Hot air balloon trips of Missouri    

Missouri Hot air balloon trips

Balloon flights are routine in Missouri, and your family can enjoy this fun sport while the conditions are right. Regardless of the fact that many persons have never been around a balloon, those who have floated away in one remember this marvellous treat forever!

Why is the angle of the sun important?
The sun is the source of wind, because it heats the earth unevenly. Sunlight falls directly on the equator, for example. The North Pole receives weaker, slanted rays of sunlight. Clouds may keep one area cool while another heats up. Water and land heat up at different rates. Hot air is lighter than cool air, so it rises. As hot air rises, cool air slides in to replace it. The result: wind. It isn't safe to fly during the daytime when different pockets of air are rising and falling.

Balloon flights can be experienced by everyone. Most charters last about an hour, but check with your ride company to find out what they offer. They often have different offerings to select from.

Do you need a license to fly a balloon?

Yes.
A Balloon Pilot Certificate is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration in the USA. You must pass an FAA written exam, obtain a prescribed number of hours of instruction, make a solo flight, a flight to a specific altitude and pass a flight test.

A pilot offering balloon rides (flying passengers for hire) must receive additional training and have more experience than a private pilot. You don't have to be able to fly an airplane since it is a completely different type of aircraft, although many balloon pilots also fly other types of aircraft like airplanes and helicopters.

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