For Good Hot Air Balloon Colorado Offers A Recommendable Destination

By Virginia Stewart


Many people have different ideas of how to spend their vacations. There is a significant number of people who prefer to go for fishing and spending the entire vacation near a water body. Some prefer travelling. There is also a number of people who prefer spending their vacation in the air. One of the ways to spend a vacation moving is the air is to go for hot air balloons. When in need of Hot Air Balloon Colorado should be visited.

Hot air balloons are a kind of aircraft that operates on the principle that hot air rises above cold air, creating a buoyant effect. The aircraft is composed of an envelope that contains heated air. Under this envelope, a basket or a carriage is attached. This carriage provides a platform for people to sit on while the aircraft goes up.

The air in the envelope gets less dense in comparison to the density of the air around it when its temperature is increased. This effect exerts force on the envelope causing it to rise. The generated amount of lift is dependent on temperature variation between air inside the envelope and that of the surrounding. Normally, the temperature of the air in the envelope is restricted to about 120 degrees Celsius.

Most of the envelopes are made of nylon with a melting point that exceeds that of the maximum internal temperature. The nylon degrades faster if the internal temperature is increased beyond the maximum. When internal temperature is maintained at a constant 120 degrees Celsius, it takes approximately 400 to 500 hours of flying before there is need to replace the fabric making the envelope. Usually, the life of the fabric is extended by operating the balloon at a low temperature.

Balloons are usually flown by qualified pilots. That is one of the first safety measures taken to ensure that the crew remains safe at all times. Several other safety measures have been put in place to ensure the safety while onboard these aircraft. In the basket, the pilot usually has access to a backup source of ignition. This may be a flint spark lighter. Some balloons are designed with backup fuel tanks and burner systems too.

During flight, the balloon should always be equipped with a fire extinguisher. There are standards set by a country to determine the type of fire extinguisher used. One of the safety measures taken is to ensure there is a drop line in the balloon. The drop line used should have a length ranging from 20 to 30 meters. This is usually fastened to the basket and a quick release connection is made at one end.

Regular maintenance is also mandatory to keep balloons in airworthy condition. Cleaning and drying of the entire aircraft must be done to keep it clean. Such simple tasks can be done by the pilot or some other inexperienced individuals. However, sewing and other vital repair tasks must be done by qualified repair technicians. All repairs must also be reflected in the maintenance log book of the aircraft.

Part of maintenance should involve keeping the fabric clean and dry. This helps to keep mold and mildew from developing. Clean and dry fabrics also do not undergo abrasions easily during unpacking, packing, and transportation because of making contact with foreign particles.




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