Balloon

03 Apr Balloon

How do balloons fly?

Balloons operate through the basic principles of gravity and heat transfer. While heating the air within the balloon, it rises. As the air inside the balloon get cold, it descends. To make the balloon fly, inflator fan fills it with air, then the air is heated.

What are the main parts of a hot air balloon?

A hot air balloon has three main parts: the cover, the burner and the basket (or gondola). The basket is where passengers travel. Usually made of wicker, protect the occupants and are lightweight and flexible. The burner is located above the passenger’s heads, and produce a flame for heating the air within the envelope. The wrapper is a colorful cloth bag that holds the hot air. When the air inside the envelope is heated, the balloon rises. To descend, the pilot allows the air to get cold and the balloon becomes heavier than air. The pilot has complete control of movement up and down thanks to the ability of controlling the heat in the envelope.

What is the wrapping made of?

A waterproof nylon is the most common material, but polyester and other fabrics are also used. The weave around the lower opening (called “mouth”) of the globe is usually made of fire resistant materials like Nomex, similar to fire suits.

What is the basket made of?

Woven wicker is used because of is lightweight, flexible and easy to repair. And it looks good!

All hot air balloons are the same?

All hot air balloons consist of a burner system, a basket and a wrap. The differences are in the shape and size of the envelope, the discharge system, the shape and design of the nacelle and the configuration, design and number of burners.

How long will the balloons last?

Depending on the care they receive a balloon envelope last more than 500 hours of flight. The basket will last much longer, perhaps thousands of flight hours, with proper care.

Can you steer a balloon?

The wind determines the direction of the globe. The pilot can steer the balloon, to a lesser extent, by adjusting its altitude to make use of different wind speeds and directions.

How many people can ride in a hot air balloon?

The capabilities of our balloons range from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 21 passengers.

How long does a balloon flight?

This depends on the type of flight. Standard flight takes about 1 hour and Deluxe flights about 1 hour and a half.

What fuel do balloons use?

Hot air balloons carry up 80 liters of propane fuel tanks of stainless steel.

How high do balloons fly?

The balloons usually fly below 2,000 feet, according to the Federal Aviation Regulations. At this point you are able to observe people and animals, and time seems to stop for a moment.

How safe is a balloon?

The balloons are considered one of the safest forms of flying. Serious accidents are rare.

What if the burner goes out?

If the burner goes out, the first burner is reactivated. If that does not work, they go to the second burner to fly the balloon. If this also fails, there is a third burner parts! If there would not be any burners available, the balloon would land at about the same speed as a parachute.

What if a bird hits the balloon?

The balloons are so large that most birds avoid them. The envelope material is much stronger than it looks and a bird probably bounce if there was a collision. Balloon manufacturers have been tested, and it is possible to fly a balloon with a hole large enough for a person to pass through it, as long as the hole is not at the top of the casing.

How long does it take to inflate and deflate the balloon?

Our ground crew can inflate and take off a balloon in fifteen minutes or less. It takes about the same time to deflate and pack the balloon after the flight.

Do pilots need a license?

Yes, all our pilots have official licenses from Civil Aviation authorities of Turkey and internationals.

Why flying so early in the morning?

We fly in the first hours after sunrise, those are the quietest and freshest hours of the day. This allow us a more comfortable landing and the maximum lifting capacity of the balloon. Added to this, you will enjoy the splendor of a beautiful sunrise. All the adventure generally lasts from 3 to 4 hours, and then you have the rest of the day available to enjoy the many attractions of Cappadocia.

What to wear and what to bring to the Balloon?

It depends on the season. We also fly in winter! For summer: jeans or casual and flat shoes. For winter: raincoat, thick jacket or coat, etc. Although we usually land near a road, you may have to walk through the fields. It is colder in the balloon than on the ground, so you could bring a light jacket. Some people recommended several layers of clothing, for cold days. Bring your camera with plenty of film or storage space. Our team will be happy to take pictures of you in the globe.

How do passengers fly in the basket?

Passengers are usually standing on the flight. But there is nothing to worry about, the basket reaches our chests.

Where are we flying?

We go where the wind takes us. The sky is layered in different air currents, so that the pilot heats the air inside the balloon with the burner to take advantage of various streams in different directions.

Where we land?

We can land at any of the many open fields of the area. Your pilot will begin a gentle descent when he finds a suitable landing place, where our ground staff will be waiting for us.

How do weather affects?

Before flying, we check the wind speed. Generally, we fly when wind speeds is less than 10 miles per hour.

Is age a factor to consider?

Our flight is not recommended for children under 10 years or adults over 80.

How does it feels?

Once in the air you will not feel any turbulence or strong movement, as the balloon flies away with the airstreams. It is much more subtle than an elevator ride. The feeling is one of peace, as we fly above the trees and float over the fields, in a gentle, panoramic harmony with nature. Some passengers have described the feeling as “romantic” while others called it “peaceful and quiet”.

Do the flight have insurance?

Yes. All passengers are insured up to 1 million euros by international insurance company Eureko, Turkey.

What is the difference between a Deluxe Tour and Standard Tour?

Our deluxe tour offers a comfortable and cozy place to enjoy the fairy chimneys. The balloons used in deluxe tours only charge between 10 and 12 passengers, so you have more space to enjoy your flight. The flight takes about 1 hour and a half, ensuring that you can enjoy all off what this amazing area has to offer.

For the standard tour we use our larger balloons. This means that you will take place between 16 and 21 passengers. The flight takes about 1 hour. Although shorter than our tour deluxe, standard gives plenty of time to admire the unique beauty of this region.

How I can make the reservation?

To book, please send an e-mail to info@cappadociantour.com or fill out our form.

What is included?

We pick you up from your hotel. We will have a light breakfast before departure. At the end of the flight we will celebrate a small toast with the original champagne Göreme Balloons, and you will receive your flight certificate. We can help you celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or any other special occasion.

How much is the balloon flight?

Please visit our websites Flight Details & Rates. We offer three types of ballooning tours.