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July 5, 2010 at 3:14 am #595424
HomerParticipantHi all, anyone know where in the state they have a good hot air balloon festival or at least a good place to watch them take off at dusk?
July 5, 2010 at 3:20 am #698350July 5, 2010 at 3:49 am #698351
HomerParticipantCool! Thanks Pam! Wish there was something more in the Seattle area but guess all those darn building foul up the flight pattern! ;-)
July 5, 2010 at 5:06 am #698352
cjboffoliParticipantI was lucky enough to take a hot air balloon flight while I was in Egypt late last year. I highly recommend the experience if you get a chance to fly in one. Some HD Video of my ride:
July 5, 2010 at 3:21 pm #698353
anonymeParticipantAlbuquerque.
July 5, 2010 at 4:38 pm #698354
PibalParticipantJust go! You’ll have a great time!
Although you mention dusk, most balloon launches take place at dawn. The winds are lighter and more importantly the outside air temperature is at its coolest. Temperature is important because the balloon creates lift by temperature differential, i.e., the difference between the temperature inside the balloon (called the envelope) and the temperature outside the balloon. The warmer the air is, the warmer the air inside the envelope has to be. The warmer the air inside the envelope, the greater the wear on the fabric. Thus a cool balloon lasts longer.
All balloons are cool, but that has nothing to do with temperature. ;>)
Here are the upcoming Washington/Oregon balloon festivals:
July 9-11 – Rogue River, Medford, OR
August 21-22 – Loose Goose, McMinnville, OR
August 27-29 – Northwest Art & Air, Albany, OR
September 24-26 – Great Prosser Rally, Prosser, WA
May 13-15 (2011) – Walla Walla Stampede, Walla Walla, WA
A lot more information can be found at the Balloon Federation of America web site:
Here’s a specific link to the annual calendar of 140 nationwide and some international festivals:
July 5, 2010 at 5:21 pm #698355
HomerParticipantCooooool, I had no idea the physics behind the balloons. Very odd as where I grew up, the festival was always at dusk but you description Pibal makes perfect sense as to why morning lifts are better.
Seems like Oregon is the more prolific place to see them. Wish Washington had more!
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