Since the balloon travels with the wind, the balloon will only go as fast as the wind is blowing, which varies from ground level to higher altitudes. Generally balloons will not travel much faster than 8-10 mph.
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The majority of hot air balloons do not have built-in seating, nor can they allow portable seats for safety reasons. So you, unfortunately, will not be able to sit down during a hot air balloon ride. But railings are available, and your pilot will cover any of your additional safety concerns.
Hot air balloons must also rise around 1,000 feet above the ground when in the air. Even if you were to break the 3,000 feet legal limit, you run the risk of traveling in dangerous conditions. The higher a hot air balloon rises, the more unpredictable the weather and winds are.
Oxygen Use in Hot Air BallooningWell, the same principle applies to hot air balloons. At around 10,000 feet (about 3,000 meters), the amount of oxygen in the air decreases enough to potentially affect passengers, leading to altitude sickness. Flights above 14,000 feet require that all passengers and pilots use oxygen.
Most balloon flights take place between April and October. You can fly in winter, but the weather is likely to be worse. The best weather for hot air balloon flying is blue skies, light winds, and little or no rain.
Almost all airplanes have higher ceilings than almost all hot air balloons (which are usually limited to a few thousand feet). That being said, the altitude record for hot air balloons is about 21.3km, which far exceeds the ceiling of almost all airplanes.
The risk of injury from a high wind landing.The risk of loss of control due to sudden gusts or wind shear.Sudden loss of visibility due to fog or precipitation.
Propane, the fuel used almost exclusively in hot air ballooning, has the additional advantage of being readily available and quite inexpensive in today's energy-scarce world. Also called liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, it is a by-product of the petroleum-manufacturing process.