BALLOONS BALLOONS EVERYWHERE.................ROMANCING THE SKIES............

If you actually need to get somewhere, what could be the most illogical or impractical way to do so, but the most romantic, than by a hot air balloon. It is really the slowest mode of air travel, because you can't really steer the balloon , but the wind does. That boils down to a few knots only which is the speed of the prevailing wind. But when you ask somebody who has taken that journey , he will tell you how heavenly it feels, like floating in the serenity of the skies. The earth appears to be turning right below and the horizon rises slowly and silently as you very romantically dip down to kiss the tree tops. The endearing whisper of the wind tells you that the balloon has changed its directions. And that is not all. Down below on the mother earth your friends and companions are chasing you or tracking you in their vehicles continuously ascertaining your position because your direction/speed is solely dependent on the wind and you may land anywhere.

 

       The first recorded instances of hot air balloons carrying passengers were built by Montgolfier brothers in  Annonay, France in the 18th century. The Montgolfier brothers were paper manufacturers in France who had the insight to use the principle of ash rising from the fire or the principle of warm air rising above the cold. The year 1960 saw the revival of modern day hot air ballooning. Ed Yost made the first modern hot air balloon using a plastic envelope and kerosene as fuel. This design rapidly evolved with the passing time into today's propane powered "weed burner" to heat the air and lightweight nylon fabric for the envelope material.

 

        Today Hot Air Ballooning is rated as one of the major adventure sports in aviation. Among its many other uses, a major source of recreation. And India very proudly boasts of having made the world record with Mr.Vijaypat Singhania touching the highest altitude ever before in a hot air balloon, that is 69,852 feet on 26 Nov 2005.

      Our own city Jaipur saw lot of hot air ballooning this  January and February 2006.Indian Army Adventure wing carried out lot of  trial  launches before carrying out their first ever day and night continuous-24 hrs- balloon launch from Jaipur on the 1st of March2006. Rajasthan Government Tourism Deptt. organised three days hot air ballooning at Jaipur in Feb2006 with International participation from different parts of the globe. They also organised an international hot air balloon race in the city where the balloonists tested their accuracy and speed.

           Our salutes to the spirit of Adventure in these Balloon Enthusiasts and congratulations to the Air Traffic Controllers who had accepted the challenges of controlling slow moving pot bellied hot air balloons along with IFR/VFR air traffic.

                 Long Live Aviation! Long Live The Spirit Of Adventure In Man! Long Live New Ideas And New Challenges!

                The Human Soul Was Surely  Built By God To Dance To The Tunes Of New Adventures! Salutations To The Hero In The Human Soul!

A. Sanyal