Take A Ride In A Hot Air Balloon

11/06/2009 - 1:00 am By Diana Adams

Everyone has a bucket list, right? If you are unfamiliar with that term, a bucket list is a list (usually hand written) of things you want to do before you die.

What is on your bucket list? Sure, mine has things on it that are wild and crazy, but I noticed today when I was updating my list that I have something very simple on there, something I could do anytime: Take a ride in a hot air balloon.

I’ve always thought it was so magical that a hot air balloon can stay up in the air. The laws of physics can seem complex but are many times so wonderfully simple. The balloon stays up because hot air rises and cold air sinks. Yep, that’s it!

The burner makes the big flame which heats the inside of the balloon (called the envelope). When the air inside that balloon is hot, the balloon goes up. If the air inside the balloon stays heated, the balloon stays up. When it’s time to come down, the pilot simply cools the air, which makes the balloon heavier than the air and it comes down.

The person flying the balloon steers it by moving the balloon up and down ever so slightly to find the right layer of air for the specific direction. Of course, the wind cooperating is a huge component of the success of your balloon ride!

I’m excited about my first hot air balloon ride. I can’t imagine anything feeling freer than gliding in a big colorful balloon over the sky and feeling the wind. Yep, I’m very stoked about this!

Author: Diana Adams

By day, Diana is the CEO/owner of Adams Consulting Group, Inc, a technology services and business solutions consultancy firm serving the specific needs of its clients in advertising and public relations. By night, she lives and breathes by writing. After publishing a small cookbook last year, she is now working on her new masterpiece, scheduled for publishing next year. “I could write all night long and not get tired of it. I think that is when you know you’ve tapped into a true passion. Whatever that thing may be, if you could do it all day or night long, lose track of time, ‘wake up’ ten hours later, and still thirst for more, that is a passion, and I feel like I’ve found that in my writing.” Diana also spends many hours each week assisting the homeless men and women in Atlanta. You can find her on Twitter at @adamsconsulting.

5 Comments

IsabellesTravel

November 6th, 2009

Yep, it is an amazing experience! Up in the sky, nothing between you and the ground, but the basket that hangs from a balloon. (okay, the way I just described it, sounds scary Sorry, not my intention! Because it’s not! It IS something you have to do yourself to know what it is. I’m sure you’ll have a great time. It is really something you should have on your ‘done’ list Have fun!

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A.D.K.

November 7th, 2009

It’s really sound like cool
I wish, I could try some day.

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mwgrover

November 29th, 2009

I went up in a tethered balloon when I was a kid – it was great fun! Consider trying the balloon voyage at Conner Prairie in Fishers, IN. You may have to wait until spring though.

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Brent ~ the roseman

February 13th, 2010

Hot air balloons in my experience… Take offs: good. Floating around in the air: awesome. Landings: a moment of sheer terror, then overwhelming relief… LOL

Have fun!

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Erana

April 4th, 2010

This is on my bucket list too! I almost did one a week ago but decided to see the Great Barrier Reef instead. I’ve always had a fascination with hot air balloons so it is a must-do for me (at some stage!). The other experience I’m hoping to tick off my list this year is an aerobatic flight. Lots of fun!

I hope you have a great trip!

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