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EXPERIENCE
A SUNDANCE HOT AIR BALLOON ADVENTURE |
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| Have
some questions about your Sundance Flight or Hot Air Ballooning?
Check here for more information |
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How do I book a Hot Air Balloon flight? It's Simple... Just give Sundance Balloons a call and we'll give you all the information you need to book a flight. Click here to choose a flight location. |
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How long are the flights? On average, flights are one hour in length. Some flights can go for up to 1 1/2 hours depending on the weather conditions, the passengers' combined weight and the temperature of the air. |
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What
time of day do the flights take place? Flights take place at sunrise and approximately 2 hours prior to sunset. Hot Air Balloons are not able to fly during the day due to thermal activity, which makes the air unstable. |
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What
type of weather conditions are needed to fly in a Hot Air Balloon? Hot Air Balloon passenger flights take place in winds less than 10 knots, with no rain or approaching storms in the immediate area. Flights also require visibility of at least 4 km. |
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What
type of clothing should we wear? Special clothing is not required for Hot Air Ballooning. We always suggest practical wear, such as long pants, a light jacket, and a hat. No sandals or high heels please. |
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Can I
bring my camera and binoculars? Yes, we encourage it. Some of the greatest pictures of the surrounding area can be taken from the air. Don't forget to bring lots of film or videotape and a protective case for landing... we don't want to scratch anything. |
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Can
you fly during the winter? Yes, some of the best flights take place during the fall and winter months. During this time, visibility is usually unlimited. |
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Is it
cold up there? No, it is the same temperature on the ground as it is in the air. The temperature only begins to drop when you begin to fly very high. |
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How big
is the Hot Air Balloon? An average Hot Air Balloon is 105,000 cubic ft. That is approximately 80 feet high and 60 feet in diameter. An average of 4 passengers + the pilot can fly in a balloon of this size. |
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What
makes the Hot Air Balloon rise? Hot Air! High-powered propane burners ignites and heats liquid propane that is aimed into the balloon to make it rise. The burners create 30 million BTU's of heat. In comparison, an average home barbecue generates 15,000 BTU's. Each flight uses approximately 100 litres of propane. |
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How fast
do you fly? The balloon travels the same speed as the wind. An average flight is approximately 15 km in length. |
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How do
you steer the balloon? Hot Air Balloons can not be steered like a plane or helicopter. Balloons travel only in the direction of the wind. Upon landing, our 'Chase Crew' that has been following the balloon since lift off retrieves the balloon and passengers and returns them to the launch location. |
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Can anyone
fly the balloon? To fly a Hot Air Balloon you must be a licensed Balloon Pilot. Much like a fixed wing pilot, Balloon Pilots go through extensive training including ground school, written exams and hands-on flying. A balloon pilot must have a minimum of 50 hours experience to fly passengers in Canada. |
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What
is the balloon made of? Balloons are made from rip-stop nylon much like your winter ski jacket. Yet unlike your jacket, the balloon is coated in a special chemical to help it resist heat and last longer. Balloons have an average life expectancy of 300 hours of use. Manufacturers have many different colours of fabric to choose from to create the many different patterns you see flying through the sky. |
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How
much does a Hot Air Balloon cost? An average Hot Air Balloon, including the basket will set you back approximately $50,000.00 Canadian. |
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Who
makes Hot Air Balloons? Hot air balloons are made by a small group of select manufacturers around the world. The largest manufacturers of which can be found in England, the United States and Canada. Sundance Balloons is among this elite group. We hold a Transport Canada Type Certificate and manufacture state of the art balloons at our factory located in Belmont, Ontario. |
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What
happens if a bird hits the balloon while in flight? Unless it is a prehistoric bird, nothing. The bird would simply bounce off the surface. This rarely happens, since the birds are normally afraid of the balloons and keep their distance. |
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How
high do you fly? Though the altitude record for Hot Air Ballooning is 64,997 feet, the height of passenger flights range anywhere from treetops up to 1,500 feet. |
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