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Ballooning
Terms
you need to know about!
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A
Aerostat
A lighter-than-air craft. A hot-air balloon is an aerostat.
Aerostation
The science of lighter-than-air flight.
AGL
Above ground level
Ammonia
(NH3)
Type of balloon that uses ammonia as its lifting agent instead
of helium, hydrogen or coal gas. Becoming very popular in
1990's. Much less costly than flying other gas bags. Has approximately
.5 lifting power of helium. Popularized by Tim Cole and Dennis
Brown of Colorado. Ammonia gas is readily available in agricultural
areas and smells a bit whiffy.
Balloon
A generic term for an aerostat.
Balloonatic
Fanatic balloon enthusiasts. Many of us eat, drink and sleep
ballooning. Why else would we get up at 4:30 in the morning
to stand out in the cold and do hard manual labour? Why -
because we're balloonatics!
Barnes
Basket
A triangular shaped basket used primarily on Balloon
Works balloons. Named after its originator, Tracy Barnes.
Popular in America - but not here as there's nowhere to put
your fourth tank.
Basket
Also referred to as the gondola; the part of the balloon used
to carry the pilot and passengers, fuel tanks, and other equipment.
Constructed from wicker and light wood base, or in the case
of high-altitude and long-distance craft, pressurizable materials.
Biner
American for carabiner which has too many syllables in.
British
Thermal Unit- BTU
The quantity of heat necessary to raise the temperature of
a pound (0.45Kg) of water by one degree Fahrenheit (0.56 degrees
Celcius). It is approximately 1.055 kilojoules.
Burner
Device used to ignite and project flammable fuel (usually
propane gas) up into the envelope to heat the air in a hot-air
balloon. Burners come in a variety of configurations and powers
(which are measured in BTUs, usually in the millions).
Carabiner
A "D", or "O" shaped locking metal clamp
used to connect things together (in particular, load cables
to baskets, or tie-off lines to retrieve vehicles).
Certificate
of Airworthiness
Like an M.O.T. for a balloon. A balloon as to be regularly
checked to make sure the fabric isn't getting too weak, the
basket isn't unravelling etc. If your balloon's ok you get
one of these and are allowed to fly.
Chariot's
Rest (The)
A fine greasy spoon just outside Bristol serving legendary
inch thich fried bread.
Chase
Also referred to as the "recovery" or more frequently
"retrieve"; the process by which the aerostat is
tracked during flight and retrieved afterwards by crew on
the ground or in another craft (like a boat).
Chase
Crew
The crew that chases the aerostat - more frequently known
as the retrieve crew.
Convergent
Navigational Task - CNT
A ballooning event where pilots attempt to fly from
a designated distance to a single point, usually a scoring
'X'. Also known as Controlled Navigational Trajectory Event,
or a Fly-In task.
Cremation
Charlie
Some one who sacrifices himself during a flap inflation to
stand inside the envelope and hold it up so that no valuable
rip-stop gets burnt.
Crown
The top of the balloon envelope.
Crown
Line
A rope which, at one end, is fastened to the top (or crown)
of the balloon envelope, and at the other end, is used by
a member of the crew to help stabilize the balloon during
inflation and deflation. It is usually a good 50-100 feet
(15-30 meters) longer than the balloon is tall.
Crown
Ring
The ring of metal at the top of the envelope to which all
the load tapes are attached.
Drop
Line
A rope, belt or other line attached to the aerostat (usually
the gondola) on one end. Normally furled or stowed during
flight, it can be released by the pilot and secured by ground
crewmembers who use it to maneuver the craft into or through
tight areas.
Envelope
The portion of the balloon which holds the heated air (for
hot-air balloons) or gas for gas balloons. Constructed of
cloth such as ripstop nylon or nomex, or other light, relatively
impermeable material.
Fan
See inflator fan.
First
Flight Ceremony
Those who have endured it need no explanation. Those who have
not should know that its origins are cloaked in mystery and
shrouded in the most sacred rites of ballooning. Suffice it
to say that the ceremony involves various liquid refreshment
(usually champagne). Once having successfully survived the
ceremony, the Initiate has been officially inducted into the
Noble Fraternity of Aeronauts.
Flap
Inflation
Before the days of inflator fans, the only way to get cold
air into the envelope prior to turning on the burner was to
flap the top side of the mouth up and down. Once a small amout
of air had been put inside the envelope, the pilot would periodically
burn to heat the air as the mouth was flapped open. Clearly
this might burn the inside of the balloon higher up, so necessitated
a Cremation Charlie.
