SPRING - with the rebirth of all things, the fresh scent of flowers and newly mown grass & hay is a glorious time to fly. It’s a great time to lift your spirits making winter just a distant memory.

SUMMER - a time of warm lazy days. Time for outdoor activities and ballooning is number one.

FALL - with the beautiful colors of the season and the crisp cool air - what an excellent time to take to the air for sightseeing and photography. You should schedule flights early because most baloonists are completely booked for the limited display of autumn colors.

WINTER - very few people think of flying this time of year, but on a crystal clear day with cold temperatures you can see forever & fly just about as long. It is always fun viewing the snowy fields and the snow & icicles on the trees - it is really a terrific time to fly.

HOW DO YOU STEER A BALLOON? The balloon goes wherever the wind takes it. However, pilots can seek higher or lower altitudes to find wind currents of various directions. We refer to ballooning as the truest form of sailing.

WHO CAN FLY A BALLOON? The Federal Aviation Administration issues a balloon pilot certificate (license) to candidates who pass a FAA written exam, obtain a prescribed number of hours in a balloon, make a solo flight & pass a flight test.

WHAT ARE THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR FLIGHT? A balloon flies better in cooler weather since the hot air gets better lift. The safest time to fly a balloon is at sunrise or just shortly before sunset. Light winds less than 10 knots are preferred.

HOW LARGE ARE HOT AIR BALLOONS? Most balloons are bigger than your house. They usually have 60,000 to 300,000 cubic feet of air and usually (when inflated) stand about 50 to over 100 feet tall.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO INFLATE A BALLOON? Depending on the size of the balloon, one person is able to perform this function, however larger balloons usually need a crew of 2-4 persons.

HOW SAFE IS BALLOONING? Hot air ballooning is considered one of the safest forms of flying. Major risks usually involve power lines, treetops, and hard landings. Our crew has been trained in first aid and CPR plus they have many hours of experience to make your flight a safe one.

IS IT COLD IN A BALLOON? As you ascend, it is only about 3.5 degrees cooler per 1000 feet. A typical flight does not reach great heights to notice a difference.

WHAT KIND OF FABRICS ARE USED? Rip-Stop nylon, dacron polyester or taffeta are most commonly used.

HOW DOES A HOT AIR BALLOON DIFFER FROM A GAS BALLOON? A hot air balloon gets its lift from heating the air with propane fuel. A gas balloon gets its lift from lighter than air gases, usually helium or hydrogen.

WHAT ARE BASKETS MADE OF? Because weight is critical in balloon flying, baskets are made of light materials. Wicker is traditional.

DO BALLOONS WEAR OUT? Yes, but well taken care of they can last 300-500 hours before any fabric needs to be replaced.

WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO BALLOONS USE? An altimeter to indicate altitude, a variometer that show the rate of climb or descent and a temperature gauge (pyrometer) to show how hot the air is at the top of the balloon. Also each propane tank has a fuel gauge.

If you want to read more about HOW A HOT AIR BALLOON WORKS, Visit www.howstuffworks.com and in the search field type How Hot Air Balloons Work. There is some interesting reading at that website.

THINK ABOUT THIS...Hot air ballooning, mans oldest and safest form of flight has been around since the time of Mozart, that is over 220 years. Ben Franklin was present at the first hot air balloon launch that was in 1783 in Paris, France.

IF YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF OUR CREW AND HELPING INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO HOT AIR BALLOONING, PLEASE E-MAIL alora@starsandheights.com or call 317-431-7311.