Jean Charles, an amateur balloonist originally from France, discusses what it takes launch a hot air balloon. Some years ago, I left France and came to live in Florida, which has some very fine ballooning traditions. I find the flying and weather here to be just wonderful.
Ballooning is an early morning sport.
Before dawn, we arrive at the launch field in our van. I always launch from the same field, a wide open space without any trees or powerlines. In the pre-dawn darkness, I unpack my balloon with the crew and spread out the envelope on the ground. My crew sets up a fan, which we use to inflate the balloon by blowing into its bottom. I love to watch my balloon inflate this way.