Balloon (aircraft) facts for kids
A balloon is a special type of aircraft that floats in the sky. It uses a force called buoyancy to stay up, just like a boat floats on water. Most people fly in balloons for fun and amazing views!
Balloons are different from airships. An airship has an engine and can steer itself. A balloon, however, has no engine. It cannot change its direction. Instead, a balloon simply drifts along with the wind. It can only go up or down.
The main parts of a balloon are the "basket" and the "envelope." The basket is at the bottom. This is where people stand or sit during the flight. The envelope is the huge cloth bag at the top. This is the part that fills with air or gas to make the balloon float.
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Types of Balloons That Fly
There are three main kinds of balloons that people use to fly:
Hot Air Balloons
Hot air balloons are the most common type. They stay in the sky by heating the air inside their large envelope. When air gets hot, it spreads out and becomes lighter than the cooler air outside. This lighter, hot air makes the balloon float. Sometimes, people use the term "hot air balloon" for any type of balloon aircraft. But this isn't quite right, as there are other kinds too!
Gas Balloons
Gas balloons do not use hot air. Instead, their envelopes are filled with a special gas that is naturally lighter than air. Common gases used include helium and hydrogen. These gases are very light, which helps the balloon float high in the sky.
Rozière Balloons
Rozière balloons are a mix of both hot air and gas balloons. They have two parts to their envelope. One part holds hot air, like a hot air balloon. The other part holds a lighter-than-air gas, like a gas balloon. This special design allows Rozière balloons to fly for very long distances. Some Rozière balloons have even flown all the way around the world without stopping!
Images for kids
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A hot air balloon in flight
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In 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones achieved the first non-stop balloon circumnavigation in Breitling Orbiter 3.
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Hot air balloons, San Diego
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Gas balloons at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
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A modern Kongming Lantern
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Bartolomeu de Gusmão's prototype airship Passarola devised 1709.
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A model of the Montgolfier brothers balloon at the London Science Museum
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Henri Giffard's tethered passenger balloon prior to an ascent from Tuilerie Garden in 1878.
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Close-up view of an American major in the basket of an observation balloon flying over territory near front lines during World War I.
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A special-shape hot air balloon – Chubb fire extinguisher
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Lana's aeronautic machine
See also
In Spanish: Globo aerostático para niños
