First, you have to rise and shine early in order to reach the launch site
by sunrise. Preparation starts when the crew unloads the basket and
envelope and spreads the envelope downwind. If the balloon has a parachute top, the tabs are
put in from the outside and the top of the envelope. Meanwhile, the pilot
makes a pre-flight inspection of instruments, fuel systems, load cables, and
envelope. Only when the pilot is satisfied that the aircraft is safe to fly, will he/she
position the crew - i.e. at the throat, the crown line, or the inflator (fan)
After assuring that connections between the basket and envelope are
secure and that the fuel tanks are properly connected, the pilot signals a
crew member to start the gasoline-powered fan, which pushes cold air (cold
inflation) into the envelope through the mouth (or throat) held open by two
crew members. The fan is probably the most dangerous item next to the
propane, and keeping people back and being capable of shutting down the
fan in an emergency are the responsibility of this position.
After partial inflation the pilot enters the envelope to ensure that the
various rigging lines are correctly in place. If the balloon has a parachute top instead of a rip panel,
one of the crew finishes connecting the top to the main envelope while the
fan is filling the envelope with cold air. During this procedure, another crew
member holds the crown line to prevent the envelope rolling from side to
side and/or coming upright too fast during the hot inflation.
After final inspection of the balloon, the pilot tilts the basket on its
side and lights the burner. The flame from the burner, resembling a blast
furnace, heats the air inside the envelope and the balloon starts to take an
upright position. When the temperature in the envelope nears the bouyancy
point, the pilot commands "hands-on" or "weight on" to the crew until he/she is
absolutely ready to fly. Then, with a few short blasts from the burner, the
balloon heads skyward.
And now the chase! First, and most importantly, ensure the pilot has
left the keys of the chase vehicle with the driver! Don't laugh. It happens
!
Once the flight has begun, the ground crew pack up the fan, anchor
ropes, etc., and "chase" the balloon so that they can assist with the landing. It
is ideal to have at least three people in the chase crew - the driver drives, one
passenger navigates by the area map with instructions from the pilot via the
2-way radio should the balloon fly out of sight, and the other passenger(s)
watch the balloon.
The ideal chase crew will be ahead of the balloon when it lands, after
having gained permission from the land-owners for the balloon to land on their property. Maintaining "good farmer relations" is essential.
When flying in unfamiliar territory, the team will be issued with a PZ
(prohibited zones) list - areas over which a balloon must not fly and/or land,
e.g. horse studs, lambing paddocks, because of the noise from the burner.
Once landed, the pilot ensures that the gas tanks are turned off, the
pilot light extinguished, before the crew dismantles the basket, folds up the
envelope, and packs up the balloon trailer.
Quite often a traditional champagne ceremony will follow each flight,
a tradition originating with the early flights in France.
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