For Hot Air Balloons Colorado Is Worth Visiting

By Anna Bailey


Hot air balloons are categorized as aircraft. They have a bag, which is also called an envelope incorporated as one of the most important components. The design of the bad allows it to keep air when it is heated. As such, when in search of hot air balloons Colorado presents among the best locations to consider making a visit to.

Traditional low-altitude, short-distance models of these products incorporate wicker baskets. However, models that are designed to go long distances and achieve high altitudes incorporate a capsule instead. An open flame is usually used to heat interior air inside the balloon. Heating air reduces its density in comparison to the surrounding air, which makes it buoyant.

These balloons are incapable of flying beyond the atmosphere just like all kinds of aircraft. As opposed to gas balloons, these balloons do not need to be sealed at the bottom. The reasoning behind this design is that the air near the bottom of the envelop has the same atmospheric pressure as the surrounding environment. This technology is the first-ever human-carrying flight technology in the world.

When the balloon is designed to carry people, it is made of a single-layer, fabric gas bag. A mouth or a throat refers to the opening at the base of the envelop through which air is heated. Heating of air is achieved using burners placed in the basket and heating the air below the opening of the envelop. Various kinds of fuel can be used to heat the air, including propane and liquefied gas.

Dacron and ripstop nylon are some of the materials used in making the envelop. During production of the envelop, the material is cut into smaller panels that are then sewn together to form the whole bag. Load tapes are also sewn together with the panels so that they can be used to hold the gondola. The names gores or gore sections are used to refer to the panels, which run from the crown of the bag to the bottom.

The number of gores in the envelop varies a lot, with some having only 4 panels while others having as many as 24 sections. There is usually a crown ring at the top of the envelop. The ring is usually made of aluminum in most cases, but other metals may also be used. Load tapes attach to the ring at the top. Load tapes are sewn into loops at the bottom to attach to the basket.

Sewing of the panels together is done through a technique called French fell. Other names for this technique are French felled and double lap seam. French fell involves fabrics that make up the panels being folded over each other on the edges. The folding also incorporates the load takes. Zigzag and flat lap are also methods that may be used in the place of French felled.

To make the envelop air- and water-tight, a coat is applied over it. Silicone and polyurethane are the two most commonly used coats today. The effective life of the envelop is reduced or exhausted by the degradation and weakening of the coat applied on the envelop. Common causes of degradation of the coat include mechanical wear and tear, heat, and moisture.




About the Author: