How are hot air balloons inflated?
Inflating a hot air balloon requires a team effort, since a balloon is very cumbersome on the ground. If the wind flares up, it may take a four-person team to inflate a hot air balloon. The first step is to spread the envelope out on the ground and then attach it to the basket, which is laid down on its side. Each hot air balloon has a torch pointed right up into the center of the balloon. The torch, called a burner, burns propane to heat the air inside the balloon like a home furnace would heat the air inside your home-although the heat a balloon furnace produces is about five times as strong as that of a home furnace. Using a small fan, the hot air is blown into the envelope. The 200-300 degree Fahrenheit heated air rises and brings the balloon to its vertical position.
