Balloon nowadays. How to fly a balloon. What is the best time to fly a ball

Air flights - what could be more romantic? But this is not only romance. Hot air balloon   (the price of the flight in most cases remains quite acceptable, although for some it may seem “sky-high” - this type of vacation is elite in the whole world) can become quite a profitable business   for its Russian owner. However, there are many nuances - from choosing equipment to ensuring complete safety of flights. It is about the organization of flights, the technical characteristics of the aerostat, and other important points that we will speak today.

From the history of aeronautics

But before talking about modernity,   plunge a little into history, briefly reviewing the main events of air navigation.

The first in the history of aeronautics were the Montgolfier brothers

Since ancient times, man strove into the sky, he was interested in everything related to the flight of birds. Numerous experiments conducted over the centuries have led to the fact that finally the first human flight took place. But before that, the launch of the first, filled with hot air, flying flashlight took place. This happened in Ancient China in 180-234, although some ancient Chinese sources refer a similar event to the III century BC.

The first people to fly to the sky in a balloon were the French - the Montgolfier brothers. The event took place in September 1783. The brothers had a good education, owned a paper mill, and therefore could afford such an expensive pleasure as a balloon ride. The event was preceded by a long work, but it was worth it! As a result, the first Montgolfier balloon weighed more than 200kg, and its height was equal to a three-story building. But the flight, in general, went fine, though there were some injuries - one of the brothers broke his arm.

A year after Montgolfier (1784), J. Tyler repeated an attempt to develop airspace. A simple pharmacist built a ball, which had a more modest size, but the effectiveness of this was not lost. The City of Edinburgh was raised to a height of just over 100m and covered a distance of almost 1000m.

In 1785 Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries became the first balloonists to cross the English Channel. The flight was very risky both in terms of flight range, and for the reason that balloonists could not swim. Nevertheless, everything ended normally.

In 1824 Michael Faraday invented balls inflated by air. Despite the fact that then these balls were used as “vessels” for storing gas, we can confidently say that Faraday made his contribution to the development of aeronautics.

Further, ballooning developed very rapidly, but we would like to mention one more record. The record belongs to Brown Jones and Bertrand Picard.. At the end of the last century (1999), they made a round-the-clock non-stop flight in a balloon and rightfully forever entered the history of aeronautics.

Technical Specifications of Hot Air Balloon

Balloon is a specially equipped aircraft designed for lift / flight. The TA shell is filled with hot air, which has a lower density than cold air. And, according to the laws of physics, the ball rises. The thermal installation, which is an integral part of the ball design, allows you to adjust the temperature of the air in the shell, which leads to a change in flight height. The main distinguishing feature of the shell is that it is practically weightless. When the ball is full, it still has a mass less than the air outside. The weight of the head equipment is approximately 500 kg.

The package of a modern balloon necessarily includes:

• shell;
• basket (gondola);
• thermal installation (burner).

The main parameters of the most popular types of TA are shown in the table below:

On that how many passengers can be in the ball basket affects a number of parameters:

• the volume of the ball itself (shell);
• passenger weight;
• fuel on board;
• weather conditions.

The business line developing in Russia - the organization of balloon flights - according to experts has good prospects

Usually, balloons used in Russia are ready to lift no more than 8 people. Gondolas for 2-6 passengers are also in demand.

The world record among the balls used today - 35-seat TAwhich is equipped with a two-story gondola.

Where to buy a balloon for flights with a basket

Before you buy a flying balloon with a basket you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the equipment and what quality the components should have. Suppose the shell of a modern balloon is made of the strongest material (polyester / polyamide). The best fabric for balloons is made in the United States and Great Britain, excellent material differs from Germany and South Africa. The cheapest material is offered by South Korea.

You can buy a ready-made ball of decent quality in Russia.   It will take 1-2 months to manufacture, however, it may take longer because the material is delivered from the manufacturer.

In general, the acquisition of a balloon should be planned in advance, since in any case it will take time. You can offer these options:

1. Ordering a complete set from abroad   - Delivery takes 2 months;
2. Separately order baskets, equipment and casings. At the same time, you can order 2 shells at once, since wear of even the highest quality version will occur approximately after 300 hours of operation, then the shell will need repair. It is during the repair of the first that you can perfectly use the second shell, which means that you protect yourself from downtime. Delivery in this option will take 2-3 months.
3. Buying a pre-owned balloon. In this case, you do not have to wait a few months, but you need to be prepared for additional cash investments that will be required to repair the structure.

