How do balloons fly?

Hot air balloons fly because hot air rises. When the pilot heats the air inside the envelope, it becomes lighter and the balloon floats up into the sky.

The pilot can control the balloon's height by adjusting the temperature of the air inside the balloon. To make the balloon come down, the air inside the balloon is allowed to cool. To climb, more heat is added, increasing lift.

More information is available in our article "How Balloons Fly".

Others in this Category

	How many balloons are there?
	What are balloons made of?
	What fuel do hot air balloons use, and where is it carried?
	How long do balloons last?
	How many people fit in a balloon?
	What are the differences between gas and hot air balloons?
	What happens if a bird flys into a balloon?
	Are all hot air balloons alike?
	Can I smoke in or around a hot air balloon?
	Can balloons fly over mountains?
	Why do balloons use wicker baskets to fly in?

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Ballooning Q&A

How do balloons fly?

Have a ballooning question that isn't answered here?