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Balloon Flights Faqs

How do balloons fly?

Balloons operate through the basic principles of gravity and heat transfer. While heating the air within the balloon, it rises. As the air inside the balloon cools, it descends. To make the balloon fly, inflator fan fills it with air, then that air is heated.

What are the main parts of a hot air balloon?

A hot air balloon has three main parts: the cover or envelope, the burner and the basket (or gondola). The basket is where passengers travel. Usually made of wicker, they protect occupants and are lightweight and flexible. The burner is located above the passengers’ heads, and produce a flame for heating the air within the envelope. The wrapper is a colorful cloth bag that holds the hot air. When the air inside the envelope is heated, the balloon rises. To descend, the driver allows the air to cool and the balloon becomes heavier than air. The pilot has complete control of movement up and down as he is able to monitor the heat in the envelope.

What is the envelope or cover made of?

A waterproof nylon is the most common material, but polyester and other fabrics are also used. The weave around the lower opening (called “mouth”) of the balloon is usually made of fire resistant material like Nomex, similar to fire suits.

What is the basket made of?

Woven wicker is used because it is lightweight, flexible and easy to repair. And it looks good!

Are all hot air balloons the same?

All hot air balloons consist of a burner system, a basket and a wrap or envelope. The differences are in the shape and size of the envelope, the discharge system, the shape and design of the basket and the configuration, design and number of burners.

How long the balloons last?

Depending on the care they receive a balloon envelope may last more than 500 hours of flight. The basket will last much longer, perhaps thousands of flight hours, with proper care.

Can you steer a balloon?

The wind determines the direction of the balloon. The pilot can steer the balloon, to a lesser extent, by adjusting its altitude to make use of different wind speeds and directions.

How many people can fly together in a hot air balloon?

The capabilities of our balloons range from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 21 passengers.

How does a balloon flight last?

This depends on the type of flight. Standard flights takes about 1 hour and Deluxe Flights about 1 hour and a half.

What kind of fuel do balloons use?

Hot air balloons carry up to 80 liters of propane in stainless steel fuel tanks.

How high do balloons fly?

The balloons usually fly below 2000 feet, according to the Federal Aviation Regulations. At this point you are able to observe people and animals, and time seems to stop for a moment.

How safe is a balloon?

The balloons are considered one of the safest forms of flying. Serious accidents are rare.

What if the burner goes out?

If the burner goes out, the first burner is reactivated. If that does not work, we can use the second burner to fly the balloon. If this also fails, there is a third extra burner! In case we run out of available burners, the balloon would land at about the same speed as a parachute.

What if a bird hits the balloon?

The balloons are so large that most birds avoid them. The envelope material is much stronger than it looks and a bird probably bounce if there was a collision. Balloon manufacturers have been tested, and it is possible to fly a balloon with a hole large enough for a person to pass through it as long as the hole is not at the top of the envelope.

How long does it take to inflate and deflate the balloon?

Our ground crew can inflate and take off a balloon in fifteen minutes or less. It takes about the same time to deflate and pack the balloon after the flight.

Do pilots need a license?

Yes, all of our drivers have official licenses by the Civil Aviation authorities of Turkey and international civil aviation.

Why flying so early in the morning?

We fly in the first hours after sunrise because those are the more quiet and fresh hours of the day. This allows for more comfortable landings and to achieve maximum lifting capacity of the balloon. Added to this we would be able to enjoy the splendor of a beautiful sunrise.

All adventure, usually lasts between 3 and 4 hours, and then you have the rest of the day available to enjoy the many attractions of Cappadocia.

What to wear and what to bring?

It depends on the season. We also flew in winter! For summer: jeans or casual and flat shoes. For winter: raincoat, thick jacket or coat, etc. Although usually we land near a road, you may have to walk through the fields. It is not colder in the balloon than on the ground, however, you may wish to bring a light jacket. We recommend several layers of clothing. Bring your camera with plenty of film. Our team will be happy to take pictures to you on the balloon.

How do passengers go in the basket?

Passengers are usually standing during the flight. But there is nothing to worry about, the basket reaches the chest.

Where are we going to?

We go where the wind takes us. The sky is layered in different air currents, so that the pilot heats the air inside the balloon with the burner to take advantage of various streams in different directions.

Where do we land?

We can land at any of the many open fields of the area that we overfly. Your pilot will begin a gentle descent when he finds a suitable landing place, where our experienced land staff will be waiting to pick us up.

How do the weather affects the flight?

Before flying, we check the wind speed. Generally, we fly when wind speeds is less than 10 miles per hour.

Is age a factor to consider?

Our flight is not recommended for children under 10 years or adults about 80.

How does it feel?

Once in the air you will not feel any turbulence or strong movement, as the balloon flies away with the current. It is much more subtle than an elevator ride. The feeling is one of peace, as we fly above the trees and float over the fields, in a gentle, panoramic harmony with nature. Some passengers described the feeling as “romantic” while others call it “peaceful and quiet”.

Do the flight have insurance?

Yes. All passengers are insured for up to 1 million euros for international insurance company Eureko, in Turkey.

What is the difference between a Deluxe Tour and a Standard Tour?

Our deluxe tour offers a comfortable and cozy place to enjoy the fairy chimneys. The balloons used in deluxe tours only charge between 10 and 12 passengers, so you have more space to enjoy your flight. The flight takes about 1 hour and a half, ensuring that you can enjoy all that this amazing area has to offer.

For the standard tour we used our larger balloons. This means that you will take place between 16 and 21 passengers. The flight takes about 1 hour. Although shorter than our deluxe tour, standard gives ample time to admire the unique beauty of this region.

How I can make the reservation?

To book, please send us an e-mail to [email protected], or fill out our form.

What is included?

We pick you up from your hotel. You will have a light breakfast before departure in our facilities. At the end of the flight we celebrate it with a glass of champagne “Original Göreme Balloons”, and you will receive your flight certificate. We can help you celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or any other special occasion in our balloons!

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