The Technology of Hot Air Balloons | Balloons Above the Valley - Hot Air Balloon California

Lighter-than-air flight has been around for centuries. Hot air balloons and dirigibles like the famous Goodyear Blimp rely on the basic principle that if an object weighs less than an equal volume of outside air, it will rise.

The same is true for objects in the water. If an object is denser or weighs more per cubic inch that an equal amount of water, it sinks.

We have always heard that heated air rises. Hot air balloons are simply large bags of air molecules which, when heated, become less dense. At a certain temperature, the heated air expands and becomes lighter, thereby causing the balloon to rise.

Managing the temperature of the air within the hot air balloon California is the principal job of an experienced pilot. The pilot can gently bring the hot air balloon back to Earth by releasing heated air, thereby lowering the internal temperature of the balloon.

However, the total weight a balloon can lift depends on the volume of hot air it contains. Since passengers, basket, and burners cannot themselves be inflated, the balloon must be large enough to accommodate a sufficient amount of heated air to offset the load weight. This is the reason a hot air balloon California tends to be massive.

Operating a Hot Air Balloon

The balloon is called an “envelope.” Two openings in the envelope control the volume of hot air inside. The bottom opening or “throat” admits the hot air from the propane-fueled burner to create lift. The top opening, the parachute vent, is controlled by the pilot and allows hot air to escape causing the hot air balloon California entity to descend.

While managing the altitude seems relatively simple, steering requires experience and understanding of wind currents. In Napa Valley, where hot air balloon California rides are popular, experienced pilots at Balloons Above the Valley have been providing safe and enjoyable flights for decades. Each flight, their experienced pilots assess prevailing wind currents and conditions and professionally manage them for a safe and consistent flight day after day.

To learn more about hot air balloon California rides, check out the Balloons Above the Valley site, where you learn more about hot air balloons and making a reservation for a fun and memorable experience.

If you have questions about a hot air balloon California ride in Napa Valley, phone Balloons Above the Valley at 1-800-464-6824.