When ordering a ball you need:

• clearly define the type of TA - it is characterized by the volume of the ball and, therefore, determines its carrying capacity;
• fabric and sheath design;
• quantity and type of gas equipment (minimum number of cylinders - 2);
• basket material (willow / rattan);
• indicate the type of burner (single or two-phase) - is installed on a balloon;
• a set of aerobatic equipment (cost 10-100 thousand rubles).

Upon receipt of the ball, you will receive a solid set of documentation, for example, certificate of state registration. Besides:

1. Temporary and permanent certificate of airworthiness.
2. Aircraft Certificate (in copy).
3. Copies of the manufacturer’s licenses, confirming his right to develop and manufacture balloons.

All copies of documents must be provided in a certified form.

Flight safety

In order for the Touch the Sky balloon to deliver only positive emotions, all people in the basket (passengers + crew) must strictly observe safety rules. For example, the maximum capacity of a gondola is seven to eight passengers. Being in the gondola even one extra passenger is a serious violation, and it is strictly punished.

Compliance with safety regulations, both on the part of the aerostat crew and on the part of passengers, guarantee a successful flight

Equipment must be in good condition, and the crew must have the appropriate certificates and qualificationsallowing you to fly an aircraft. In this case, the crew knows exactly how to control the balloon during the flight ,   which means that the altitude of the balloon will be correctly selected (no more than 4 km) and other technical parameters for safe travel will be observed.

The aircraft must be equipped accordingly.   - variometer to control the speed of rise / fall and flight, altimeter, GPS-equipment that determines the exact location. In addition, a radio station operating in the aeronautical range is needed, which provides communication with law enforcement agencies and a station that provides communication with the escort machine, it arrives at the intended landing site of the TA.

Another important condition for a successful flight is good weather conditions.. It is important to note that, mainly, flights take place only in the morning or evening hours (regardless of the time of year), since sharp gusts of wind are practically excluded at this time. The maximum duration of flights on the ball is 3 hours.

And, of course, passengers are required to accurately comply with the pilot's orders. Sharp movements, jumps, overweighting overboard are prohibited. And even more, it is forbidden to shatter the basket. It is strictly forbidden to smoke in flight, since gas equipment is installed in the immediate vicinity. There are no direct prohibitions on alcohol on board, but moderation is recommended.

Popular Ballooning Clubs

If we talk about the capital, then in Moscow there are several flying clubs that have an excellent reputation and are in good demand with customers. We list some of them:

1. Balloonists   - Altufevskoe sh., 48, bldg. 1, Moscow, BC A48, et. 9.
2. Aeronautics club   - Ryabinovaya St., 15, p. 5.
3. Aeronaut   - Dmitrovskoe sh., 167, p. 29.
4. Aeronautics Club of Zhukovsky   - st. Chaplygina, 15, p. 5.

Other clubs work in the capital, but for such a megalopolis as Moscow there are not so many proposals in this area. By going to the site of each of them, you can see the reviews of those who have already set off on a balloon ride. Also a lot of information can be found on the Internet. But we can say that people's opinions about flights remain positive.

In other cities, there will be balloon organizers, but for sure, and there you will not see much competition.

Balloon Flight Price

The income is completely dependent on the weather. You will not organize flights in bad weather. But it is safe to say that in large cities, investments pay off in a maximum of 6-8 months.   After that, you can make a profit.

Practice shows that the payback period of a business is no more than 6 months

For instance, the cost of a flight in Moscow starts from 12,000 rubles, for an extreme trip they charge from 20,000 rubles.   Making at least 2 flights a day - in the morning and evening hours - 3 hours each, you will need to work hard, but the profit will be obvious. As a rule, less than 30,000 rubles are not taken from a company of 6 passengers for such a flight. Apparently the profit is good. The most successful entrepreneurs turn out to earn more than 250,000 rubles a month.

If to speak about tethered flights, they are more popular due to their low price. So, for a fifteen-minute flight a person is asked for a thousand rubles, and in the gondola, as we said earlier, there can be up to 8 passengers.

If there is a lack of orders, then many use the balloon as an advertising object. And it is worth it, I must say, very decently, especially in large cities.

In general, experts agree on one thing: organizing flights on a balloon is a profitable business and has excellent prospects. This is especially true for resort regions and large cities.

