Riding the wind SOLO in my hot air balloon

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

You can keep up to date with each flight of the balloon, ride along to get a `pilots perspective of the world' from the basket of `Mercury' with this link to our `adventures of Mercury balloon team' playlist kzbin.info/aero/PL-FtZ8D04WMMXezClePLGTMjaPXZaRW0X OR Join our NEW community NEWS LETTER sign up by following the link mailchi.mp/d22d54879338/welcome-to-the-launch-site

[@dennism103]

That's a good way to scorch ur fabric

[@frosticularnug]

No shit, how impatient can you possibly be with 40,000 cubes

[@suzierawlins]

@@frosticularnug please don,t swear

[@GabeKing-u4i]

@@frosticularnug 31,000

[@racing10]

That's the most creative way to stand up a balloon with no one on crownline

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

@@racing10 yeah I've learned to be patient since this was filmed, I've added a few ideas that help keep the mouth open, so the 1 crew can go to the crown when there are just 2 of us. Someone suggested tying the crown line to a spare tyre, a spare fuel cylinder or even a lump of wood, that then drags across the ground and slows the rotation down.

[@kenwhite9841]

When you say home built. Did you buy the envelope or design and stitch and rig it yourself???

[@kenwhite9841]

Or is it a kit? I wanna build one but if a kit exists that route would make the wife happier 😂

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

Hi Ken, been a way a couple of days but I see you found the videos on home assembly and construction, yes design was my own as well, you can check out the basket too, which I had built to my own spec as well kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaTLlYucYrioers

[@FilmverzamelaarVincent]

Very cool !

[@FIYABAWLZZ]

it was amazing

[@noelbullard4676]

For solo flying do you still have to have ground crew?

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

I know of a few people who have flown without a crew, and brought them selves back for their car, via e-bike, push bike and even taxi 😆, but yes I've always had at least 1 person crew and chase me as I fly

[@noelbullard4676]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival thanks how would it be possible getting back home with a push bike with a hot air balloon equipment

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

@@noelbullard4676 oh you ride back to the launch site, leaving the balloon at the landing spot, then return for the balloon (hopefully no one flies it away why your gone) 😆

[@noelbullard4676]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival cheers just wondering how would you get permission to land if on your own 😆

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

It's rare when flying (any size balloon) to get permission to land, before touching down, just occasionally you meet the farmer out in the field as you come low. But having a chase crew can allow them to begin the conversation 'we are chasing a balloon and we think it landed on your land' sometimes you just have deflate the balloon and to walk to the nearest building or road, and start from there.

[@kurniyadimuttaqin8061]

How do you know wind direction especially above your balloon?

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

We launch a helium filled kids balloon (met balloon) before the flight to check the direction and speed of the wind as well as forecasts. If that shows unfavourable conditions there are 2 options a) change launch site b) go for breakfast :-) I guess part of the fun is never knowing for sure

[@londonsweeps]

You can also release Pieballs (helium balloons) during a flight to see wind direction. Usually it's Right With Height. But can change. I used balloons during flight when we would have Key Grap contest. Keys to a brand new car are places on a pole and if your lucky enough to fly close enough to the pole and grab the keys, you when the car!

[@doener-at-home]

dear sir ... what does all cost and where can i get this please?

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

A balloon of this size, (31,000ft3) second hand made by a manufacturer like Cameron balloons would cost about £7 - 10k depending on how much use it has had. Brand new ? Best to speek to the local sales person (they are global)

[@Allyourbase1990]

That’s so scary taking off 😂😂 heights used to not bother me , but now I get sick

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

I don't like heights standing on a building, or looking over the edge of a cliff, but with this I'm fine, and once you open your eyes it's a great view :-) I've known quite a few people get over their fear of heights by flying in a balloon (not solo of course)

[@jonasme1946]

Hello, how much does a hot air balloon of this size cost?

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

You could probably get your hands on one and your feet off the ground for around £15,000 - £20,000 though some of us choose to do the labour ourselves and home build, like I did for this one.

[@GabeKing-u4i]

are you using your model balloon fan

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

Yep, it's a 3hp fan so massively powerful for model balloons, and slightly underpowered for hoppers 😆 resulting I some 'interesting inflations'

[@GabeKing-u4i]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival are you going to get a bigger one

[@londonsweeps]

Are you using the Fire 2 when flying over livestock to keep noise level down?

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

A good point and perhaps a good subject for a future video. I've found with such a small balloon and plenty of power from the 'cow burner / whisper flame / fire 2' that I hardly use the main burner once the inflation is complete. It makes a massive difference when being around livestock to run the quite burner and 3 times that season I had cows come to meet meet as I came in to land :-)

[@londonsweeps]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival Okay cool. Its been years since I have flown but used to be crew chief too. Still havent made it to Albuquerque but had planned on both that an Oshkosh this year but I guess both cancelled due to Covid! Well thanks for reply and Soft Landings!

