What are Hot Air Balloons Made of?
The bag-or envelope, as it’s more properly called-is made of a reinforced fabric called rip-stop nylon (some balloons are made of dacron). The material is very light weight, but is very strong. The fabric is coated on the inside to prevent leaks. How is it inflated? During the inflation process, ballooning becomes a group sport. Since a balloon is quite unwieldy on the ground, especially in gusty winds, it takes about four people to get the balloon inflated. Of course, the more people there are, the more fun you can have. To start off, the envelope is stretched out on the ground and attached to the basket, which is lying on its side. A small gasoline-powered fan blows air into the balloon. Then the burner is turned on, and the air in the balloon is heated. The hot air rises, lifting the balloon upright. What are the baskets made of? The baskets are made from rattan or wicker and each one is individually woven by hand. How big are hot air balloons? The typical sport balloons range in si
