Take The Couples Hot Air Balloon Ride Colorado Vacationers Love

Take The Couples Hot Air Balloon Ride Colorado Vacationers Love

by Sally Delacruz

Long before the Wright brothers made history at Kitty Hawk, people had taken to the sky in balloons. Europeans were launching ducks and sheep as early as the 1780s, soon to be followed by scores of passengers happily floating over the tranquil French countryside. The future would belong to fixed-wing aircraft, but reserving a space on the kind of <A href="http://www.rockymountainballoonrides.com">couples hot air balloon ride Colorado</A> vacationers love still generates excitement.

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.

During the 1960s, the United States Navy funded research intended to find a better way to economically move small loads short distances using airships. Although there were no earth-shattering solutions, old hot-air flight concepts were updated and modernized, bringing ballooning into the modern era. Power sources became safer and easier to regulate, and certain design problems were eliminated.

Although this research soon ended, it did capture the attention of enthusiasts. In an era when faster seemed better, there was still a magical aura surrounding this form of travel, and entrepreneurs quickly envisioned a future that included recreational balloon rides. New safety features have erased many former concerns, and people today are taking to the skies in growing 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.

In this raucous, noisy age of jet engines and helicopters, there is a uniquely calming feeling about noiseless flying. Passengers are not strapped inside a metal tube high above the ground, but can actually feel the air temperature, and even hear passing birds. From this height, details can be seen that are invisible from ground level. Not only is hot-air travel exciting, but it can also be personally gratifying.

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.



When you are in need of information about a <a href="http://www.rockymountainballoonrides.com">couples hot air balloon ride Colorado</a> visitors should pay a visit to the web pages online here today. You can see details at http://www.rockymountainballoonrides.com now.

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