Balloon Flying Menu > Introduction to Ballooning > Support Equipment > Inflation Fan

Fans come in different styles and sizes. Your finances, style of inflation, and size of the balloon will determine the best fan for you.

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FIGURE 1-2.—Rip Panel Envelope Design.

FIGURE 1-3.—Parachute Top Envelope Design.

FIGURE 1-4.—Spring Top Envelope Design.

Points to consider in selecting a fan are:

• Weight—Someone will have to lift the fan into and out of the transport vehicle. Wheels do not help with the weight and are not helpful on soft ground. One person can carry a small fan, but a larger fan may take two people.

• Safety—Fan blades today can be wood, aluminum, fiberglass, or composite, with wood being the most popular. Wood or aluminum blades designed specifically for balloon fan use are best. The fan should have a cowling of fiberglass or metal. A cage or grill alone is not sufficient to contain rocks or pieces of blade.

• Transport—Space available in a pickup truck, the back of a van, or on a trailer may determine the size of the fan.

• Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM)—Fan blade design, duct design, and engine speed determine the amount of air moved in a given time. Do not confuse engine size with CFM. Larger engines do not necessarily push more air. Moving a high volume of air is not necessarily the ultimate goal in fan performance. Some people prefer a slower cold inflation to allow for a thorough preflight inspection.

• Fan Maintenance—The inflation fan is the most dangerous piece of equipment in ballooning. A good fan requires little maintenance and should be easy to maintain. Check the oil periodically and change it once a year. Check hub bolts and grill screws for tightness on a regular basis.

• Fuel—Gasoline smells, spills, pollutes, and degrades in storage. Do not store gasoline in the fan due to fire hazard and the formation of varnish, which can clog fuel passages. Some gasoline fans can be converted to propane. Propane is clean, stores in a sealed tank, and does not change with age.