How is a balloon launched?
The envelope of the balloon is laid out downwind and flat on the ground. Air is blown into the balloon with a gas-powered fan. In 15 minutes, the balloon is inflated to the size of a small house. The burner is used to heat the temperature inside, causing it to rise. The flight burner is ignited when the balloon begins to reach full inflation. The burner uses propane to produce 21 billion BTUs per hour. It is mounted on top of the gondola and used to heat the air inside to a temperature higher than the outside, causing the envelope to rise. As the balloon inflates and its underside begins to leave the ground, the pilot, handling the burners puts one leg inside the basket. The crew members let go of their control lines and the envelopes rises, tilting the basked upright with the pilot inside. The balloon now stands approximately 70 feet high and 55 feet wide. Still it is not sufficiently buoyant to lift the basket so passengers are able to climb aboard. Ready to lift off, the pilot opens
