Hot air balloons are the oldest successful human flight technology, dating back to the Montgolfier brothers' invention in Annonay, France in 1783. The first flight carrying humans was made on November 21, 1783, in Paris by Pilâtre de Rozier and the Marquis d'Arlandes. Hot air balloons that can be propelled through the air rather than just being carried along by the wind are known as airships or, more specifically, thermal airships.

Attractive aspects of ballooning include the exceptional quiet (except when the propane burners are firing), the lack of any perceptible feeling of movement and the birds-eye view. Since the balloon moves with the wind, the passengers feel absolutely no wind, except for brief periods during the flight when the balloon climbs or descends into air currents of different direction or speed.

A hot air balloon consists of a bag called the envelope that is capable of containing hot air. Suspended beneath is the gondola or wicker basket (in certain, long distance or high altitude balloons, a capsule) which carries a source of heat capable of producing a sufficient temperature gradient between the air inside the envelope and the surrounding air mass to give enough lift to keep the balloon and its passengers aloft. Unlike gas balloons, the envelope does not have to be sealed at the bottom since the rising hot air only exerts pressure on the upper hemisphere of the balloon to provide lift. In today's sports balloons the envelope is generally made from nylon fabric and the mouth of the balloon (closest to the burner flame) is made from fire resistant material.

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Hot Air Ballooning in Capadocia, Turkey #redbubble #photo #photography #landscape http://bit.ly/6DH5Mq
zgallery (Peter Zentjens) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:59:35 -0000
Hot Air Ballooning in Capadocia, Turkey #redbubble #photo #photography #landscape http://bit.ly/6DH5Mq
@katrina_23uk I wouldn't have the guts to throw myself out though! I have been hot air ballooning, that was good and one ticked off...
Kazabena (Kazabena) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:23:48 -0000
@katrina_23uk I wouldn't have the guts to throw myself out though! I have been hot air ballooning, that was good and one ticked off...
loves hot air ballooning!
thetalkinghood (Cassandra Meehan) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:08:27 -0000
loves hot air ballooning!
Extraordinary Christmas Gifts:How About a Flight in a WW II Bomber or a Hot ...: Hot Air Ballooning with the We.. http://bit.ly/75PuO6
natashacoo (Natasha Cooke) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:53:07 -0000
Extraordinary Christmas Gifts:How About a Flight in a WW II Bomber or a Hot ...: Hot Air Ballooning with the We.. http://bit.ly/75PuO6
Broccoli trees and bromeliads, 180 feet over the rain forest: Boston Globe It was a little like hot air ballooning ... http://bit.ly/5v3WUS
SpankingFetish (Spanking Fetish ) Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:12:18 -0000
Broccoli trees and bromeliads, 180 feet over the rain forest: Boston Globe It was a little like hot air ballooning ... http://bit.ly/5v3WUS
Believe it or not, I really do want to take up Hot-Air Ballooning as a hobby sport.
TheRealLordChaz (Lord Chaz) Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:11:46 -0000
Believe it or not, I really do want to take up Hot-Air Ballooning as a hobby sport.

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