What is the fuel in a hot air balloon?

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.



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If a hot air balloon runs out of gas, it'll slowly begin descending. That's because the balloon only generates lift through burning fuel to heat the air in the envelope. The lack of regular heating leads the air inside the balloon to gradually cool, reducing altitude in the process.

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HOW HIGH DO BALLOONS FLY? The highest hot air balloon flight on record went to an altitude of 22,000 ft. However, the typical romantic or pleasure flight would fly from treetop level to a few thousand feet, depending on the wind speed and direction.

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Thus, small holes won't significantly affect the balloon's performance. However, large holes and leaks can lead to sudden falls. Luckily, your hot air balloon pilot is able to treat this hole using the blast valve to allow more hot air to circulate.

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Steve Fossett's world record stands at - Northam, Western Australia to Queensland, Australia. 13 days 12 hours 5 minutes (14 days 19 hours 50 minutes to landing), 20,482.26 statute miles (32,963 kilometres).

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Most modern hot air balloons don't carry parachutes due to their high safety standards. Qualified pilots must run a series of safety checks before every flight. Part of those checks is inspecting the condition of the balloon, burners, and basket.

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Heat can cause the helium to expand and the balloon to burst. Latex balloons are also sensitive to light, and balloons of any kind are weakened by dirt and dust. Therefore, the best place to store a helium balloon is a cool, dark room absent of wind and dust.

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You should not have recently undergone any surgeries. You should not fly if you have back or leg problems. You cannot fly if you have a cast on. You cannot fly if you are on oxygen.

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Globally, there are approximately 3,000 hot air balloon accidents per year. In the United States, there are approximately 20 accidents per year.

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