Hot Air Balloons
Hot air balloons represent the first victory man won in the history of flying, and the first one to be operated was flown in 1783 in Paris. There are some essential parts in the structure of the hot air balloons that contribute to the level of propulsion achieved. First of all, there is the envelope containing the heated air that is suspended over the capsule, basket or gondola as the pilot's place is called. This is the other main part of the balloon that carries not only the passengers and the pilot but the heating device too. The working principle of hot air balloons is the physical property of hot air that has a different pressure than other cooler masses.
Presently, hot air balloons are manufactured from nylon while the mouth of the balloon exposed to the direct action of the burner is made from fire resistant materials. This is not the only innovation in modern hot air balloons, technology now allows it for the making of the envelopes in all sorts of shapes like rocket ships, Mickey Mouse, commercial products and the like. For such purposes, hot air balloons serve advertising interests and are promoted as such. In ancient cultures, airborne lanterns are considered the forefathers of hot air balloons that seem to have been present in the old Peruvian civilization for instance.
Before the first hot air balloons were launched, experiments did exist with unmanned crafts that sometimes had animals on board. Then, the next step taken was that of using a tethered balloon with humans on board this time. It was not until the early 50s that modern hot air balloons approached the form of today, as they now have the heat source on board. Recreation activities presently represent the main purpose of such air crafts and their popularity is not that high. However, enthusiasts did manage to set real records by flying at incredible altitudes, such a case was registered in 2005 when a hot air balloon reached 21,027 meters, in India.
The difficulty with hot air balloons is that they are more difficult to maintain than fly. The problem of the balloon retrieval from a rough landscape is pretty challenging. Just imagine what it means to land in a wet area or a muddy location. Patching the envelope, cleaning the burner and the fuel tank and even removing some panels also take time and cost money. In short these would be the main reasons why hot air balloons remain limited in usage and are only favored by some people. The only thing that matters in such situations is whether you consider it worth the effort!