Fly-in
Task
See CNT.
Gondola
See basket.
H
Hopper
An aerostat where the pilot sits in a chair or harness underneather
the envelope, as opposed to standing in a basket.
Hesitation
Waltz
Competition where multiple judge declared goals are set.
Inflator
Ffan
Hot air can't be directly put into the envelope it first has
to be filled with cold air using the inflator fan. Only then
can this air be heated using the burner. Before fans, the
balloon had to be flap inflated.
Judge
Declared Goal
Competition where a single target is set and all the balloons
fly from the launch site with the aim of dropping their markers
as close as possible to the goal.
Landowner
The person, business or organization which holds the title
to the property upon which the aerostat launches and/or lands.
Landowner
Relations
Extremely important for aerostat activities, especially considering
the limited control over landing location. Ideally, the pilot
or chase crew should secure permission from the landowner
before landing on their property. The wishes of the landowner
take precedence during landing and recovery, within the limits
of flight physics and safety. Landowner relations also apply
to low overflights of landowner's property.
Load
Tapes
Reinforced vertical seams along the length of the envelope,
connected by the load cables to the basket. The actual load-bearing
parts of the envelope.
Mouth
The opening at the base of the balloon envelope through which
the flames from the burner passes to heat the air inside the
envelope. This is sometimes referred to as the 'throat'...
MSL
Above Mean Sea Level - if you need this it usually means you've
gone drastically wrong somewhere.
Nomex
Fire-resistant material that the scoop and bottom section
of the envelope are made of.
Poles
The stabilizing struts between the basket, the burner mount
and the load cables. On some balloons the poles are actually
load-bearing elements; on others they simply act as stiff
or slightly flexible guides for the actual load-bearing elements
and connections from envelope sensors to the instrument console.
Also referred to as "burner supports", "supports"
or "flexi poles" there main job is to stop the burner
knocking you on the head during landing.
Prohibited
Zone
A restricted operation zone where balloon launchings and landings
are prohibited by the landowner. In some cases, a minimum
altitude restriction may also exist.
PUT
Short for 'Pilot Under Training".
Red
Zone
See prohibited zone.
Rip-stop
Nylon
The material that makes up most of envelope.
Restricted
Operations Zone
A land area on or over which balloon operations are restricted
by the landowner. Also refered to as a prohibited zone (PZ)
or a sensitive zone (SZ).
Retrieve
Crew
See chase and chase crew.
Rosiere
Type of balloon that uses both gas and hot air. Sometimes
called a hybrid.
Nick Saum home built unit in mid 80's and set many World Class
Records. Flying AM-2 went 340 miles in 17 hours. Took off
at approx. 5 pm and landed 11 am next day. Later took same
balloon to over 18,000' MSL. for alt. record Takeoff was about
3900' MSL. Cheyenne Wells, Co to Syracuse,
KS USA. Ground temp was 25 F, so don't you know that got a
little chilly.
Steve Fossett is one of the latest to use this type of balloon.
He flew from Seoul, ROK to Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada in
Feb. 1995 Over 5400 miles solo. Best Trans- Pacific flight
yet. That flight took 102 hrs and 15 minutes.
(Camerons make the best ones, of course).
Scoop
A specialized-shape skirt which, on American balloons, narrows
to an inch or two on one side and widens to extend all the
way from the top of the poles to the base of the envelope
proper, forming a tilted mouth. The idea of the scoop is to
provide better control of the aerostat's orientation. Ideally,
the front (or main part of the scoop) will always be kept
in the direction of travel. It may also aid in keeping the
envelope full.
Sensitive
Zone
A restricted operation zone where balloon launchings and landings
may be allowed by the landowner under special circumstances.
In some cases, a minimum altitude restriction may also exist.
Skirt
The cloth segment of the envelope below the load cable connections,
frequently detachable, often made of Nomex or similar fire-resistant
material.
Spotter
Someone who delights in collecting balloon licence numbers,
badges and anoraks.
Supports
See poles.
SZ
See sensitive zone.
Throat
See mouth.
Thumbs
up
The signal from a launch director that the airspace above
is clear and you have permission to launch. Any digit other
than the thumb means something entirely different.
Vermenton
Favourite French BUHABS holiday resort.
Weather
rock
Any smooth stone thrown at the weatherman when he tells you
it's going to be unflyable again.
Yellow
zone
See sensitive zone. (American term)
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