How the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloons Work

from the World Renowned RE/MAX Balloon Fleet in Texas.

AIR LIFTS THE BALLOON

If you need to get to school, the RE/MAX hot air balloon is not the vehicle that can get you there. You cant really steer it, and it only travels as fast and in the same direction as the wind. But if you simply want to enjoy ying there is nothing quite like it. As a matter of fact, the hot air balloon was the rst vehicle that took man to the skies.

rise. e problem is that the air can only rise Air works the same way, but it can only so far because it hits the top of the balloon. As lift something that is lighter then the the air is heated more and more it pushes up from the award-winning air surrounding it, such as hotter air. team at HowStuffWorks balloon with greater force on the top of the Molecules, in the air that are heated until it lifts the balloonwith it. If you need to get somewhere, a Fluids are buoyant because graviAir works the same e reason the RE/MAX hot air balloons lloon hotmove more quickly and takepulls more downward, making air balloon is an impractical ty up matter way, but it can only t air ba vehicle. You can't really steer it, the fluid denser lift because takes Because a ho th room which allows for fewer moleculesat the bottom. large is somethingitthat 90,000 cubic e wind, y are so and it only travels as fast as the moves with n't feel an is lighter than the do in the same if you Since This are fewer wind blows. But space. simply there density dif ferencefeet (90,000 basketballs) of hot air to gers the The ride passen lift all. air in the atmospushes breeze at want to enjoy flying, there's nothphere such as relatively light objects up through gly safe s surprisin . balloon hotter air. Molecules fe lift is ing molecules in this space the air becomes quite like it. a fluid. For example, if you put a and passengers. When theel and serene HOW IT WORKS less dense, or lighter. is basketball at the bottom of produced the air inside the balloon will heated air being a in hotter air move more Hot air balloons depend on the quickly (with greater enerpool, the pressure from that e RE/MAX hot air balloon ies on the will continue buoyancy. denser water be about gy) than molecules in cooler basic principle of to rise until it cools to pushes the basket- 125 degrees F hotter then the air Buoyancy occurs in a fluid (air, ball to the top of basic principle of buoyancy. With the become the same temperature asdenseairthe exer tswhere air,the hot means a smaller numthe water pool, less ber which air molecules can exsurrounding of balloon. water, grape juice) when the fluid the less has greater density (contains pressure. This works with anyRE/MAX hot air balloon is larger of assistance of gravity, buoyancy occurs in a surrounding it. e ob- er t as much pressure as a made more matter per unit of volume) number of cooler air molecules. ject lighter than the amount of uid (and believe it or not, air isHow Hot For example: when a top. burning you see the a super strong lightweight exer ts enough uid) where at the bottom than at the re is water it displaces. Air Balloons Work As a result, hot air nylon material from pressure a the uid with a greater density (heavier) willthe award-winning team at HowStuffWorks re rise into the sky called an envelope.to inflatebut large bale air inside of the smoke (dirty air) from the loon envelope, it weighs significantly the burner which is less than the cooler sink to the bottom while uid to get somewhere, a Fluids are buoyant because gravi- Airoff. the same balloon Parachute Valve is heated by until it cools and levels works If you need that is less air around it. The buoyant force with balloon Cord Kevlar hot air balloon is an impractical ty pulls matter downward, making way, but it can only a hot air nd, dense (lighter) will risevehicle. Youtop. really steer it, the fluid denser at the bottom. to the can't fueled by propane that comes from stainless lift something that Because isnt super strong to lift 1,000 th the wi any and it only travels as fast as the moves wi is lighter than the ABOUT THE BALLOON don't feel e pounds (a basket and a few passsengers wind blows. But if you simply The ridsteel propane tanks found in the wicker For example: if you put awant to enjoy flying, the bottom This density dif ference through air in thesuch as pabreeze at all.ingly safe basketball at there's noth- relatively light objects up pushes phere atmossengers), you need to heat surpris ing quite like it. hotter air. Molecules a fluid. For example, if you puthow the RE/MAX feels and serene. basket where the pilot and of air by 100 ride. a is exactly 65,000 cubic feet passengers of a pool, the pressure from that denser (heavier) basketball atisthe bottom of a in hotter air move more hot air degrees F. Thats why hot air balHot air balloons depend balloon can y. As gy) air inside the water would push the basketball to the top on the pool, the pressure thebasket- thethan molecules ener- balloon of the denser water pushes from that quickly (with greater in cooler loons are so big. basic principle of buoyancy. PILOTING THE BALLOON Buoyancy occurs (air, to pool where the less dense watergrape juice)in a pressure. ball lessheatedthe exer tswhere air, which meansand begins to exerts less fluid fluid the is the top of it pool, less ber of dense a smaller numwater, when the dense water becomes less hot air molecules can exModern hot air balloons use has greater density (contains er t as much pressure as a larger pressure. This works with any obEven though the control of the balloon is more matter per unit of volume) burning propane to heat air innumber of cooler air molecules. ject lighter than the amount of at the bottom than at the top. As a result, hot air exer ts enough water it displaces. pressure to inflate a large balsomewhat side a nylon envelope. be dicult simple, it can be often Liquid propane is stored in lightweight loon envelope, but it weighs cylinders and released next to a significantly Parachute Valve less than the cooler Parachute Valve to master. To lift the balloon the pilot turns it. The buoyant force with ed es The heated air molecules Kevlar Cord air around with Kevlar Cord pilot light just under the enveisnt super strong to lift 1,000 on the burner whichballoons useaalarge ame bal inside the balloon move lope. Most produces wicker pounds (a basket and a few pashe faster than the cooler sengers), you need to heat basket forinside the passenger comwhich heats the air becausethe balloon. In 65,000 cubic feet of air by 100 ide molecules outside. As a par tment, wicker is flexidegrees F. Thats why hot air balex result, the hot air exerts ble a decent the pilot will pull order to beginenough to absorb some enerloons are so big. enough pressure to fill the gy from the landing impact. Modern hot air balloons use by balloon envelope, thereby on a cord that opens the parachute valve in burning propane to heat air increating enough buoyancy to The basic balloon controls are inside a nylon envelope. Liquid the top of the balloon allowing the hot air to lift the balloon. propane is stored in lightweight credibly simple, but difficult to cylinders and released next to a master. To lift theof the balloon and escape cooling the inside balloon, the piThe heated air molecules pilot light just under the envelot opens the propane valve, ininside the balloon move lope. Most balloons use a wicker allowing it creasing the flame (and therefore to sink. faster than the cooler basket for the passenger commolecules outside. As a par tment, because wicker is flexiheat). To lower speed vary at result, the hot air exerts e wind direction andthe balloon, the ble enough to absorb some enerenough pressure to fill the pilot pulls a cord to open the pargy from the landing impact. balloon envelope, thereby dierent altitudes so thethe top of the enachute valve at pilots use these creating enough buoyancy to The basic balloon controls are invelope. air escapes through lift the balloon. credibly simple, but difficult to dierent altitudesHot steer the balloon. ese the opento valve, cooling the inner master. To lift the balloon, the pilot opens the propane valve, inwinds onlyair, and thelimited sinks. so it is provide balloon steerage creasing the flame (and therefore heat). To lower the balloon, the very important blows in different directions Wind for the pilot to do a thorough pilot pulls a cord to open the parachute valve at the top of the enat different altitudes, pre ight planning before each soight. pilots velope. Hot air escapes through can maneuver horizontally by risthe open valve, cooling the inner ing or sinking. balloonsthe most a But even requires air, and the balloon sinks. Each of the RE/MAX Propane experienced pilot doesn't have Wind blows Envelope in different directions profes-sionally trained ground crewbalcomplete control over the that Tank at different altitudes, so pilots loon's flight path. Unlike ight an can maneuver horizontally by risfollows theairplane, hot air balloonflying so they balloon during the piloting ing or sinking. But Propaneexperienced pilot even the most Burner Propane doesn't have is pilot and retrieve the balloon Envelope can assist the largely improvised. Some complete control over the balTank members of a hot air balloon loon's flight Unlike Propane Valvepath. balloonflying an upon landing. stay on the ground, followairplane, hot air piloting Propane Burner crew

