also flies at different
altitudes. Although the balloon is at the mercy of the wind when it comes to direction, the
vertical control of a balloon can be very precise. It is not unusual for our pilots to be able to
brush the bottom of the basket across the tops of brush, or inches from the ground.
<BACK TO TOP
12. How does the chase crew know where we are?
Radios are used to stay in contact with the chase crew as well as with Air Traffic Control
and other aircraft flying in the vicinity.
<BACK TO TOP
13. How high do balloons fly?
Most balloonists enjoy low level flight. The typical hot air balloon flight would be anywhere
from tree level to about 3,000 feet above the ground.
<BACK TO TOP
14. What if I'm afraid of heights?
Flying in a high sided balloon basket is not like standing on a roof or a high ladder. You
don't get that vertigo feeling. It is more like the ground is unfolding beneath you, and,
because you are moving with the wind, there is no wind blowing. The basket does not
rock or sway so you can't possibly fall out.
<BACK TO TOP
15. I sometimes get airsick in airplanes. Is a hot air balloon the same?
No. The turbulence which usually causes motion sickness is completely absent in a
balloon ride. The flight of a balloon is almost too smooth to describe.
<BACK TO TOP
16. How do we get back to the launch field or the hotel?
The balloon is followed by a chase vehicle and the crew. They are in constant contact with
the balloon pilot by radio and should be at the landing site at the same time as the
balloon. Once the balloon is packed away (and the ceremonies are complete) the chase
vehicle will take you back.
<BACK TO TOP
17. How are balloon pilots licensed?
Balloons are registered like any other aircraft and are subject to regular airworthiness
checks. The FAA will not allow a balloon to be certified as airworthy unless these
inspections and checks are done by authorized maintenance personnel and certified by
them. All pilots are licensed by the FAA and have to pass regular flight checks.
<BACK TO TOP
18. Who controls ballooning and ensures safety standards?
The Federal Aviation Administration controls ballooning with the same strict regulations
that apply to airplanes.
<BACK TO TOP
- Where are your hot air balloon tours located?
- What kind of cloth is the hot air balloon made of?
- Why is the basket made of wicker?
- How is the hot air balloon inflated?
- What kind of fuel is used for the burners?
- How tall are hot air balloons?
- What should I wear hot air ballooning?
- Can I take a camera while hot air ballooning?
- How long does it all take?
- Where will we land?
- How far will we fly?
- How does the chase crew know where we are?
- How high do hot air balloons fly?
- What if I'm afraid of heights?
- Do people get airsick on a hot air balloon?
- How do we get back to the launch field or the hotel?
- How are hot air balloon pilots licensed?
- Who controls hot air ballooning adventures and ensures safety standards?
1. Where are your tours?
We offer tours in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Temecula Wine
Country, Perris Valley, Los Angeles and San Diego.
<BACK TO TOP
2. What kind of cloth is the balloon made of?
The colorful envelope is usually made of nylon or polyester, the same type of cloth that
parachutes are made of. It is very tightly woven and is coated with a material that makes it
very air tight. The nylon is only used to keep the hot air in the balloon. The basket load is
transferred by steel or Kevlar cables to a series of vertical load tapes which carry the load.
Balloons range in size from about 54,000 cubic feet for a one- or two-person balloon to
over 250,000 cubic feet for a balloon capable of carrying a pilot plus eight or ten
passengers.
<BACK TO TOP
3. Why is the basket made of wicker?
The wicker basket has proven to be very strong for its weight and is flexible. The wicker is
sometimes woven around a steel or aluminum frame, which helps to support the upright
posts upon which the burner is mounted. The top rim of the basket and the uprights are
usually padded and covered in suede or leather.
<BACK TO TOP
4. How is the hot air balloon inflated?
When the time comes to put the balloon up, the envelope is removed from the bag and
laid out in a long line. The burners are attached to the uprights, and the basket is attached
to the cables on the bottom of the envelope. An engine driven fan is used to inflate the
envelope with cold air. When partially inflated, the air is heated by a burner and the
envelope rises above the basket. With further heating, there is sufficient 'lift' for the balloon
to fly.
