November 7, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR GENAH BURDITT IN CO
Hot air balloons do not require any special gases. The heat from the flame causes the air to expand--this is because as air/gas molecules heat up, they have more energy, the bounce and jump around more = they take up more room OR they expand. Because in higher energy air or hot air the molecules are farther apart, the air is also less dense and therefore weighs less than the cooler air on the outside of the balloon, so voila! you rise....Hot air balloons have been around hundreds of years. One of the first was heated by a straw or hay fire. Two brothers rode aboard this first hot air balloon, celebrating by drinking wine. At one point the ballloon began to sink, the brothers realized they needed to get rid of ballast or weight in order to keep from crashing into the English channel-soooo...and this is funny (or gross depending on your perspective) they "relieved" some of the celabratory wine!!
Other gases are lighter and/or less dense than the air we breathe, i.e. Hydrogen and Helium. These gases can also be used to fill balloons. Unfortunately, Hydrogen is extremely volatile when mixed with oxygen and flame, have you ever heard of the Hindenberg disaster?
Anyway, travel by hot air balloon is very safe and controllable when captained by a master, it's a matter of physics!

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November 6, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR JOAN LUSK IN RI
You can get a brief history from http://www.balloonzone.com/history.html.
In addition to hot air, balloons have been filled with helium and
hydrogen. The explosion of hydrogen was responsible for the terrible
disaster of the dirigible (a directable, steerable, rigid,
lighter-than-air ship) Hindenberg in 1937. An account of the
accident is at http://www.clean-air.org/hindenberg.htm. See if you
agree with the author that the danger ascribed to hydrogen is a
'myth'.
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A: FROM MENTOR BRENDA WOLFE IN CO
Hi Sanna,
I am a Chem Eng, and my Administrative Assistant actually flies hot air balloons.
She sends you the following info - She was unfamiliar with the "cluster" ballooning term.

"Hot air ballooning was started in France. They were flying over farmers land and when they needed to land, the farmer was upset, because the balloon scared the animals. So as a peace offering, the balloon pilot offered a bottle of champaign. So at the end of each flight, they top the cork on the champaign. If the cork is caught, that means the next flight will be a safe one.

To heat the balloon, you start with cold air blown in by a fan. As the balloon begins to fill, the pilot starts the propane heater to heat the air. As the hot air enters the balloon, is starts to rise. After the balloon takes off, the hot air is added to make the balloon raise and to lower the balloon, the pilot will pull the (RED CORD), by pulling the top of the balloon out to release the air. To learn about gas ballooning, go to www.gasballooning.org.

The envelope, the balloon, is made of a nylon material. That is one reason why the crew wears gloves. The oils from your hands can slowly cause the nylon of the balloon to deteriorate.

Visit the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon on the internet. That is the largest in the nation. About 800 balloons all fly at one time. It is held the first of October for 9 days.