Echo... echo...
Off the eye shot... sweet!
Lets move on shall we.... Next we should talk about a big item that you would never think of ....
Hydration! Yep.. You will be in a desert here... even is there is grass. Elsewhere its not so much of a big deal but it is here... so I add it because of that.
So your packed, Camera, Computer, Phone... off you go....
Lets for the moment say your coming to Albuquerque for a flight... and that flight is during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October.... Wow.. your smart! The best time of the year and the best place to fly in a Hot Air Balloon and during the most photographed event in the world! Very smart.
Link to THE AIBF for so much stuff and ... well so much its too hard to list it here....
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/ CLICK THE LINK!!!!
Not an optical illusion!
Just an everyday Pilot coming in for a landing over Paseo Del Norte roadway. All good. This is a Balloon Works balloon basket by the way... Yes.. there are more than just a few balloon manufacturers. Yup. I may list them later.
Your now out and about... you have gotten met or have met up with your Pilot and crew. Ill bet your excited!
WOAH!!!
Hang on a sec... lets back up a bit.... Let me give you some more info so you safe and also so you do not do something that will get you hurt. Also I will go over some of the do's and dont's when you are around balloons...
Lets start with the balloon.... Three major parts to a balloon... 1. The Envelope... that's the big fabric think that holds the air stuff... hahahhaa... sorry couldn't help it.. The envelope is made out of impregnated rip stop nylon or polyester... This makes for a non porous strong bag of air. 2. The Burner... that is the single or double or triple burner that is below the envelope and above the basket... This is what heats up the air to make the balloon rise. Depending on the size of the balloon depends how many burners a balloon has. If the balloon is small and has two burners then probably the Pilot wants the extra safety of a back up power source and or he bought it that way. 3. The Basket.. made mostly of wicker or wicker and wood or Aluminum or sometimes fabric if its an experimental type balloon. This is where you will be during the flight.
Cool huh! Now you know the three major parts of a balloon...
Go ahead and absorb that info and we can move on tomorrow...
Here is a link to Lindstrands balloon components.. links to the baskets.. you can move about from there and look at their balloons and burners...
http://lindstrand.com/products/accessories/baskets/
Take your time....