<BACK TO TOP
5. What kind of fuel is used for the burners?
To heat the air, the burners are fueled by propane gas, much the same as you probably
use in your backyard barbecue grill. The burners do not run continuously; they are only
used intermittently to heat the air to maintain the required lift.
<BACK TO TOP
6. How tall are balloons?
Depending on the weight capacity, hot air balloons may be as tall as 100 feet.
<BACK TO TOP
7. What should I wear?
You should wear whatever you feel comfortable in. There is really no need to dress up.
You should wear the type of clothing that you would expect to wear if you be going for a
walk the day of the flight. A light jacket is sometimes comfortable in the fall or early spring.
Women should wear pants or shorts, and layered clothing is much better than a heavy
coat. Shoes should have flat soles, and the majority of top clothing should be made of
cotton rather than man made fibers. Tall passengers may find a hat useful because of the
radiant heat from the burners.
<BACK TO TOP
8. Can I take a camera?
Yes, there is no problem in taking either a still or video camera with you during the flight. A
hot air balloon makes a perfect camera platform and there is always plenty to photograph
prior to, during and after the flight. We do recommend, however, that you have a suitable
soft case with you in which to slow the camera during the landing phase of the flight.
<BACK TO TOP
9. How long does it all take?
From start to finish, your adventure will last about 3 hours. The inflation and preparation of
the balloon normally takes about 30 minutes. The flight itself normally takes around one
hour. After the flight, the ceremonies take about 30 minutes. The balloons always carry
sufficient fuel for at least 2 hours flight time plus a 30 minute reserve capacity.
<BACK TO TOP
10. Where will we land?
Good question! The simple answer is that nobody knows, exactly! The pilot will have done
flight planning before the launch to ensure that the forecast wind direction does not take
the balloon towards an unsuitable area. S/he will use the different air currents at different
altitudes to steer the balloon toward a good landing place. The pilot also closely follows
agreements with local landowners. This means that the hot air balloon won't fly too close
to livestock or land in areas planted with valuable crops.
<BACK TO TOP
11. How far will we fly
It varies by wind condition. Hot air balloons travel with the wind and an hour flight can carry
it up to 15 miles, sometimes more, sometimes less. The balloon also flies at different
altitudes. Although the balloon is at the mercy of the wind when it comes to direction, the
vertical control of a balloon can be very precise. It is not unusual for our pilots to be able to
brush the bottom of the basket across the tops of brush, or inches from the ground.
<BACK TO TOP
12. How does the chase crew know where we are?
Radios are used to stay in contact with the chase crew as well as with Air Traffic Control
and other aircraft flying in the vicinity.
<BACK TO TOP
13. How high do balloons fly?
Most balloonists enjoy low level flight. The typical hot air balloon flight would be anywhere
from tree level to about 3,000 feet above the ground.
<BACK TO TOP
14. What if I'm afraid of heights?
Flying in a high sided balloon basket is not like standing on a roof or a high ladder. You
don't get that vertigo feeling. It is more like the ground is unfolding beneath you, and,
because you are moving with the wind, there is no wind blowing. The basket does not
rock or sway so you can't possibly fall out.
<BACK TO TOP
15. I sometimes get airsick in airplanes. Is a hot air balloon the same?
No. The turbulence which usually causes motion sickness is completely absent in a
balloon ride. The flight of a balloon is almost too smooth to describe.
<BACK TO TOP
16. How do we get back to the launch field or the hotel?
The balloon is followed by a chase vehicle and the crew. They are in constant contact with
the balloon pilot by radio and should be at the landing site at the same time as the
balloon. Once the balloon is packed away (and the ceremonies are complete) the chase
vehicle will take you back.
<BACK TO TOP
17. How are balloon pilots licensed?
Balloons are registered like any other aircraft and are subject to regular airworthiness
checks. The FAA will not allow a balloon to be certified as airworthy unless these
inspections and checks are done by authorized maintenance personnel and certified by
them. All pilots are licensed by the FAA and have to pass regular flight checks.
<BACK TO TOP
18. Who controls ballooning and ensures safety standards?
The Federal Aviation Administration controls ballooning with the same strict regulations
that apply to airplanes.
<BACK TO TOP
| SoCal Hot Air Balloon Tours P.O. Box 893148 Temecula, CA 92589 1-888-623-RIDE tbw4u@verizon.net |
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