It is difficult to launch and land with winds above 15 m.p.h. A typical balloon envelope, gondola, fuel tanks and 30 gallons of fuel weighs 500 pounds deflated on the ground. In the air, the complete system, including the air inside the envelope, weighs in at 2 tons. On the average, a three-member crew can launch a balloon in about 15 minutes. The balloon envelope is spread out on the ground with the attached gondola laid on its side.
Cold air is blown into the envelope with a powered fan.
Once the envelope is tight, the burner is ignited and the inside air is heated. Slowly, the balloon rises to an upright position. More heating achieves liftoff. A vehicle, manned by the chase crew, follows the balloon, never losing sight of it. The crew's challenge is to arrive at the landing site just as the balloon touches down.