The Balloon

A balloon is a federally registered aircraft. Just as an airplane, blimp or helicopter, a balloon must be inspected each year or 100 flight hours.

How big is a balloon? The most common size is about 55 feet wide and 7 stories tall, uses 1800 square yards of nylon fabric, 3 miles of thread and 1/2 mile of reinforcing nylon webbing. Some special shape balloons are much, much bigger.

How much does a balloon weigh? The average hot air balloon (with a deflated envelope, a gondola or basket, 30-40 gallons of fuel and 2-4 fuel tanks) weighs about 500 pounds. Once inflated, a balloon and the air in it will weigh about 2 1/2 tons. Some special shape balloons weigh thousands of pounds.

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(Boston Esplanade)