-
"Always lead with liquid". Various
- This simply means turn on the liquid propane supply at the tank
(burner test and inflation) before you light the pilot light. Why?
Imagine you are just about to hot inflate the balloon &:
- the burner blast valve has been left open
- a new crew member walks in front of the burner while your head is
in the basket.
- Result - they get a blast of cold propane rather than a very nasty
burn.
-
"Don't let your descent rate (ft/min.) exceed your height above the
ground, e.g. 500 ft above the ground don't exceed 500 ft/min". Burl
Helliken
- This is a very simple guide which you might want to apply when you
start practising fast descents. The idea is that the nearer to the
ground you are the slower your decent rate - common sense
really. By the time you are 300 feet above the ground you can choose
whether you need to make a positive landing or a gentle one.
-
"Some people land by instinct but until you develop it, line up the
top of a tree with a mark on the field and keep them in line as you descend,
avoid hitting the tree and you will find yourself in the field". Gary
Palmer
-
"If you are less than 15 seconds from the ground, it's too late to
burn - it won't lessen the impact, but it will make you bounce". Angelo
Hornak
-
"If there is a fire it will probably start in the basket so take the
extinguisher out before you turn on the fuel".
Derry Moore
-
"Never do anything in a balloon for more than ten seconds except fly
it".
Gary Palmer
-
"When landing, if
your first burn doesn't do it, put in half as much, if that doesn't, put in
half of that. 'Halving the burns' tends to stop you over-burning. Experience
will eventually enable you to get the first burn right." Roger
Jessett
-
"Your preflight
checks - I COME: Instruments;
Cords, Karabiners
& Car Keys; Obstacles
- up & downwind; Maps
& Matches; Envelope
& Extinguisher".
Laurie Ryan
-
"Always test your
burner for more than 5 seconds, it can take that long to empty the line of
liquid". Wyn Morgan
-
"In turbulent
conditions take plenty of fuel, and burn as soon as you feel wind in your
face - a lot of heat will miss the balloon". Ray
Bailey
-
"One knot is about
100 ft or 30 metres per minute". Chris Frampton
-
"If you can
distinguish the feet of a cow, you are less than than 700 ft above it, if
it's a sheep then you are lower than 300 ft". Christine
Allen
-
And finally, no-one is sure who said:
