Fly High In A Couples Hot Air Balloon Ride Colorado Style
Humans beings were taking to the skies long before the Wright brothers made their historic flight. As early as 1783, Europeans sent intrepid farm animals aloft, and soon afterward people were also happily drifting through the skies of France in balloons. Although fixed wing aircraft would prove to be the future of aviation, booking a couples hot air balloon ride Colorado style is still an exciting adventure.
The earliest versions of these vehicles had no steering, and used an unprotected flame to heat the air. They could only go where the wind blew, which meant they regularly ended up tangled in trees. In time, gases provided a more easily controlled lift, and dirigibles with frames could be steered. In spite of the romance of drifting calmly over the countryside, public interest soon waned.
In the post-World War II U. S. Navy, research continued in an effort to find a better way of transporting smaller loads by air. Even though this study broke no new ground, it had the result of re-igniting interest in hot-air ships, while old operating systems, methods, and safety standards were updated. Solving intrinsic design issues helped bring balloon transport into the twentieth century.
After the program ended, interest in ballooning remained high. There is an almost magical quality that surrounds this type of retro transportation, and it did not take long for entrepreneurs to begin selling recreational rides to adventurous passengers. With new safety features in place, outdoor enthusiasts have taken to the sky in increasing numbers.
Hot-air festivals are commonplace, and often showcase brightly colored and whimsically shaped aircraft. In principle, however, these ships are still quite similar to those flown by 18th century Europeans. Air is still heated by a flame, and when captured inside a balloon, floats upward. Progress up or down is controlled by the size of the flame, and there still is no actual steering wheel.
Passengers ride below in a lightweight container called a gondola. Often made of old-fashioned wicker, it can hold up to two dozen people at a time. Most people stand during the comparatively short flights, and there is no attached seating due to weight concerns. Like a hang glider, a balloon relies on air currents for direction and lift, and simply reduces the heat when landing.
Flying without constant noise and buffeting gives travelers a special, peaceful feeling. At comfortable altitudes, people can feel the wind, hear passing birds, and enjoy the scenery in a way that is impossible otherwise. Unseen features of the landscape below can only be discovered from above. Rising up toward the clouds is exciting on its own, but ballooning also refreshes the human spirit in a way that an airplane ride cannot.
The plains and foothills near the Rocky Mountains in the central United States have become one of the most popular areas for ballooning. The climate and wind patterns make the warmer months perfect for vacationers who want to include this unique activity in their plans. Commercial operators are required to employ experienced, licensed pilots, making floating together on the wind both safe and enjoyable.
The earliest versions of these vehicles had no steering, and used an unprotected flame to heat the air. They could only go where the wind blew, which meant they regularly ended up tangled in trees. In time, gases provided a more easily controlled lift, and dirigibles with frames could be steered. In spite of the romance of drifting calmly over the countryside, public interest soon waned.
In the post-World War II U. S. Navy, research continued in an effort to find a better way of transporting smaller loads by air. Even though this study broke no new ground, it had the result of re-igniting interest in hot-air ships, while old operating systems, methods, and safety standards were updated. Solving intrinsic design issues helped bring balloon transport into the twentieth century.
After the program ended, interest in ballooning remained high. There is an almost magical quality that surrounds this type of retro transportation, and it did not take long for entrepreneurs to begin selling recreational rides to adventurous passengers. With new safety features in place, outdoor enthusiasts have taken to the sky in increasing numbers.
Hot-air festivals are commonplace, and often showcase brightly colored and whimsically shaped aircraft. In principle, however, these ships are still quite similar to those flown by 18th century Europeans. Air is still heated by a flame, and when captured inside a balloon, floats upward. Progress up or down is controlled by the size of the flame, and there still is no actual steering wheel.
Passengers ride below in a lightweight container called a gondola. Often made of old-fashioned wicker, it can hold up to two dozen people at a time. Most people stand during the comparatively short flights, and there is no attached seating due to weight concerns. Like a hang glider, a balloon relies on air currents for direction and lift, and simply reduces the heat when landing.
Flying without constant noise and buffeting gives travelers a special, peaceful feeling. At comfortable altitudes, people can feel the wind, hear passing birds, and enjoy the scenery in a way that is impossible otherwise. Unseen features of the landscape below can only be discovered from above. Rising up toward the clouds is exciting on its own, but ballooning also refreshes the human spirit in a way that an airplane ride cannot.
The plains and foothills near the Rocky Mountains in the central United States have become one of the most popular areas for ballooning. The climate and wind patterns make the warmer months perfect for vacationers who want to include this unique activity in their plans. Commercial operators are required to employ experienced, licensed pilots, making floating together on the wind both safe and enjoyable.
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