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Balloon Flying Menu > Inflation, Launch, And Landing > Inflation > The
Inflation
After the balloon is correctly laid out, place
the inflation fan to the side of the burner within arm’s
reach of the pilot, facing into the center of the envelope mouth,
making sure the fan blades are not in line with the pilot, crew,
or spectators. If the fan is well designed and maintained, it
will not move around and will not require constant attention
during operation. Exact fan placement depends on the type of
fan, burner, and size of the envelope. Pump air into the envelope
and not under, over, or to the side of the mouth.
You should place one crewmember at each side
of the mouth of the balloon to lift the mouth material and create
an opening for air to enter the envelope. During cold inflation
(i.e., with the fan only) hold the mouth open wide enough to
admit air from the fan. Inflate the balloon to approximately
50 to 75 percent full of cold air.
At this point, you should check to see that
control lines are correctly deployed, and that the deflation
panel is correctly positioned. This can all be done through
or in the vent or from the top; it is not necessary to walk
on the fabric.
Once you complete the preflight inspection
and are satisfied that the envelope contains enough ambient
air to begin hot inflation, the two crewmembers at the mouth
should hold the mouth open as wide and as tall as possible,
to keep the fabric away from the burner flame. The crewmembers
should face away from the burner. Before activating the blast
valve, you should make eye contact with each crewmember at the
mouth and make sure they are ready. Crew readiness is very important.
The crew on the mouth of the envelope must be aware the burner
is about to be used.
At this point, the fan has been facing into
the center of the mouth. If the fan remains in this position,
the burner flame will be distorted and bend toward a crewmember.
Redirect the fan toward the nearest corner of the envelope mouth.
With the fan directed parallel to the burner flame, there will
be less distortion of the flame and less tendency for the air
from the fan to bend the flame to one side.
The first burn or blast of the burner should
be a short one to confirm the correct direction of the flame
and to check the readiness of the mouth crew. If they are startled
by the flame or noise and drop the fabric, the short burn will
minimize damage.
Now that the fan is facing the correct direction,
parallel to the burner flame, and the crew is ready, you can
inflate the balloon. To minimize damage to the envelope and
discomfort of the crew, inflate the balloon with a series of
short burns and pauses, rather than one continuous blast. Inflate
using standard burns, with short pauses of about 2 seconds between
burns. The pauses give the fabric and skin a chance to cool
and allow communication between you and the crew, if necessary.
Under some circumstances, you will notice a contraction and
inflation of the balloon mouth. You can easily time the burns
to match the expansion of the mouth to avoid damaging the fabric
during a contraction. These mouth movements are called breathing
and burns should be timed to match the full open time. Later
in this chapter the one-long-blast style is explained.
Allow the fan to run at a reduced speed until
the balloon mouth lifts off the ground and is no longer receiving
air. If the fan is turned off too soon, envelope air will come
back out of the mouth and the backwash distorts the flame at
the beginning and end of each blast. Do not hurry to turn off
the fan
The next step is to continue the burn-and-pause
routine until the balloon is nearly ready to leave the ground.
The crew should be standing by the basket ready to hold the
balloon (hands on), in case you miscalculate and the balloon
starts to lift off the ground before you are ready.
Many pilots fail to achieve equilibrium (see
Glossary for definition) immediately after inflation. If equilibrium
is not achieved, the balloon is much more susceptible to wind.
For example, if the envelope is not full, a slight wind can
cave in a side causing a spinnaker effect. If the balloon is
erect, but not ready to fly, the pilot has only one option should
the balloon start to move horizontally; the pilot must deflate.
If the balloon is only 5 or 10 seconds of heat away from lifting
off, the pilot has the choice of deflation or launch. In order
to exercise the launch option, all equipment and passengers
must be on board.
When inflating under variable wind conditions,
in a confined area, or at a rally with other balloons, you should
place a crewmember on the crown line to keep the envelope in
line with the burner and to minimize rolling. If you have a
person on the crown line, it should be someone of average size.
If it takes more than one person to stabilize the balloon, it
is probably too windy to fly.