Conclusion

We said at the beginning of the article that the organization of flights on a hot air balloon is a business area that is under development. In the field of entertainment services, this niche is free - there is practically no competition even in large cities. And if you want to try yourself as the owner of a club, organizing balloon flights, feel strong in yourself and are ready to invest a decent amount in business, then you can go for it!

Aircraft interacting with the atmosphere fall into two broad categories: lighter than air and heavier than air. At the heart of this division are different principles of flight. In the first case, to create the lifting force, they use the law of Archimedes, that is, they use the aerostatic principle. For devices that are heavier than air, the lifting force arises due to aerodynamic interaction with the atmosphere. We will consider the first category - aircraft are lighter than air.

Floating in the air ocean

A device that uses Archimedean - buoyant - force to lift it is called a balloon. This is an aircraft equipped with a shell filled with hot air or gas, which has a lower density than the surrounding atmosphere.

The difference in the density of the gas inside and outside the shell causes a pressure differential, due to which there is an aerostatic buoyancy force. This is an example of the operation of the law of Archimedes.

The lift ceiling of aircraft is lighter than air is determined by the volume and elasticity of the shell, the method of filling and atmospheric factors - primarily the decrease in air density with height. The record for a manned climb today is 41.4 km, unmanned - 53 km.

General classification

A balloon is the common name for a whole class of aircraft. First of all, all balloons are divided into uncontrolled (balloons) and controlled (airships). There are also tethered balloons used in various fields to solve certain special tasks.

1. The principle of balloon flight does not imply the ability to control the aircraft in a horizontal plane. The ball does not have an engine and rudders, therefore, its pilot cannot choose the speed and direction of his flight. On the ball, it is possible to adjust the height with the help of valves and ballast, but otherwise its flight is a drift in air currents. Three types of balloons are distinguished by the type of filler:

• Hot air balloons.
• Gas filled charlers. Most often, hydrogen and helium were used (and continue to be used) for these purposes, but both of them have their own drawbacks. Hydrogen is extremely flammable and forms an explosive mixture with air. Helium is too expensive.
• Rosiers are balloons that combine both types of fillers.

2. Airships (dirigeable in French - “controlled”) are aircraft, the design of which includes a power plant and controls. In turn, airships are classified according to many criteria: by the stiffness of the shell, by the type of power unit and propulsors, by the method of creating buoyancy and so on.

The early history of aeronautics

The very first reliable device to fly into the air with the help of Archimedean force is probably the Chinese lantern. Chronicles mention paper bags that rise under the influence of hot air from a lamp. It is known that such lamps were used in military affairs as a means of signaling in the II-III centuries; it is possible that they were known earlier.

Western technical thought came to the idea of \u200b\u200bthe possibility of such devices by the end of the 17th century, realizing the futility of attempts to create muscle-fly devices for human flight. So, the Jesuit Francesco Lana designed the lift with the help of evacuated metal balls. However, the technical level of the era in no way allowed us to carry out this project.

In 1709, the priest Lorenzo Guzmao demonstrated to the Portuguese royal court an aircraft, which was a thin shell, in which the air was heated by a brazier suspended from below. The device managed to climb a few meters. Unfortunately, nothing is known about Guzmao's further activities.

The beginning of aeronautics

The first aircraft lighter than air, the successful test of which was officially recorded, was the balloon of the brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier. On June 5, 1783, this balloon flew over the French town of Annone, breaking 2 km in 10 minutes. The maximum lifting height was about 500 meters. The shell of the ball was a canvas covered with paper from the inside; smoke from the burning of wet wool and straw was used as a filler, for a long time after that it was called “hot air gas”. The aircraft, respectively, was called the "hot air balloon".

Almost simultaneously, on August 27, 1783, a balloon filled with hydrogen, designed by Jacques Charles, soared into the air in Paris. The shell was made of silk, impregnated with a solution of rubber in turpentine. Hydrogen was produced by exposure to iron filings by sulfuric acid. A ball 4 meters in diameter was filled for several days, having spent more than 200 kilograms of acid and almost half a ton of iron. The first charlier in front of 300 thousand spectators disappeared into the clouds. The balloon shell, which exploded high in the atmosphere, fell 15 minutes later in the countryside near Paris, where it was destroyed by frightened locals.

