Hot Air Balloon

flight · buoyancy · adventure

Heat makes it float. Hot air balloons work because hot air is lighter than cold air. When you heat the air inside the huge fabric envelope, it becomes less dense and pushes the whole balloon upward, carrying the basket and passengers with it.

Wicker basket below. Hanging underneath the balloon envelope is a gondola, usually a wicker basket, that holds the passengers and a propane burner. The pilot uses the burner to heat the air inside whenever they need to go higher.

Modern fabric design. Today's hot air balloons are made from nylon fabric that's tough and safe, with special fire-resistant material called Nomex at the bottom where the heat comes in. This keeps the balloon flying safely for many hours.

Creative balloon shapes. While traditional round balloons are most common, modern balloons come in wild shapes like rocket ships, animals, and even giant soda bottles! But the classic shape still works best for most flights.

Open bottom design. Interestingly, hot air balloons don't need to be sealed at the bottom because the air pressure inside matches the air pressure outside. This simple design has stayed mostly the same for hundreds of years.