Did you know why hot air balloons only fly at sunrise and sunset?? This is mostly because of wind but temperature plays a role too!
WINDS – The midday sun creates thermal winds that can make flying unpredictable and dangerous. In the early morning and late evening, the sun isn’t heating the ground as intensely. That means there is less atmospheric turbulence and light, more predictable winds. Surface winds that are even 5-7mph are considered borderline risky. Pilots that fly in these winds have to closely assess winds gusts, direction, and local terrain as takeoff and landing could be tricky.
WHY STRONG WINDS ARE A NO-GO
Hot air balloons won’t launch if surface
winds exceed 10 mph. Why? Because the balloon fabric acts like a massive sail in windy conditions. During inflation, the wind can cause the balloon to whip and thrash, making it extremely difficult-and dangerous to control.
TEMPERATURE – Hot air balloons rise because hot air is less dense than cold air, creating lift. This amount of lift depends on the temperature difference between the air inside the balloon and the air outside. Generally, the inside air of a balloon needs to be about 100-120 degrees hotter than the outside air in order to generate enough lift. In hotter temperatures, heating the air inside the balloon too much risks damaging the envelope (balloon fabric).
When is the best time to fly?
Hot air ballooning is a year-round sport. Weather conditions for ballooning are best just after sunrise and 2-3 hours before sunset. Light, ideal winds (4-6 mph) often occur during these times. During the day, when the sun is high, thermals (large
bubbles of hot air that rise from the sun- heated earth) make ballooning hazardous.
Where does the balloon land?
The balloon lands on the ground. Since the balloon travels with the wind, it is difficult to predict the exact landing site prior to the launch. However, a pilot is able to determine the general flight direction and landing area by studying the winds.
How do you get the balloon back?
Your chase crew driving a van or pickup truck helps get the balloon back. This chase crew follows the flight of the balloon (as well as the existing roads allow) and should be on hand to make the recovery when the balloon touches down.