Hot Air Balloons and Hot Air Balloon Festivals

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Alberto Santos-Dumont once remarked of Hot Air Balloons that when flying in one ' The balloon seems to stand still in the air while the earth flies past underneath.' Those who have experienced the adventure of riding in a hot air balloon believe that there is no other experience on earth that is simultaneously as tranquil and as thrilling.

The first hot air balloon took to the skies of France in 1783. These days, hot air balloons are a far cry from the cloth and paper manure fuelled balloon created by the Mongolfier brothers all those years ago. Today, hot air balloons come in all shapes and sizes from run of the mill conical versions to miniature one man vessels to giant cartoon character balloons that seem to be almost lifelike as they glide across the sky.

Passenger balloons vary in size depending on the number of passengers they are designed to carry. Single passenger balloons are designed for solo flights, whilst most commercial hot air balloons can carry up to 20 passengers. The balloon will be flown by a trained balloon pilot who will control the altitude of the balloon throughout the balloon ride.

While the altitude of balloons may be easily controlled under the right conditions, maintaining a flight path is somewhat more of a challenge. This is due to the fact that hot air balloons travel in the direction of air currents. Therefore, in order to control the path of flight, a pilot will need to ascend and descend so as to ride the different air currents present at various altitudes. It is this very factor makes the Albuquerque Balloon Festival in New Mexico so incredibly unique. Under the right conditions, balloon pilots can ride the wind currents so as to land on the exact spot from which they took off.

Albuquerque aside however, a typical hot air balloon ride will more often than not be a completely unplanned journey with the ground crew following the balloon in a vehicle so as to catch up with it wherever it may land. This impromptu manner of flying usually amplifies the excitement of the whole hot air ballooning experience due to the fact that one is never quite certain where the balloon is going to touch down.

Currently, the majority of hot air balloons are based in the USA. The continent also leads the race in terms of Balloon Ride Operators, with balloon rides being offered in almost every state on the continent from Alabama to Wisconsin. Festivals such as Albuquerque and Great Falls attract individuals from all over the world as they flock to be a part of the spectacular mass launches. The rest of the world is however also fast catching up, with balloon rides being launched from Taiwan to Turkey.

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Hot Air Balloons and Hot Air Balloon Festivals

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