Hot Air Balloons

The hot air

balloon is the
oldest human-
carrying flight
device.
Hot air balloons
were invented in
France in 1783.
The first
passengers in a
hot air balloon
were a sheep,
duck and rooster.
A hot air balloon
is made of three
main parts…
1. The Basket
2. The Burner
3. The Envelope
The basket is the
bottom part of the
balloon which carries
the passengers, pilot
and propane gas
cylinders.
The basket is
typically made out
of wicker. Baskets
vary in size.
The large balloon
on top is called
the ‘envelope’.
The burner is like the
engine of the hot air
balloon. When lit it
heats the air in the
envelope which makes
the balloon move
upwards into the air.
The burner
creates an open
flame by burning
a mix of liquid
propane and air.
Hot air balloons
work because hot
air rises. By
heating the air
inside the balloon
with the burner,
the balloon floats
upwards. As the
air cools inside
the envelope the
balloon begins to
slowly descend.
Hot air balloons
are used for
business
advertisements
and pleasure
rides.