Student Activity Sheets

Solutions

The part of the hot-air balloon that inflates is called the 'envelope'.
The RAAF operated its first hot-air balloon in 1990.
The first hot-air balloon flight on September 19, 1783 carried a sheep, a duck and a rooster.
The air in the envelope of an Air Force Balloon can only be safely heated to 120°C.
There are a number of ways that hot-air balloon pilots can find out which way the wind is blowing below them, including dropping small amounts of shaving foam and looking for indicators on the ground such as a flag on a pole, smoke billowing from a chimney and ripples on the surface of the water on a lake.
An Air Force Balloon uses 50 to 70 litres of fuel for each hour spent in the air.
A pilot can bring a hot-air balloon down to the ground by opening a valve to release air from the top of the envelope, or by allowing the air to cool naturally.
The first hot-air balloon flight to carry people heated the air inside the envelope by burning straw, chopped wool and dried horse manure.
The call sign of the first Air Force Balloon was VH-LDB, which is said as Lima Delta Bravo over the radio.
A balloon envelope is inflated for flight by blowing cold air into it with an inflation fan and, when partially filled, by turning on the burners to heat and expand the air.
An Air Force Balloon carries a 'transponder' to identify itself to Air Traffic Controllers.

Message: Air Force Balloon - Come On Up!

Message: RAAF Zone is the cool Air Force website for kids.