Several years ago, I read an article about a 'personal' hot air balloon that consisted of a back-mounted burner, and an envelope that was much smaller than typical. Do you know of these? Are they still manufactured/ available/legal/a really bad idea?

Yes, they are around. They are commonly referred to as 'Cloudhoppers'. Many are homebuilt, but a few have been made by the balloon manufacturers.

They are lots of fun, but are not a good choice for someone just beginning. It takes quite a bit of experience to learn to control a balloon, and the lack of a protective enclosure (ie, a basket) and the inability to fly with an instructor make a cloudhopper a bad choice as a first balloon. They are exciting and quite enjoyable for an experienced pilot, though.

Others in this Category

	How old do you have to be to fly a balloon?
	How do you light the burners?
	What are the ropes for?
	Do you need a license to fly a balloon?
	How do I become a balloon pilot?
	What are the instruments used in flying a hot air balloon and what are their uses?

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Ballooning Q&A

Several years ago, I read an article about a 'personal' hot air balloon that consisted of a back-mounted burner, and an envelope that was much smaller than typical. Do you know of these? Are they still manufactured/ available/legal/a really bad idea?

Have a ballooning question that isn't answered here?