Hot air balloon facts for kids
A hot air balloon is a special kind of aircraft. It flies by heating the air inside a giant fabric bag. Imagine a bubble of air in water: it floats up because it's lighter than the water around it. Hot air works the same way! It's lighter than the cooler air outside the balloon. This difference in weight makes the balloon rise and float. The hotter the air inside, the more the balloon wants to go up, and the more weight it can carry.
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How Hot Air Balloons Fly
Air is made of tiny bits called molecules. When air is cold, these molecules are close together. But when air gets hot, the molecules move faster and spread out. This means that in the same amount of space, hot air has fewer molecules than cold air. So, hot air is lighter!
To make a hot air balloon fly, a powerful burner shoots bursts of fire into the balloon's opening. This fire heats the air inside. The burner usually uses propane gas as fuel. As the air inside gets hot and light, it makes the balloon rise.
The big fabric part of the balloon is called the "envelope." It holds all the hot air. Most envelopes are made from strong, lightweight nylon.
Below the envelope is a basket where passengers and the pilot stand. Ropes connect the basket to the balloon. Baskets are often made of wicker, which is strong and light. They come in many sizes, from small ones for a few people to huge ones that can carry up to 36 passengers! The size of the balloon depends on how much weight it needs to lift.
The History of Hot Air Balloons
Hot air balloons are the oldest way humans have flown successfully! People in Ancient China used hot air to make small paper lanterns float into the sky. These were often used for signals.
The first hot air balloon to carry people was invented by two brothers, the Montgolfier brothers, in France. On September 19, 1783, they showed their invention to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette in Paris. Their first passengers were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster! They flew about 480 meters (about 1,575 feet).
The very first human flight happened soon after, on October 15, 1783. Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier himself was on board. This balloon was tied to the ground with a rope. The first free flight, where the balloon wasn't tied down, happened a few weeks later. On November 21, 1783, Marquis François d'Arlandes and Pilatre de Rozier made history with their untethered flight.
Hot Air Balloon Festivals
A hot air balloon festival is a fun event where many balloon pilots gather to show off and fly their balloons. These events are a type of air show. Pilots often fly in the early morning and late evening, when the weather is usually calm.
At these festivals, people can sometimes pay to take a balloon ride. There are often other fun activities too. A popular part of many festivals is when balloons are lit up at night, glowing against the dark sky. You can also see balloons in all sorts of shapes, not just the usual round ones! Some are shaped like animals, cartoon characters, or other cool designs.
Images for kids
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Hot air balloons shaped like bees
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A hot air balloon shaped like the Abbey of Saint Gall
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A sky lantern
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A model of the Montgolfier brothers' balloon at the London Science Museum
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A hot air balloon flying over Helsinki
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Hot air balloons over Cappadocia at sunrise
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Two small "Hopper balloons"
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The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
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A fan helps inflate a hot air balloon with cold air before the burners are used.
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A hot air balloon safari in Maasai Mara
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Looking up into the balloon's envelope
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A souvenir hot air balloon
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A hot air balloon basket in flight
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A wicker basket that can hold 16 passengers
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A burner shooting a flame into the balloon
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A hot air balloon burner
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Stainless steel fuel tanks for the balloon
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A thermal image showing temperature changes in a hot air balloon
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A Virgin hot air balloon flying over Cambridge
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A solar balloon floating over a field
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The reflection of a balloon in a lake
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A commercial balloon ride coming in for a landing
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The top of a balloon during inflation
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A new Cameron hot air balloon in flight
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An Aerostar International, Inc. RX8 balloon
