Ballooning!

I had the joy of logging my first 0.2 hours in a hot
air balloon last weekend over the Jean dry lake (near
Las Vegas). It's interesting how much fun you can have
with just one control -- a little lever which switches on
the burner. Strangely, it wasn't that difficult to control
the vertical velocity - well, when you consider that that
lever actually controls the first derivative with a 3-second
time delay that is.

Here are some things that surprised me.

1) Hot air balloons use about 15 gals of propane/hour,
which isn't vastly different from my 182 burn.

2) Wind shear, in this case at about 500 AGL and again
at 1500AGL was extraordinarily strong even on a calm
day. A full 10 knot blast as we ascended, when the canopy
caught the wind before us humans transitioned into the
zone too.

3) Wake turbulence from ground traffic (a truck in this
case) is noticeable even if you are 100 ft up.


All in all, a fun day. Give it a try if you have a chance!

--
Dr. Tony Cox
Citrus Controls Inc.
e-mail:
http://CitrusControls.com/

Yes! And, although you might invent reasons to fly airplanes (commute,
work, etc), none of these stand up to analysis. There is only one reason
to fly balloons -- it's just plain fun. But expensive, much more than
airplanes.


"Tony Cox" wrote in message
hlink.net...
I had the joy of logging my first 0.2 hours in a hot
air balloon last weekend over the Jean dry lake (near
Las Vegas). It's interesting how much fun you can have
with just one control -- a little lever which switches on
the burner. Strangely, it wasn't that difficult to control
the vertical velocity - well, when you consider that that
lever actually controls the first derivative with a 3-second
time delay that is.

Here are some things that surprised me.

1) Hot air balloons use about 15 gals of propane/hour,
which isn't vastly different from my 182 burn.

2) Wind shear, in this case at about 500 AGL and again
at 1500AGL was extraordinarily strong even on a calm
day. A full 10 knot blast as we ascended, when the canopy
caught the wind before us humans transitioned into the
zone too.

3) Wake turbulence from ground traffic (a truck in this
case) is noticeable even if you are 100 ft up.


All in all, a fun day. Give it a try if you have a chance!

--
Dr. Tony Cox
Citrus Controls Inc.
e-mail:
http://CitrusControls.com/

My reason to fly aeroplanes...it's just plain fun.

Paul

"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
news:WFB8c.5641$gA5.90576@attbi_s03...
Yes! And, although you might invent reasons to fly airplanes (commute,
work, etc), none of these stand up to analysis. There is only one reason
to fly balloons -- it's just plain fun. But expensive, much more than
airplanes.

William W. Plummer wrote:
Yes! And, although you might invent reasons to fly airplanes (commute,
work, etc), none of these stand up to analysis. There is only one reason
to fly balloons -- it's just plain fun. But expensive, much more than
airplanes.

And there's always the pesky problem of filing flight plans.
Destination....Downwind.

Plus I had the opportunity to witness one of those things landing near
my house once. They got pulled through two sets of trees, plonked on
the ground and fell over, after which the basket got dragged for a
further 30 or 40 ft. All part of the magic I guess.

gerrcoin wrote
Plus I had the opportunity to witness one of those things landing near
my house once. They got pulled through two sets of trees, plonked on
the ground and fell over, after which the basket got dragged for a
further 30 or 40 ft. All part of the magic I guess.

I've seen some balloon landings. When I finally got the chance to go
up in one, I took it, of course - but I elected not to stay for the
landing. And that's all I have to say about that.

Michael

Michael wrote:
gerrcoin wrote

Plus I had the opportunity to witness one of those things landing near
my house once. They got pulled through two sets of trees, plonked on
the ground and fell over, after which the basket got dragged for a
further 30 or 40 ft. All part of the magic I guess.


I've seen some balloon landings. When I finally got the chance to go
up in one, I took it, of course - but I elected not to stay for the
landing. And that's all I have to say about that.

Michael

Oh, now I'm intrigued. How did you manage that; parachute, James Bond
style fall stopped by the timely intervention of the millenium dome
(sorry, was watching that last night), Indian rope trick.....

You can't just tease us like that.

gerrcoin wrote
Oh, now I'm intrigued. How did you manage that; parachute

Yes, of course. Safest way to terminate a balloon flight, IMO.

I'm not really joking, either. Those balloon landngs are scary
looking. Not saying I wouldn't do it as a pilot - they also look way
cool, and a balloon rating sounds like fun - but to go along for the
ride as a passenger? Nah. Not for me.

Michael

Yes! And, although you might invent reasons to fly airplanes (commute,
work, etc), none of these stand up to analysis.

Hmmm. I can't say as I would agree with that assessment.

I can justify flying airplanes in many ways, not the least of which is
transportation. The ability (and knowledge that I can do so) to be in
Florida in 6.5 hours is worth a lot to me.

Not to say that ballooning doesn't sound like a great way to spend the day!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:l1n9c.109154$Cb.1326630@attbi_s51...
Yes! And, although you might invent reasons to fly airplanes
(commute,
work, etc), none of these stand up to analysis.

Hmmm. I can't say as I would agree with that assessment.

I can justify flying airplanes in many ways, not the least of which is
transportation. The ability (and knowledge that I can do so) to be in
Florida in 6.5 hours is worth a lot to me.

Not to say that ballooning doesn't sound like a great way to spend the
day!

But ballooning is not quite the thrill as a hop in a Waco YMF-5! :~)

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:l1n9c.109154$Cb.1326630@attbi_s51...

I can justify flying airplanes in many ways, not the least of which is
transportation. The ability (and knowledge that I can do so) to be in
Florida in 6.5 hours is worth a lot to me.
You have a nice (fast) airplane.

Not to say that ballooning doesn't sound like a great way to spend the
day!
Usually we lift off at sunrise and we're back for breakfast around 8:30 AM