First manned flights

The first passengers of the aeronautical apparatus, which took off at Versailles on September 19, 1783, were most likely nameless. A rooster, a duck and a ram flew in a hot air balloon basket lasting 10 minutes and a range of 4 km, after which they landed safely.

The first flight of people on a hot air balloon took place on November 21 of the same breakthrough year 1783. The physicist Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rosier and his two comrades made it. Then, in November, de Rosier secured success with the aeronautics enthusiast Marquis Francois Laurent d’Aryland. Thus, it was proved that the state of free flight is safe for humans (there were still doubts about this).

On December 1, 1983 (a truly significant year for aeronautics!), The charlier also ascended into the air, carrying on board a crew, which, in addition to J. Charles himself, was mechanic N. Robert.

In subsequent years, flying with both types of balloons was practiced very widely, but gas balloons still had some advantage, since hot air balloons consumed a lot of fuel and developed low lift. Rosiers - balls of a combined type - were too dangerous.

Aerostat in the service

Balloons very soon began to serve not only entertainment purposes, but also the needs of science and military affairs. Even during the first flight, Charles and Robert were engaged in measurements of air temperature and pressure at high altitude. Subsequently, scientific observations were often carried out with balloons. They were used to study the Earth’s atmosphere and geomagnetic field, and later cosmic rays. Balloons are widely used as meteorological probes.

Balloon military service began during the French Revolution, when tethered balloons began to be used to monitor the enemy. Subsequently, such devices were used for high-altitude reconnaissance and fire adjustment not only in the 19th, but also in the first half of the 20th century. During World War II, tethered barrage balloons were an element of air defense of large cities. During the Cold War, high-altitude balloons were used by NATO intelligence against the USSR. In addition, submarine long-distance communications systems using tethered balloons were developed.

Higher and higher

A stratostat is a balloon of the “sharlier” type, which, due to its design features, can rise into the upper rarefied layers of the Earth’s atmosphere — the stratosphere. If the flight is manned, such a balloon is filled with helium. In the case of an unmanned flight, it is filled with cheaper hydrogen.

The idea of \u200b\u200busing a balloon at high altitudes belongs to D.I. Mendeleev and was expressed by him in 1875. The safety of the crew, according to the scientist, was to be ensured by a sealed balloon nacelle. However, the creation of such an aircraft requires a high technical level, which was achieved only by 1930. Thus, flight conditions require a special device for a stratospheric balloon, the use of light metals and alloys, the development and implementation of ballast discharge systems and thermal control of the nacelle, and much more.

The first stratospheric balloon FNRS-1 was created by the Swiss scientist and engineer Auguste Picard, who, together with P. Kipfer, first climbed into the stratosphere on May 27, 1931, reaching an altitude of 15,785 m.

The creation of these aircraft received special development in the USSR. Many records during flights to the stratosphere were set in the second half of 1930 by Soviet aeronauts.

In 1985, during the implementation of the Soviet space project “Vega”, two stratostats filled with helium were launched in the atmosphere of Venus. They worked at an altitude of about 55 km for more than 45 hours.

First airship

Attempts to create a horizontal-controlled balloon were made almost immediately after the first flights of hot air balloons and sharlers. J. Meunier proposed to give the aircraft an ellipsoidal shape, a double shell with a balloon and equip it with propellers driven by muscular force. However, the implementation of this idea required the efforts of 80 people ...

For many years, due to the lack of a power unit suitable for flight conditions, the controlled balloon remained only a dream. It was possible to carry out it only in 1852 by Henri Giffard, whose machine made its first flight on September 24. Giffard’s airship was equipped with a rudder and a 3 horsepower steam engine that rotated the propeller. The volume of the gas-filled shell was 2500 m 3. The soft shell of the airship was subject to subsidence due to changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature.

For a long time after the flight of the first airship, engineers tried to achieve the optimal combination of engine power and weight, to improve the design of the shell and nacelle of the device. In 1884, it was possible to put an electric motor on the airship, in 1888 - a gasoline engine. Further success of the airship was associated with the development of machines with a hard shell.

The success and tragedy of zeppelins

A breakthrough in the creation of airships is associated with the name of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. The flight of his first car, built in Germany on Lake Constance, took place on July 2, 1900. Despite the breakdown that led to an emergency landing on the lake, the design of hard airships after further testing was considered successful. They managed to modify the design of the machine, and the airship Ferdinand von Zeppelin was purchased by the German military. In the First World War, zeppelins were already used by all the leading powers.

