Hot Air Ballon Farmer's Insurance
by Robert Bales
Title
Hot Air Ballon Farmer's Insurance
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Annonay, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-Franois Piltre de Rozier and Franois Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air balloon created on December 14, 1782 by the Montgolfier brothers. Hot air balloons that can be propelled through the air rather than just being pushed along by the wind are known as airships or, more specifically, thermal airships.
A hot air balloon consists of a bag called the envelope that is capable of containing heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carries passengers and (usually) a source of heat, in most cases an open flame. The heated air inside the envelope makes it buoyant since it has a lower density than the relatively cold air outside the envelope. As with all aircraft, hot air balloons cannot fly beyond the atmosphere. Unlike gas balloons, the envelope does not have to be sealed at the bottom since the air near the bottom of the envelope is at the same pressure as the surrounding air. In today's sport balloons the envelope is generally made from nylon fabric and the mouth of the balloon (closest to the burner flame) is made from fire resistant material such as Nomex. Beginning in the mid-1970s, balloon envelopes have been made in all kinds of shapes, such as hot dogs, rocket ships, and the shapes of commercial products, though the traditional shape remains popular for most non-commercial, and many commercial, applications.
Uploaded
November 19th, 2012
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Viewed 2,431 Times - Last Visitor from Houston, TX on 03/28/2024 at 1:34 PM
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Comments (17)
Emmy Vickers
Wow Robert, what a spectacular capture of this air balloon, Thank you for the detailed description. Love your POV! The lighting is perfection! Love the colors. Great job. Love love love this scene! l/fave/tweeted
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks so much for the wonderful comments and the LFTw!! Several Farmer's Insurance offices has purchased this one/.
Kellice Swaggerty
Wonderful P.O.V. and splendid rich colors in this fine capture! The balloon operator and passengers provide a fine sense of scale, giving us an idea of the just how large it is! L/F Pin