Are you fascinated by hot air balloons? Who isn’t? Although as a means of transportation, hot air balloons are a bit impractical, they’re so much fun especially when you want to have a tour.
People who simply enjoy the experience of flying between the clouds love to go on a ride on hot air balloons because they’re very slow compared to planes, for example. Moreover, they give you a chance to experience the wind blowing against your face because you literally get to fly between the clouds.
If you love hot air balloons, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll tell you how fast an air balloon can go and we’ll also answer a few questions that you might ask yourself every time you want to go on a hot air balloon ride.
How Fast Does a Hot Air Balloon Travel?
Since no fuel would push the hot air balloon forward, it only travels as fast as the wind. If you want to experience a ride in a hot air balloon, you should check out the speed of the wind to see if it’s too fast.
In most cases, a hot air balloon ride will be so much fun when the wind speed is 5 miles per hour which will allow you to enjoy a cool ride while watching the surroundings. If the wind is too strong, you should never go on a hot air balloon ride because the ride won’t be safe.
Hot air balloons are usually ridden in parks and around tourist attractions. In most cases, professionals won’t fly the hot air balloon if the wind speed exceeds 10 miles per hour.
A suitable speed ensures safe take-off and landing. When the wind is too fast, the ride can be rough and the passenger’s basket might be damaged during landing.
What is a Hot Air Balloon Made Of?
There are three basic components in every hot air balloon; an air envelope, the heating element, and a basket for passengers. The air envelope is filled with air which should be heated to keep the hot air balloon flowing. The basket of passengers is placed under the heating element so people can enjoy a safe and slow ride.
When you’re ready to go on a ride, someone will hold a fan to fill a hot air balloon envelope with air. This air is later heated to help the hot air balloon rise. When the wind is too strong, the envelope won’t be filled with air.
How Do Hot Air Balloons Fly?
Hot air balloons are very simple as they apply a basic scientific fact that allows them to rise. Since warm air is lighter than cold air, hot air balloons have a mechanism that heats the air inside the balloon. As a result, the hot air balloon rises.
One cubic foot of air weighs around 28 grams. When you raise the temperature of air by 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the weight decreases to 7 grams. In order to raise a huge hot air balloon, you’ll need a huge amount of hot air inside so it can lift the whole hot air balloon and its components.
There should be a mechanism that keeps on heating the air inside the balloon so that it stays raised above the surrounding cold air. Every hot air balloon has a burner placed right under the balloon envelope which is filled with air. The pilot of the hot air balloon will use the burner to heat the air inside the balloon if it starts to cool down.
Nowadays, hot air balloons use propane as a fuel because it’s lightweight and won’t affect the weight of the hot air balloon. It’s also extremely efficient to keep the hot air balloon up in the sky.
Liquid propane is compressed in a cylinder and flows from the hose to a heating coil. When the heating coil is ignited, the liquid propane changes into a gas form which produces a strong flame.
How Does a Hot Air Balloon Stay Up?
When the fuel burns, it heats the air in the envelope and decreases its weight. This is why the air stays trapped in the balloon and doesn’t escape from the bottom. The power of buoyancy keeps it rising as long as the pilot keeps on igniting the fuel.
How high the hot air balloon will rise depends on how big the air envelope will be. The buoyant force is equal to the hot air displaced by the hot air envelope.
One of the factors that affect the weight of the hot air balloon and accordingly its ability to stay suspended in the air is the basket of passengers. In most models, the basket is made of wicker because it’s lightweight yet durable enough to withstand the weight of people. At the same time, it doesn’t absorb energy so all the force created by the hot air will allow the hot air balloon to rise.
What is the Best Time to Fly a Hot Air Balloon?
Most rides start in the early morning because the wind is usually calmer. The pilot of the hot air balloon usually checks the weather to see if the conditions are favorable before they start the ride.
Rides are usually slow and relaxing and you can definitely ask the pilot to keep the altitude down as the altitude depends on the temperature of the air inside the hot air envelope. When it’s time to land the hot air balloon, the pilot will gradually decrease the temperature of the hot air. There might be a bump or two when the hot air balloon is trying to land, but in most cases, the adventure will be smooth and calm.
When Should a Flight Be Canceled?
In some conditions, hot air balloons should be canceled for the safety of passengers.
- If the wind is blowing strongly, a hot air balloon ride should be canceled.
- If there’s too much fog that affects visibility, the pilot should cancel the flight.
- If it starts to rain, you should never go on a hot air balloon ride.
Conclusion
Hot air balloons fly at the mercy of the wind. This means that they will go as fast as the wind blows. In perfect weather conditions, nothing would match the beauty of going on a hot air balloon ride.