The rigid shell of the airship consisted of a metal frame of a cigar-shaped configuration, covered with a fabric with a cellon coating. Inside the frame, gas cylinders filled with hydrogen were attached. The aircraft was equipped with aft steering wheels and stabilizers, had several engines with propellers. Tanks, cargo and engine compartments, passenger decks were located in the lower part of the frame. The volume of the airship could reach 200 m 3, the length of the hull was huge. For example, the length of the infamous Hindenburg was 245 m. Driving such a huge machine was extremely difficult.

In the period between the world wars, zeppelins were widely used as a vehicle, including transatlantic flights. However, a number of disasters, the most famous of which was the crash as a result of the fire of the Hindenburg airship, and the high cost of these cars did not play in their favor. But the main factor in curtailing the airship was the upcoming World War II. The nature of the warfare required the massive use of high-speed aviation, and the airships in it did not find a serious place. As a result, and after the war, there was no revival of them as a widely used vehicle.

Balloons and modernity

Despite the development of aviation, airships and balloons did not sink into oblivion, on the contrary, by the end of the 20th century interest in them increased again. This is due to success in the development of high-tech materials and computer control and safety systems, as well as to the relative reduction in the cost of helium production. Airships may well revive as machines that perform important tasks in some special industries, for example, in servicing oil platforms or in transporting bulky goods in hard-to-reach areas. The military again began to show some interest in these aircraft.

Miniature airships are also used to solve various applied problems, for example, when shooting for television broadcasts.

Accustomed to airplanes, helicopters and spacecraft, the public is once again experiencing an interest in aeronautics. Balloons festivals in different countries of the world, including Russia, became a frequent occurrence. Thanks to heat-resistant lightweight materials and special burners, working from gas cylinders, hot air balloons survive a second youth. Solar hot air balloons have also been invented, generally not requiring the burning of fuel.

Of great interest to athletes and spectators are the competitions and enchanting mass starts of many devices held at each balloon festival. These events have long become an integral part of the entertainment industry.

It is difficult to predict exactly what the future awaits aircraft lighter than air. But we can confidently say: they have a future.

Probably many wanted to climb the heights and fly over the fields, forests, cities and towns.

Is it difficult to fly a balloon?

And of course, the question is logical: is it difficult to control a balloon, what subtleties you need to know in order for the flight to be comfortable and safe.

The desire to cope with a large balloon can be compared with a childhood feeling when you really want to steer your father’s car.

Of course, observing the pilot, it seems that flying a balloon is not at all difficult, but is it really so?

Balloon Flight Control

  - This is an amazing and emotional walk for passengers, but quite a responsible and difficult procedure for the pilot. But what is the difficulty? The fact is that a hot air balloon is not completely subject to human control; it moves due to a gust of wind.

Therefore, each pilot must be able to predict and maneuver in the specified weather conditions.

He must understand when to slow down or vice versa to rise in order to safely reach the final destination.

If the situation needs to rise a little higher, the pilot adjusts the heating system to a certain mode. Opening the valve reduces the height.

You can control the movement of the balloon by tilting its dome. If passengers want a measured and unhurried flight, then the balloon is launched by the movement of the wind. For thrill-seekers, a balloon can be sent to meet the air currents.

Balloon flights are completely safe, as they are carried out only under good conditions, while the wind speed should not exceed five meters per second. Therefore, passengers can enjoy the fresh breeze or the pleasant warmth of sunlight.

Besides the question of how to control a balloon, many are interested in the landing process.

Landing is also a rather complicated procedure, therefore it is controlled not only by the pilot, but also by the team accompanying the ball. Radio specialists give advice to the pilot on choosing a better place.

Despite the fact that the flight is organized by professionals, passengers can participate in the preparation of the balloon for the flight.

In this case, they have the opportunity to join in such a meaningful and interesting process, as well as become more familiar with the design features of the unit.

You can always fly and parachute.

Everything is clear to everyone about spring and summer: the maximum number of summer days, good weather.

If the street is golden autumn, then despite the cloudiness and frequent rains, we continue to fly and parachute. Believe me, it’s very beautiful.

And how will snow fall, many will ask: “is it cold to fly in winter?” We answer the question with a question: “is it not cold to ski in the winter?” Is it better to go for a drive in the summer? Winter flights are and will be. Come over. In the meantime.

