ballooning

Sport of traveling in a balloon carried along by the wind; flights take place at dawn and dusk, when winds are light and the air is stable.

basket suspension cables

Steel cables that connect the basket to the balloon.

burner

Flame-producing adjustable apparatus that heats the air inside the balloon; the pilot turns it on from time to time.

basket

Traditionally wicker gondola that is suspended from the balloon; it holds passengers, fuel cylinders and flight instruments.

balloon

Fabric bag filled with hot air that is lighter than the surrounding air; this causes the apparatus to rise and float in the atmosphere.

wind guard

Piece of fabric that covers the basket suspension cables; it shelters the burner from the wind so the flame points directly into the balloon.

envelope

Structure made of pieces of fabric sewn in the form of a sphere; it is open at the base and top, and traps the air heated by the burner.

webbing

The horizontal and vertical bands that make up the structure of the envelope; the panels are sewn onto it.

panel

The pieces of fabric making up the balloon’s envelope; they are usually made of sturdy nylon with a polyurethane coating.

parachute valve

Round device covering the top of the envelope; it can be opened with a cable, which is used by the pilot to release hot air and speed up the descent.