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View Maps to the Oakland County International Airport
WHAT
SHOULD I WEAR ON THIS FLIGHT?
The air temperature during the flight is about the same as on the ground, so
don’t overdress. Wear casual outdoor attire, like jeans and sneakers,
not your best cloths. Dresses, shorts, sandals or high heels are not recommended.
We suggest waterproof footwear for morning flights since grass can be wet with
dew, and a jacket or sweater for all flights during cooler times of the year.
Back to Top
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO FLY?
Hot air ballooning is a year-round sport. Weather conditions for ballooning
are best just after sunrise and 2-3 hours before sunset. Light, ideal winds
(0-8 mph) often occur during these times. During the day, when the sun is high,
thermals (large bubbles of hot air that rise from the sun-heated earth) make
ballooning more difficult. Back to
Top
WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL
IS THE BALLOON?
The balloon bag or "envelope" is made of reinforced nylon fabric.
It is very light (1.3 ounces per square yard) but very strong (25 pounds per
square inch). The envelope is treated with a polyurethane coating to make it
airtight and to help the fabric withstand the ultraviolet rays of the sun. The
pilot and passengers ride in a gondola (or basket) that is made of woven wicker,
which is both strong and flexible. The gondola is connected to the envelope
by stainless steel suspension cables. Back to Top
HOW DO BALLOONS WORK?
Hot air rises. The envelope traps a large bubble of hot air. If the air in the
envelope is heated by a burner, the balloon will rise. If the air in the envelope
is allowed to cool or if the hot air is "vented" (allowed to escape)
from the top or the side of the envelope, the balloon will descend. An altimeter
(to measure altitude), a rate-of-climb meter, and an envelope temperature gauge
are the only instruments used in the balloon. Amazingly, the pilot can control
the altitude of the balloon within a matter of inches! Back
to Top
HOW ARE BALLOONS INFLATED?
The balloon envelope is spread on the ground and the gondola laid on its side
and attached to the envelope cables. A portable (gasoline powered) fan pushes
cold air into the envelope. When the envelope is about half inflated with outside
(ambient) air, a propane burner is ignited until the air inside is heated enough
for the balloon to rise to an upright position. With a small amount of additional
heat, the balloon becomes buoyant. Typically, the inflation takes about 20 minutes.
Back to Top
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT
TAKE TO FLY A BALLOON?
The sport of ballooning is a wonderful group or family activity. To safely launch
and fly a balloon requires a minimum crew of two people. Duties of the crew
typically include launch preparation, following the balloon flight in the chase
vehicle, obtaining permission of the landowner for the balloon landing and retrieval,
keeping spectators out of the landing area, and insuring that gates are left
as they are found and that property is not damaged. Back
to Top
HOW MUCH DO BALLOON SYSTEMS
WEIGH?
A typical balloon system - envelope, gondola, fuel tanks, and 30 gallons of
fuel - will weigh about 500 pounds, deflated on the ground. In the air, the
complete system, including the weight of the air inside the envelope, will weigh
about 2 ½ tons. Our envelope weighs 267 pounds with 475 approximately
loaded basket weight. Back to Top
WHAT KIND OF FUEL DO BALLOONS
USE?
Common Liquid propane gas (LPG) is used to heat hot air balloons. Some balloons
carry 40 gallons of propane in two 20-gallon stainless steel tanks; others carry
three 10-gallon tanks. Propane is a stable and predictable fuel, but highly
volatile (burns easily). It is carried in liquid form, under pressure in the
tanks, and supplied to the burners through flexible hoses. The burner flame
may shoot out 6 to 8 feet in the blast that the pilot controls. A typical flight
lasting 1 hour, with 3 people aloft, will consume about 20 gallons of propane.
Some balloons have two independent burner and fuel systems for added safety.
Back to Top
WHERE DO BALLOONS LAND?
Since a balloon travels with the wind, it is not possible to determine an exact
landing site prior to launch. However, a pilot is able, through the study of
wind currents, to determine the general direction of the flight. Back
to Top
CAN ANYONE PILOT A BALLOON?
Balloon pilots must have an aircraft pilot's license especially for balloons.
This license is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is earned
after taking hours of instruction with a balloon pilot instructor, passing an
FAA written test, making a solo flight, and passing a flight test with an FAA
examiner. Back to Top
HOW DO PILOTS STEER THEM?
Generally speaking, they don't. A balloon drifts in the same direction and at
the same speed as the wind. The skill is for the pilot to pick the altitude
that has the most desired wind direction. Surface winds sometimes blow in a
very different direction from the winds aloft. Altitude control is achieved
with the on-board burner. Longer "burns" will achieve lift. Shorter
"burns", or none at all will allow the air to cool, and the balloon
to descend. Back to Top
HOW FAST DO BALLOONS GO?
As fast as the wind blows. But if the wind is over 8 miles per hour at ground
level, balloons are not normally going to be inflated because of the increased
possibility of burning the fabric and because landing would likely be rough
and require a large field. Back to Top
HOW HIGH DO BALLOONS GO?
Flights in hot air balloons have been recorded at over 50,000 feet. However,
the sport of ballooning is most enjoyable when flying 200 to 500 feet - just
above the treetops. When balloons fly over populated areas, they maintain an
altitude of at least 1,000 feet. Back to Top
HOW LONG CAN BALLOONS STAY
UP?
Most balloons can fly for about 1 hour depending on the outside temperature
and the weight carried. On a cold day with only the pilot flying, a 2-3 hour
flight would be possible. Back to Top
HOW MUCH DOES A BALLOON COST?
The average balloon costs from $35,000 to over $55,000. This price includes
the envelope, gondola, fuel tanks, and instruments, but does not include any
ground support equipment. Back to Top
HOW DO YOU GET HOME AGAIN?
After the balloon is launched, the "chase crew" follows in a chase
vehicle. Using maps of the area and radios, as well as visual contact, they
try to be close by when the balloon lands. The crew helps the pilot deflate
and disassemble the balloon and return passengers and equipment back home.
Back to Top
FROM WHERE
DO YOU LAUNCH?
We will first meet at the Oakland County International
Airport. Our adventure will begin when we give you a ride to one of our
selected launch sites approximently 10 miles to the west. This area is less
populated providing many landing sites, nature, wildlife and lakes to view.
We can also launch from many peoples private homes providing the winds and launch
site are suitable. Back to Top
WILL I HAVE TO SIGN A HOLD HARMLESS/LIABILITY WAVIER? Yes, click on this: RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Our insurance company requires that "ALL" of our passengers sign this waiver. This waiver is provided for our passengers to help them better understand the risks involved. We are told that all hot air balloon companies are required to provide waivers to their customers.Back to Top
View Maps to the Oakland County International
Airport
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