Hot Air Balloon Competitions – The Safest Extreme Air Sport

Hot air ballooning is an increasingly popular technical flying sport that requires real teamwork. Ballooning itself is a magnificent experience that you can enjoy all year round, as long as the wind is not too strong and there is no rain or fog. However, it’s not just a breathtaking experience but a professional sport too. The teams consist of a pilot and usually three people who prepare the flight and inflate the balloon.

During the flight, the pilot tries to steer the floating vehicle in the pre-selected area by taking advantage of the winds in different directions at different heights. The winners of the hot air balloon competitions land closest to the mark in the shortest time. 

The most necessary pieces of equipment for hot air ballooning consist of a basket, the balloon envelope, and a gas burner. Competitors also need special devices, rigging, nets, and a safety line. With regular and professional maintenance, the sport is very safe. There are 19 various competition categories. 

There are those types where the judges calculate the results by using the data, they download from the GPS device recording the flight route, but there are also those categories that are based on the flight path, time, distance, and skill. During the competition, the three members of the team drive to the landing site, sometimes on brutal terrains, where the contest ends, to pack up the equipment.

The Beginning of Hot Air Ballooning

The Chinese created the first hot air balloon-like invention during the Three Kingdoms period in the 3rd century. Those were small lanterns with candles that rose in the air to send military signals. Then a more modern version appeared when in the 17th century, the Jesuit monk, Francesco Lana Terzi, discovered the law of aeronautics. He realized that that air has weight, so anything with less density will rise into the air.

In the mid- 1700a, two owners of a paper factory, Josef and Etienne, later known as the Montgolfier brothers, began experimenting. At first, they tried to fly the vehicle with steam, but the cooling water soaked the paper balloon. Later, they noticed that the ashes of the burning paper rose towards the sky but using smoke didn’t work either. Eventually, they decided on continuously burning straw and dry wood, so the smoke and heat lifted it. In 1783, they made the first hot air balloon flight with people that lasted around 25 minutes, covering approximately 7-8 km.

The beginning of modern hot air balloon flight can be traced back to America, where Ed Yost flew using propane-butane gas in 1960. Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones were the first pilots who took a successful round-the-world trip with their special hot air balloon in 1999. Starting from Switzerland and landing in Africa, they flew for 19 days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes, covering 42,810 km.

Hot Air Balloon Competitions

In hot air balloon competitions, pilots must complete tasks determined at the orientation before the rallies. There can be several different tasks during a flight, usually planned for two or three hours after sunrise or before sunset. There are 15 different task categories, but it is not required to perform all during one competition. You can find these at Bet365 Sportsbook. The meteorological situation based on the local geographical conditions influences the selection of tasks. 

There are three main hot air balloon competition task groups. Flying to predetermined targets; speed, time, and distance tasks; changing the route during the flight. There are also standard and free-flying variations. In a standard hot air balloon competition, all racers fly together and navigate their vehicles against the clock. The results used to be measured long after landing from the location of the balloon basket. 

However, in that case, the competitors could perform only one task per flight. It was also dangerous when many balloons wanted to land in the same spot. So, they found a safer option. Instead of landing, they throw down a 170 x 10 cm signal tape, which has a weight of 70 g at one end and is called a marker. They measure the distance between the marker and target to evaluate the results!

Balloon Rallies These Days

Hot air ballooning competitions, similar to other sports, have a standard rule book. They organize national championships and international rallies, like the World Hot Air Ballooning Championship or the HAB European Championship. Based on these results, the national team picks and invites the competitors. The goal is simple! The racers get points based on the tasks, and the winner is who collects the most. 

The athletes finishing among the first six represent their country in various international competitions, European and World Championships, World Air Games, etc. At the various rallies, other than the primary goal, which is the racing, the unique experience matters the most, but there is also an opportunity to parade funny-looking and special balloons. The FAI Ballooning Commission can give the highest level of certification, which includes the European and World Championships. 

The country that wants to organize the next prestigious event has to apply for the right. The chosen applicant must pay for all the costs the FAI prescribes. The judges and referees are also appointed by the association. There are only around five events each year that receive the certification in each category. According to Bet365 Sportsbook, the 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship will be in Murska, Sobota, between 18 and 22 September 2022.

What are These Rules for Ballooning?

Even though the participants are exposed to the will of nature, where the wind blows the hot air balloon where it pleases, the flights are carefully prepared beforehand. During the meteorological forecast, they can plan the route. They need to know the area of the flight, the planned duration, height, and the load of the balloon. After that, they can calculate how big of a hot air balloon they and how many gas tanks they will need to take for the flight. 

They can determine their flight plan more precisely only on the take-off spot, where they find out the direction of the wind by releasing a small helium-filled balloon. When taking off and landing, they cannot cause damage to agricultural areas. When several hot air balloons fly together, the balloon that is higher and sees the movement of the other must always take action and stwon’teer away. This usually means that the hot air balloon needs more heat to rise higher.

 Of course, a safe flight requires serious work and preparation as online sportsbook sites in the US state. The hot air balloon, the escort car, and, of course, the pilot must meet the requirements. The hot air balloon must undergo a regular annual inspection that proves its airworthy condition. The pilot must have an official license, complete a test flight every two years, and take part in regular flight physical examinations.

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Are hot air ballooning competitions safe?

According to online sportsbook sites in the US, it is the only air sport that has not caused a single death since its official start. Therefore, we can safely say that hot air ballooning is one of the least dangerous extreme sports. So participants and even tourists taking a pleasure flight in a hot air balloon can feel completely safe from the start until the landing. 

This sense of security is further enhanced by the fact that these professional athletes have passed tough exams and have many years of flying experience. In addition, there are balloon inspections twice a year. Plus, the constant technical testing and frequent maintenance ensure the safety of the sport. We have collected other extreme sports you need to try too!