Hot-air balloons typically are powered by propane burners. Aside from using the burners, a pilot controls flight by opening a vent at the top of the balloon. He or she does this with a cord than dangles into the basket. Balloon pilots can control only a balloon's altitude. Its direction is determined entirely by the wind.
Wind direction can change with just five or six feet of height,'' Bond says.
By raising and lowering the balloon, he says the pilot can use the wind for some degree of directional control. Taylor advises anyone seeking a sure-fire hobby to look elsewhere. Patience is a virtue with this sport,'' she says. Aside from that, a balloon ride can be a tranquil and wondrous experience. When you get in a car or a plane, you normally know where you're headed.