Many years before their record-setting Kitty Hawk event made the Wright brothers famous, human beings had actually flown. Europeans were launching livestock aloft in large balloons as early as 1783, and people followed them into the French skies shortly thereafter. While rigid-winged airplanes would prove to be the future of flying, reserving a space on a couples hot air balloon ride Colorado style is still a popular choice.
Early models used an open flame to heat the air, and had little or no steering. The ships tended to travel wherever the wind was blowing, and sometimes ended up in trees. Gas soon provided a more reliable source of lift, and dirigibles could be steered. Despite the romance of floating gently above the countryside, the public lost interest in ballooning.
During the 1960s, the United States Navy funded research intended to find a better way to economically move small loads short distances using airships. Although there were no earth-shattering solutions, old hot-air flight concepts were updated and modernized, bringing ballooning into the modern era. Power sources became safer and easier to regulate, and certain design problems were eliminated.
Although this research soon ended, it did capture the attention of enthusiasts. In an era when faster seemed better, there was still a magical aura surrounding this form of travel, and entrepreneurs quickly envisioned a future that included recreational balloon rides. New safety features have erased many former concerns, and people today are taking to the skies in growing numbers.
Hot-air festivals are commonplace, and often showcase brightly colored and whimsically shaped aircraft. In principle, however, these ships are still quite similar to those flown by 18th century Europeans. Air is still heated by a flame, and when captured inside a balloon, floats upward. Progress up or down is controlled by the size of the flame, and there still is no actual steering wheel.
Passengers ride in a suspended wicker basket called a gondola. These light containers can hold up to twenty passengers, depending on how large the inflatable structure containing the hot air is. To save extra weight there is usually no seating, and most riders stand for the best view. Like hang gliders, balloons drift with air currents providing direction and lift, and simply turn down the flame to land.
In this raucous, noisy age of jet engines and helicopters, there is a uniquely calming feeling about noiseless flying. Passengers are not strapped inside a metal tube high above the ground, but can actually feel the air temperature, and even hear passing birds. From this height, details can be seen that are invisible from ground level. Not only is hot-air travel exciting, but it can also be personally gratifying.
The plains and foothills near the Rocky Mountains in the central United States have become one of the most popular areas for ballooning. The climate and wind patterns make the warmer months perfect for vacationers who want to include this unique activity in their plans. Commercial operators are required to employ experienced, licensed pilots, making floating together on the wind both safe and enjoyable.
Early models used an open flame to heat the air, and had little or no steering. The ships tended to travel wherever the wind was blowing, and sometimes ended up in trees. Gas soon provided a more reliable source of lift, and dirigibles could be steered. Despite the romance of floating gently above the countryside, the public lost interest in ballooning.
During the 1960s, the United States Navy funded research intended to find a better way to economically move small loads short distances using airships. Although there were no earth-shattering solutions, old hot-air flight concepts were updated and modernized, bringing ballooning into the modern era. Power sources became safer and easier to regulate, and certain design problems were eliminated.
Although this research soon ended, it did capture the attention of enthusiasts. In an era when faster seemed better, there was still a magical aura surrounding this form of travel, and entrepreneurs quickly envisioned a future that included recreational balloon rides. New safety features have erased many former concerns, and people today are taking to the skies in growing numbers.
Hot-air festivals are commonplace, and often showcase brightly colored and whimsically shaped aircraft. In principle, however, these ships are still quite similar to those flown by 18th century Europeans. Air is still heated by a flame, and when captured inside a balloon, floats upward. Progress up or down is controlled by the size of the flame, and there still is no actual steering wheel.
Passengers ride in a suspended wicker basket called a gondola. These light containers can hold up to twenty passengers, depending on how large the inflatable structure containing the hot air is. To save extra weight there is usually no seating, and most riders stand for the best view. Like hang gliders, balloons drift with air currents providing direction and lift, and simply turn down the flame to land.
In this raucous, noisy age of jet engines and helicopters, there is a uniquely calming feeling about noiseless flying. Passengers are not strapped inside a metal tube high above the ground, but can actually feel the air temperature, and even hear passing birds. From this height, details can be seen that are invisible from ground level. Not only is hot-air travel exciting, but it can also be personally gratifying.
The plains and foothills near the Rocky Mountains in the central United States have become one of the most popular areas for ballooning. The climate and wind patterns make the warmer months perfect for vacationers who want to include this unique activity in their plans. Commercial operators are required to employ experienced, licensed pilots, making floating together on the wind both safe and enjoyable.
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