Here
is some information to better inform you about ballooning and
also to help prepare you for a balloon flight with us. |
| What
time do we meet?
- We
meet around sunrise for morning flights and a little less than three
hours before sunset for evening flights. Therefore, times do vary
throughout the year. |
| Why do
balloons fly shortly after sunrise and a few hours before sunset? -
The sun heats the ground, causing pockets of hot
air to rise from the surface called thermals. As the pockets of
hot air rise, cold air rushes in to take its place. This uneven
heating creates wind. The higher the angle of the sun the greater
the thermal activity. So the best time to fly is close to sunrise
or sunset when the winds are lite and the atmosphere is more stabile. |
| How high
do you fly? - How
high we fly depends on weather conditions and wind direction. Generally
between 500 and 3,000 feet. |
| How do
you steer a balloon? - There
are different wind directions at different altitudes. To steer a
Hot Air Balloon you need to go up or down in altitude until you
find the wind direction you want. |
| How does
the chase crew know where the balloon is going?
- The
chase crew is experienced and knowledgeable with our flying area,
and stays in constant contact with the pilot by radio. |
| I sometimes get airsick
in airplanes. Is a balloon the same? - No. The
turbulence that usually causes motion sickness is completely absent
in a balloon ride. The flight of a balloon is almost
too smooth to describe. |
| Is it windy in the balloon?
- No. Since
the balloon moves with the wind, you won't feel a breeze at all. |
|
