A Hot Air Balloon is an aerostat in which the lifting force consists of hot air produced by means of a propane burner. Balloons operate through the basic principles of gravity and heat transfer. As air inside the balloon is heated, it rises. This warm air is hotter than the air outside the envelope and it is therefore less dense. This means that the air inside the balloon is lighter that that on the outside. If we have enough of this lighter air generated inside the envelope then the balloon will continue to rise.
The Hot Air Balloon is remarkably simple in its conception and handling. The first hot air balloon was flown in 1783 in Paris using the materials available of the day. It consisted of a large bag to enclose the heat generated from a fire on the ground with a gondola attached to carry the people.
The modern Hot Air Balloon consists of three main parts: Envelope (The large bag), fuel system (burner and fuel tanks) and finally a basket of woven construction to carry the pilot and passengers.
To fill the balloon and prepare it to fly, a portable inflator fan fills it with air, which is then heated using the burner attached to the top of the basket and controlled by the pilot.