The duty of the crown line crewmember is to
hold the end of the line, lean away from the envelope, and use
body weight to stabilize the envelope. This person must wear
leather gloves, which provide a good grip on the line, and must
never wrap the line around a wrist (or any other body part).
As the air is heated and the envelope starts
to rise, the crewmember holding the crown line should allow
the line to pull him towards the basket, putting resistance
on the line to keep the envelope from swaying or moving too
fast. Release the line slowly when the envelope is vertical.
The crown line varies in length. Some pilots
let the line hang straight down; some pilots connect the end
of the line to the basket or burner frame. Other pilots keep
the line only long enough to assist with a windy inflation,
or deflation in a confined area. Usually, there are no knots
in the crown line, but you might find a type of loop attached
to it. Some pilots put knots in their line, or attach flags
or other objects. These may snag in trees and cause problems.
Lines tied to the basket form a huge loop that may snag a tree
limb and should be secured with a light, breakaway tie. Once
the balloon is fully inflated and standing upright, at least
one crewmember should stand near the basket to assist with passenger
entry and to receive any lastminute instructions. Stow the fan
and all other equipment in the chase vehicle and clear the area.
Now the balloon is ready for launch.
Earlier in this chapter, it was stated that
there are many different styles of inflation. The procedure
described above is just one style.
Some pilots prefer to inflate the balloon with
onelong- blast of the burner. The advantage of this type of
inflation is that the balloon inflates a few seconds faster
and the mouth tends to stay fully open during the process. There
are several disadvantages. Voice communication is nearly impossible
due to the noise of the burner. Anyone or anything within 6
feet of the burner may get burned. Also, some burners could
be discolored or damaged by long burns. Properly used, a modern
balloon burner should look like new and last a long time. Misused,
a burner will discolor, warp, and leak.
Many pilots like to pack the balloon full of
cold air using a large fan. This may make a tighter mouth, helping
the pilot to avoid burning fabric, and the balloon may be less
affected by a light wind when it is round and tight. However,
if the balloon is filled with cold air, the actual hot inflation
will takes a little longer.
Another style used is tying-down or tying-off
the balloon before a cold inflation. Some balloon event organizers
require that the balloon be secured, usually due to limited
space at the launch site or marginal wind conditions. Tying
a balloon may not be an adequate solution for either situation;
however, there may be occasions when a pilot is required to
tie-off a balloon.
Every major balloon manufacturer specifies
the approved method for tying off, but few have described an
approved inflation tie-down system. Balloon baskets, suspensions,
load plates, and burner supports have been destroyed by improper
tie-off in light winds. If tying down for inflation is a must,
ask the manufacturer of the balloon for instructions for inflation
tie-down and use only the balloon manufacturer’s recommended
procedures and techniques.
The first requirement is to comply with factory
recommendations for the tie-down system. The second requirement
is to have something substantial to tie off to. This requirement
is in direct conflict with the basic rule not to have obstacles
near the balloon during inflation. Whatever the balloon is being
tied to will probably be, or become, an obstacle. A wind change
during inflation can turn an envelope into a chase vehicle cover.
Being draped over a chase vehicle can be devastating to an envelope!
If the tie-off line is attached near the burners,
the line becomes a restriction to the directions available for
aiming the flame. As the envelope inflates and tries to stand
erect, the restraining line can interfere with appropriate movement
of the basket.
For an early morning flight, many pilots argue
that, if the wind is so strong at launch time that you must
tiedown, it is likely the wind will be even stronger at landing
time. Therefore, it might not be prudent to take off when a
high-wind landing is probable.
Some pilots state their preference for tying
down at launch by explaining that they may have had a real problem
and the balloon might have gotten away, if they had not tied
down. Generally, in such cases, the real problem was continuing
inflation in conditions that were too windy. If you must tie
down, use the proper equipment, a strong release mechanism,
an appropriate anchor, and remember that the tie-down line may
be a danger when released under tension.
The inflation is the first action of ballooning
that requires a pilot in command. The inflation should be safe
and efficient. Now, the balloon is ready to fly.
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