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| How much does it cost? | 1 Person
250,- Euro |
| How can I book a ride? | Just phone
(06220 - 92 22 27)or send an email. We send Informations and Tickets. You pay 100,-€ account per Person or the complete price. If You have a German Bank Account it is pretty easy. If not, just go to any Bank and pay cash to our Bank Account. (Costs between 2,- and 6,- €) After the money is transfered (takes normally one day), we can make an Arrangement, not earlier. |
| How do I find...? | If You book the whole Basket, we pick You up at any Place in the area of Heidelberg/Mannheim. Or we meet at the Railroad Station - or where You want. |
| How do you steer a balloon? | Balloons simply float with the wind. The pilot can control the balloon's altitude to find a wind going in the desired direction, but you cannot fly upwind or crosswind. Preflight planning insures the pilot knows which way the balloon will be traveling, and the pilot makes sure there are plenty of suitable landing sites downwind. |
| How long does it take to inflate and deflate the balloon? | A good ground crew can inflate and launch a balloon in fifteen minutes or less. It takes about the same amount of time to deflate and pack up the balloon after the flight. |
| Why don't balloons fly in the middle of the day? | Balloons fly early in the morning, right after sunrise and late in the day, right before sunset. This is when the wind is calmest since the sun is low in the sky. |
| Why is the angle of the sun important? | The sun is the source of wind, because it heats the earth unevenly. Sunlight falls directly on the equator, for example. The North Pole receives weaker, slanted rays of sunlight. Clouds may keep one area cool while another heats up. Water and land heat up at different rates. Hot air is lighter than cool air, so it rises. As hot air rises, cool air slides in to replace it. The result: wind. It isn't safe to fly during the daytime when different pockets of air are rising and falling. |
| Can balloons fly at night? | Yes, although balloonists seldom do because of decreased visibility and the requirement for instruments and lights. Most balloons are certified for day flying only. |
| How do you get back to where you started? | A chase crew follows along in a van or truck. The chase crew is in radio contact with the pilot, so they can be there when the balloon lands (or soon afterwards). |
| How much do balloons cost? | About the same as a car or boat. The most popular sport size balloons cost from 30.000,- € to 40.000,- € or more. Support equipment (radios, fan, extra tanks, tools, repair kit, etc.) adds from 3.000,- € to 10.000,- € or more. |
| What are envelopes made of? | Rip-stop nylon is the most common material. Polyester and other fabrics are sometimes used. The lower portions around the opening are usually made from a fire resistant material like Nomex, similar to what race car drivers and firemen wear. |
| What fuel do hot air balloons use, and where is it carried? | Propane is used for fuel. It is carried in stainless steel tanks that range from 10 to 20 gallons in size. Average fuel consumption is about 15 gallons an hour. |
| How long do balloons last? | Depending on the care it is given, a balloon envelope may last 500 or more flying hours. Considering that we fly from 80-120 hours a year, balloons do at lest around 5 jears. |
| What if you have to go to the bathroom? | Pre-planning is the key! Since flights average about an hour or so, pre-planning pays off in this regard. There are no bathrooms aboard the balloon. |
| What is a balloon basket made of? | Woven wicker is used because it is lightweight, flexible and easily repaired. It also looks nice! |
| What are the differences between gas and hot air balloons? | A gas balloon is completely enclosed and is filled with helium or hydrogen. A hot air balloon gets its lift from heating the air within it. The Breitling Orbiter, which flew non-stop around the world in 1999, was a combination gas and hot air balloon. |
| What happens if a bird flys into a balloon? | It would likely bounce off! The envelope fabric is much tougher than it might appear. It is possible to fly a balloon with a hole large enough for a man to go through as long as the hole is not at the top of the envelope. |
| Can I smoke in or around a hot air balloon? | It's not advisable because of the possibility of propane fires or explosions from leaks, although leaks are extremely rare. The balloon fabric can also be damaged by a stray spark or hot ash. There is a strict non-smoking rule at most balloon festivals also. |