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

@@londonsweeps Albuquerque was awesome, made some great friends there and the sight of so many balloons was unreal took me 35 years to get there but it was worth the wait - what's another year between friends, Oshkosh - not been but hard to imagine it's anything but brilliant with all those aircraft filling the skies, definitely on a bucket list of two :-) Happy Landings

[@maelgourinel3374]

why you use the cow burner ? why not the pincipal vanne

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

This was my 3rd flight with the balloon. I found it very reactive, probably due to flying light. (I'll be adding a bigger tank for 2020), but also I could see / feel the heat out the mouth if I put in a long burn on the main burner

[@maelgourinel3374]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival okay

[@hamzamr.8693]

beautiful

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

Thank you! 😊 I built the balloon with the help of my friends, and a lot of patience. I'm happy to say so far I've managed NOT to `disassemble it' on landing - Glad you enjoyed the flight

[@gwynnethsmith9226]

I want to do bad but I'm terrified!

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

Sometimes it's a massive adrenaline rush other times it's such a calming experience, what worries you, is the height?

[@briangoldberg6501]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival Yep,,,

[@yt_eganwarrior8572]

How do I ride one though

[@FIYABAWLZZ]

I just has the privilage of go in a hot air baloon in lechthoth NY it was a big one and it was fantastic serene smooth almost you want to sleep but you need to se the spectacular view,i recomend it once in a life ,do it is safe'

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

I'm told letchworth is one of the most stunning flights in the world, the videos I've seen from friends flying there are amazing

[@morrisdennis]

What is the cf of ur envelope

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

It's 31,000 ft3, 18 gore envelope of my own design 🙂 was out flying it again this weekend, more driffty floaty adventures on the way soon 😀

[@ruthdoyle9085]

Why don’t balloonist use forced air torpedo burners to inflate and preheat the balloon? Or at least heating the air being blown in? Would speed up the process I would think... (u would need an inverter off the launch/chase car as they require 120v)

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

Maybe I should hire one and make a film, see how it goes - I've seen footage of early balloonist doing just that, Not something I've seen used in recent years, I think the heat output is quite low compared with the main burner, most of my trouble comes from the small size of fan vs the volume and weight of the balloon a bigger fan would solve some problems, but not fit in my car :-(

[@FIYABAWLZZ]

ther is science behind it

[@umarQs]

Did anybody dont see the bee flying on the bee😂

[@commonsense-og1gz]

a principle that Archimedes should have come up with, but everyone had to wait till the late 1700s to actually discover. imagine how much reliance people would have had on hot AB travel in the middle ages.

[@stevenklingler9376]

The whole thing about fire blowing into a giant balloon always seemed weird to me. Seems like a bad idea. 😆

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

It's when I tell people 'every landing is basically a crash' that people often take a step back and go 'yeah maybe this isn't for me' 😄

[@rookietrucker9754]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival why would you even say it's like a crash its not that just scares more people out of the sport no matter how much they wanted to take a flight

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

I'm usually throwing my head back with laughter at the time over a pint or leaning on a farm gate with someone who just watched me bounce around the field lol. (Not to be taken serious) 😁

[@hamzamr.8693]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival HAHA

[@serhanrizaleki2214]

people need to learn how to take off especially this pilot here has no clue on hot to fly an hot air balloon he started heatıng when the thıng wasnt even fully ınflated

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

Well let me say a massive thank you for taking time out of your day to be so constructive with your comment. pretty sure I acknowledged it wasn't a great inflation - no scorched nylon (in the last 35 years) - no harm done, many happy landings to you.

[@nickbarrett7163]

Man you need to burn a lot longer to avoid wiggle room in your envelope. Also girl in the right needs to hold back the tether lines to avoid burnage. She’s also not wearing gloves.

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

Good advice we were learning a lot that morning. We need some weight on the crown line too when there are just 2 people. Still learning :-)

[@patrickwiggins2615]

Oh, hello Nick. Imagine seeing you here! Finally found another channel dedicated to ballooning. @The Big Balloon Festival, my brother has an actual Solo System balloon built here in the states. Looks very similar to this.

[@kylehughes6324]

So you just land on random people’s land?? lol 😂 excuse my ignorance.

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

Perfectly good question. Yes I guess you could described it a little like that. Given the chance I'm looking for a few things 1) not crop field 2) no animals to disturb 3) an access gate by a road. All of the above make the after landing conversation with the land owner much easier. But yes we are uninvited guests. Over time balloonist record and share the places where they are not welcome (and mark them on our maps) so we hopefully receive a warm welcome every time

[@kylehughes6324]

I would be more than happy to let anyone land in my field then I enjoyed your video. I didn’t realize you couldn’t necessarily control your landing point hopefully other people are likewise as myself and you don’t have to run into any assholes! I don’t mind airplanes but maybe I’ll get the stomach for this one day!

[@gantz4u]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival Just fly with a french beret,fake mustache, wine, baguette and summer sausage and offer a toast and snacks so it gets even weirder when you randomly land a balloon in someones field.

[@gantz4u]

@@TheBigBalloonFestival We call that pulling the ol' "frenchman" ballooning here in the United States.

[@TheBigBalloonFestival]

@@gantz4u ha ha thats brilliant definatly one for the future lol. I can just imagine that question that often comes from the farmer 'have you come far this morning' :-)