20 minutes. on the Yak-52 for 6500 p.

We’ll bring a beautiful box with a certificate,
- aerobatics show
- let’s “steer” the plane,
- video in flight is possible.

What customers love us for

We only sell the sky   and doing it well. We fly by ourselves. We want to give you the opportunity to fly and fly. Our goal is safe flights for everyone!

We have adequate delivery   and own courier service. Delivery on the day of order is possible, delivery outside of business hours is possible. Our couriers arrive on time. Our couriers know how to use cards and find their own way.

Huge range of flights:   more than ten types of aircraft, more than a hundred different flights or jumps. Adrenaline, extreme, aerobatics or beautiful sightseeing flights and air tours.

Many different airfields   in different directions near Moscow. Fly where it is convenient for you. And which airdrome to choose? And any! Everywhere is beautiful, interesting and safe: we work with professionals.

Reasonable prices.   Our certificates cost real money. And our flights are real. We sell just so much time that a person “flies”, the duration of the flight is your choice, we only advise.

The information on our website is current,   full and true. We constantly monitor the correct presentation of the material and the relevance of prices. We write details on the site. We know them and will gladly tell them to those who do not like to read.

And we are all honest.   The flight time is considered from the moment the aircraft takes off from the runway. We warn in advance that flights may be rescheduled due to weather conditions.

And a gift box   in which lies the certificate for flying with us stylish, beautiful and comfortable. Fantastic can not be more expensive than candy: we do not sell certificates in caskets encrusted with diamonds, however, our box will be visible among other gifts and will please its owner.

Holiday Gifts

On the February 23   (Day of the Soviet Army or Defender of the Fatherland, as you prefer) You choose gifts.

Balloon Training

When you look at a balloon floating in the sky, you least of all think about how you can learn to control this aircraft ...

A modern aerostat is not a “bubble” at all, which flies by the will of the wind. This is a completely controllable aircraft, which can be located at the heights necessary for the pilot and which can be planted “to a point”, while the balloon is controlled only by a torch and valve, which cause the device to rise or descend.

How, then, is the right course chosen? How to land on the field? How to fly above the tops of trees, maintaining height? How...? Are you curious and want to try it yourself?

Program Details

Payload - 200 kg. And that means that according to one certificate, two can fly.

Only you (your company) and the pilot instructor will be in the ball basket. Flight time is more than an hour.

So, let's say that you already have a certificate. You book for the flight by the telephone number indicated in the certificate. By the appointed time, along with the certificate, you arrive at the appointed place.

Pre-flight briefing is carried out either at the premises of the flying club or on the way to the launch site and takes about 30 minutes. They will tell you about the principles of control, as well as the fact that almost always at different heights there are different wind directions. So the desired course is chosen: the navigator and knowledge of aeronautical meteorology help the pilot fly where he needs to.

"Training" flights in duration are slightly longer than usual: up to one and a half hours. First, the pilot shows all flight modes, and then he will let you “play around” with the burner.

Managing a balloon is not as easy as it sounds: it is very inert. We are going down ... We heat the air with a burner and nothing happens! Stop! Enough. You have to wait a bit and the ball will definitely go up. It’s not difficult to fly, it’s going up and down, it’s much harder to maintain a certain height.

About 30 minutes you will independently control the balloon (under the pilot’s control, of course), and after landing you will be awaited by the ceremony of initiation into aeronauts and the delivery of commemorative diplomas ...

Already on the way home, mixed feelings took hold of me: do I want to fly the same way, or is it just one entertainment? A balloon is a toy without any practical application: so, fly for yourself ... And where to store it? And you also need a trailer for the basket and a driver who will meet at the landing ...

But how cool it is to silently swim in the sky above water, a field and forests ... But to stand in the sky together with your beloved? And to show the beauty of the world to friends? .. All the difficulties recede at the thought of the possibilities that open to the pilots of free balloons.

And the pilot’s conspiratorial smile: “we can write these half an hour in your flight book if you continue training.”

There is definitely something to it!

Security questions

General safety explanations are described, and below we will talk about them as applied to balloons.

Safety begins with the right choice of weather: there will be calm or light wind - you can train the gap. If the wind intensifies, rise higher and you can train to maintain a given height and feel the inertia of the ball.

