Balloon Flying Theory Class

Unlike other forms of aviation, when you learn to fly a balloon in the UK there's no Ground School. You get instruction in the basket and you may go to the Cameron Crammer Weekend to pass your PPL examinations. BUT there is no Ground School where you can learn the theory of ballooning. Ground School increases your knowledge and makes you a more competent, safer pilot.

Click on a question to reveal the answer; click again to hide it.

• What does "lead with liquid" mean and why should you always do it?

  • See Golden Rules.
• Can you connect a Cameron vapour hose to a Thunder and Colt tank?
  • No you can't - they are slightly different sizes.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of bent and straight dip tubes?
  • The advantage of a bent dip tube over the straight is that you can draw liquid propane even though the tank is less than half full. The disadvantage is that unless the tube is pointing down you might draw vapour thus overheating the burner coil.
• Why should you spit out of the basket?
  • You are flying at 500 ft and you want to know what direction the wind is blowing below you, spitting out of the basket will show you the wind direction below. This might make the difference between getting into the cut field and missing it completely. You don't have to spit, you can use shaving foam or water.
• What effect does an inversion have as you ascend?
  • In an inversion the air is getting warmer as you ascend (this is the opposite of what normally happens). Your vertical speed depends on the temperature differential between the air in the envelope and the surrounding air. In an inversion this differential is reducing as you ascend so you slow down and will need to burn more than you normally do to maintain your upward ascent.
• What is a safe rate of descent at 500 ft above ground level?
  • See Golden Rules.
• At what rate of descent can you hit the ground?
  • Sometime you need to hit the ground fairly hard so that you don't drag too far. Hitting the ground at 300 ft/minute shouldn't result in injury so long as you are flying with experienced and fit passengers, briefed to absorb the shock. Take care though; broken bones can result especially in when your forward speed is high.
• Can you decode a TAF & METAR?
  • A TAF is a 9 hour aerodrome forecast and the METAR is the weather at the aerodrome in the recent past. Both of these are available on the Met Office Website together with a decode. These are invaluable and are available for an aerodrome in your locality.

 If you don't know the answers then you would benefit from Ground School or maybe you could try the multiple choice questions in the Ground School Quiz.

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