Where do balloons land?
This is a very common question and a very important one. It brings up many issues that are important for balloonists, such as land owner relations. With the exception of a box wind condition, a balloon will land somewhere down wind of where it took off. The landing spot can be any open area big enough bring the balloon into. The size of the area needed to land a balloon depends on the size of the balloon and the weather conditions at the time. The faster the wind is blowing, the more space is required to land a balloon. In calm conditions, the area can sometimes be no larger than the balloon itself. Balloons have landed in parking lots, golf courses, fields, ball parks, schools, back yards, front yards, streets, roads, and even parks to name just a few. A balloonist will try to pick a location that has easy access for the chase vehicle and is free of obstructions, (e.g. power lines and trees) although this is not always possible.