All balloons have valid airworthiness certificates, and all pilot instructors have many hundreds and thousands of flying hours, prizes from international aeronautics competitions and a large number of trained cadets.

Moreover, all passengers are insured.

We do our best to make the program not only interesting, but also as safe as possible.

Where and when flights take place

We fly in the Dmitrov district of the Moscow Region (it is indicated by blue color on the map) in the daytime.

There is no specific airdrome; any large field that is selected depending on the direction of the wind and other weather conditions is suitable for launching a balloon. You meet with the team in the appointed place, leave your car in the parking lot and move to the starting place.

Flights are held year round. Autumn, winter and the beginning of spring, by the way, is the best time for flying on balloons - because in winter there is no thermal turbulence, which allows flights throughout the day. But in the summer they fly on balloons only in the early morning (usually before 9:00) and in the evening (usually after 19:00).

Please note that if you booked for the flight and did not arrive, the certificate “burns out”.

Validity of the certificate - 1 year from the date of order

If you are still thinking about the option of a good expensive gift, if you need a beautiful box with a certificate for excellent emotions inside, if the person to whom the gift is intended “already has everything” ... Then the link further is for you: buy a lesson in management a balloon for 22,000 rubles.

There are no motors or the usual steering wheel in a balloon. Of the entire technological arsenal - only burners, sandbags and a special valve in the upper part of the dome for etching air. How to control this aircraft?

From the history of aeronautics

However, the birthplace of ballooning is considered to be the French town of Annone, where on June 5, 1783, the brothers Etienne and Joseph Mongolfier lifted the ball-shaped balloon they created, filled with heated air, into the sky.

The flight of the aircraft weighing about 155 kg and a diameter of 3.5 meters lasted only 10 minutes. During this time, he overcame about a kilometer at a 300-meter height, which was an outstanding event for his time. Later, balloons in honor of the creators began to be called hot air balloons.

The balloon of the Montgolfier brothers consisted of a linen shell glued with paper. To fill it with hot air, a bonfire was made from finely chopped straw. And 3 months later, an addition was made to the design of the aircraft in the form of a special basket for passengers.

Modern balloons are undoubtedly more perfect, but made almost the same pattern. For the manufacture of the spherical shell of the ball, a special thin and durable polyester material is used. The air heating system has changed. The function of the fire is performed by an adjustable propane gas burner installed in a basket directly under the dome.

Despite being heavily dependent on wind, modern balloons are controllable. The flight altitude is adjusted by the outlet in the upper part of the dome using a bursting cord. A side valve is provided for changing course. There are more complex designs, where inside the main dome another one filled with helium can be placed.

How to fly a balloon with a basket

Balloon control is an activity requiring serious preparation and considerable financial expenses. Suffice it to say that the aerostat pilot training course costs about 200 thousand rubles today. The price of the balloon itself (depending on the model) is commensurate with the price of a car.

Training

A thorough preparation precedes the flight. First of all, it is necessary to study weather conditions - cloudiness, visibility and wind speed. In accordance with the received data, a flight route is planned. Due to unforeseen changes in weather conditions, it is precisely this route that is chosen where there are enough places on the way for safe landings.

Takeoff

For the balloon to take off, the efforts of the entire crew are necessary. The best place to start is a flat area of \u200b\u200b50 x 50 meters in an open field, where there are no other objects nearby - poles, trees, power lines.

Then the assembly of the ball begins: burners are attached to the basket, which are connected by special hoses to gas cylinders. After a test run of the burner, the crew proceeds to stretch the dome (mandatory in the direction of the wind). Then the extended dome is fastened with special carabiners to the basket.

The next step is to fill the dome with cold air using a fan, after which the burner starts to heat the air. Heated air raises the dome from the ground, and the crew (with passengers) takes its place. So that the ball does not fly away, it is pre-tied to the car.

Flight

Despite the lack of a motor and wings, the balloon is controllable, which requires certain skills. The main controls are burners and an exhaust valve. To gain height, the burner turns on and the air heats up additionally, and to reduce it, the valve opens slightly. Horizontal flight is due to tailwind. This is where the pilot's skill manifests itself. So, to fly faster, it can increase flight altitude, where the wind speed is stronger.

Descent

Place of landing is pre-selected. It should be big and safe. The ideal option is a soccer field near the road. The crew reports on the ground about the landing site to the ground. Next, the pilot releases air from the dome using a valve. The ball gently drops to the ground.