Fast Facts
- Hot air balloons can’t be steered. Pilots use wind currents to control the journey.
- Hot air balloons can reach altitudes of 3,000 feet or more!
- Hot air balloons cannot fly well in the rain, so they limit their flights to sunny days.
- The largest hot air balloon festival in the world takes place every October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where hundreds of balloons take to the skies over the 9 day event.
Hot air balloons are big, colorful balloons that float high in the sky! They work by using hot air to lift off the ground. The balloon has three main parts: the envelope (the big fabric balloon), the basket (where people ride), and the burner (which heats the air). When the burner is turned on, it heats the air inside the envelope. Hot air is lighter than cold air, so it rises—and this makes the balloon lift off the ground!
People ride in hot air balloons for fun, and there are even festivals where many balloons take off together, filling the sky with bright colors and shapes. Pilots control the height of the balloon by heating the air to go up or letting it cool to come down. However, they can’t steer like a car—they float with the wind!
Riding in a hot air balloon is peaceful and quiet, offering amazing views from high above the ground.
Sources and additional information:
https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/balloonmuseum/documents/HowaHotAirBalloonWorksandItsMajorParts.pdf
https://www.balloonfiesta.com/about-us/history/hot-air-history/
https://www.napavalleyballoons.com/learn/hot-air-balloon-facts-old-fun-interesting-trivia