How Hot Air Balloons Work

Propane Valve LIQUID PROPANE BURNER

To lift the balloon, the pilot moves a control that opens up the propane valve. As the flow of gas increases, the flame grows in size, thereby heating the air inside the envelope.

To lift the balloon, the pilot passengers and equipment the balloon lands. moves a control that opens up the propane valve. As the flow of gas increases, the flame grows in size, thereby heating the air inside the envelope.

crew stay on the ground, followLIQUID PROPANE BURNER collect the ing by car so they can when

is largely improvised. Some members of a hot air balloon

ing by car so they can collect the passengers and equipment when the balloon Steve Lombardi lands.

Aviation Director

All text and images 2003 HowStuffWorks Inc. All rights reser ved. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate.

RE/MAX Southwest 14905 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, Texas 77478 (832) 321-9017 OFFICE (281) 455-4223 CELL (281) 579-2485 FAX
w w w . f l y w i t h st e v e . c o m

Propane Burner

All text and images 2003 HowStuffWorks Inc. All rights reser ved. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate.
For release of 08/01/2003

Propane Valve Envelope

LIQUID PROPANE BURNER
To lift the balloon, the pilot moves a control that opens up the propane valve. As the flow of gas increases, the flame grows in size, thereby heating the air inside the envelope.

For release of 08/01/2003

Propane Tank

For more information about the RE/MAX hot air balloon and how they work you can visit remax-texas.com.

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