The hot air balloon is considered a type of craft that allows people to move through the airspace, although in most cases such movement is simply recreational and temporary. The hot air balloon works from the movement of different gases that may or may not be hot. The impulse of these gases causes the chamber formed by an extensive fabric to move through the air, in addition to rising in height and detaching from the ground. Normally, hot air balloons do not fulfill a regular transport function as other aircrafts (planes, helicopters) do, but is related more than anything to recreational activities, competition, etc.
The hot air balloon is made up of three parts: first, and most importantly, it is the chamber in which the air is contained. This chamber is formed by an extensive fabric that takes a shape similar to that of a drop and remains open at the bottom. It is in that part where the gas that will be used to mobilize the balloon is inserted and that keeps the fabric fully extended. It is very important that the air chamber does not present any holes or damage because then the movement of the propellant gas would not be adequate and the hot air balloon could fall.
Then there is the motor or thermostat, the one that propels the gas and that can be controlled manually according to the needs (for example, raising or lowering the air intensity according to whether it is necessary to lower or raise in height). Finally, the third part is the one known as the gondola and that is where the passengers and crew of the balloon are located. This gondola is usually small and is tied to the fabric of the upper part by means of strong cords and ropes.
The operation of the hot air balloon depends precisely on the movement of the gas that is used as a propellant. This means that it is neither electrical nor mechanical, but depends on gas exchange. There are two main types: those that move by hot air (that is, when the same oxygen that is inside the chamber is heated from the engine) and those balloons that use gases such as hydrogen, helium or methane gas that cause it to vary the weight of the balloon in relation to the weight of the air in the atmosphere and thus can rise or fall.
