The sport of hot-air ballooning, as with most other sports has a whole jargon associated with it. We have given brief definitions of some of the key terms below, to help you in your tour around the Cameron Balloons factory.
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A
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Actuals
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The actual weather report at a given time.
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Anabatic Wind
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Warm air flowing up hill as the sun has heated up the mountainside surface.
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Anti-cyclone
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Area of high pressure on a weather chart, with characteristics of very stable air and light winds, generally good for ballooning.
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Artwork
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 The artwork on balloons takes various forms. At the simplest level it can be stuck onto the balloon. The fabric sections are cut by computer and are then stuck on. The material is 'normal' balloon fabric with a silver backing, a sticky backing and then a paper backing (to stop it sticking together).
The next level up from this for more sophisticated and detailed designs is to airbrush them onto the fabric. This is done in house at Cameron's. The final possibility is a dye-sublimation technique where the dyes are actually printed into the fabric. This process is contracted-out or out-sourced as Cameron's do not have the equipment to do this.
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B |
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Balloon Flight
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This takes place with the wind as a balloon cannot steer its own direction, although it can adjust it's height to within a metre or so. Therefore much planning, must go into a flight to ensure that there is a safe route and landing place for the balloon down wind, with the amount of fuel carried considering the wind speed. (Speed / Distance / Time calculations are very important!).
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Balloonist Landowner liaison course
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A course for all balloonists about the countryside, the law, requesting permission for take-off and collecting the balloon rules, crops and animals.
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Basket
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 The basket perhaps needs little explanation! It is made out of cane and willow and woven by craftsman. It has a padded edge around the top of suede or leather which is one of the only concessions to comfort. Despite modern advances in materials the woven basket is still felt to be the best material - better than plastics and metals. This is because of the basket's ability to absorb the shock loads that can be put on it by bumpy landings. It also has stainless steel wires that run from under the burner frame, down the poles, under the basket and up the other side to provide a strong cradle for the occupants.
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BBAC
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The British Balloon and Airship Club - the governing body for UK balloonists although very well revered world wide. It provides bimonthly magazines and training for new and existing balloonists.
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Briefing
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The pre, during and post flight informative and safety instructions.
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Burners
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 Heat source for a hot-air balloon is a high-output burner fed by liquid propane which passes through a vaporising coil prior to combustion. Flow is controlled by an on/off valve referred to as a blast valve. Most balloons have two types of burners incorporated into them. They have main burners and also a 'whisper' system which is quieter than the main burner. The burners are like a bunsen burner at school and produce a flame with or without the mix of air. The flame from the burners appears when the blast valve is operated. This releases a mixture of vaporised and liquid propane which is lit by a pilot light.
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C |
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Centripetal Force
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Force generated as the air goes around the curves in the air.
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Cirrus Clouds
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A high cloud, often the first warning of an approaching depression.
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Clouds
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When air ascends it expands and cools and if sufficiently moist a cloud will form. Visible clouds are of several recognisable types depending on the process of their formation.
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Cold front
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The cold front is a much more vertical start to it with the cold air pushing into the warm front sector, with heavy showers and large cumulonimbus clouds.
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Commercial Balloons
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Balloons operated by paid pilots flying advertising or special shape balloons for their clients. It involves not only travelling from show to show on "the circuit" taking corporate clients for flights morning and evening, tethering balloons during the day, newspaper, radio and television interviews and night-glows.
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Competitions
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Local, National and International competitions which are run, with rules organised by the British Balloon and Airship club and the FAI - Federation Aeronautique Internationale.
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Coriolis Force
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An apparent force acting on the parcel of air due to the Earth's rotation, in the northern hemisphere the air is deflected to the right and in the southern hemisphere the air is deflected to the left.
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CPL/Commercial Pilot's Licence
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An extra licence, involving more practical and theoretical examinations (most of them are the same as fixed wing passenger pilots) required to enable you to charge for your services as a pilot.
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Crew
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essential to fly and operate a balloon. Be nice to your crew as they are the ones who will come and get you after the flight.
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Cumulonimbus Clouds
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Are thunderclouds and are likely to generate lightning, hail and fierce convection currents. When the cloud reaches very high levels it is composed of ice crystals which tail off in the upper wind, This is then known as the anvil.
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Cumulus Clouds
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Heaped cloud associated with convection. Typical summer convection will generate a sky with regular patterns of fair-weather cumulus and if these grow bigger they become towering cumulus and may give rain showers.
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Cushion Floor
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The meaning of this is probably very clear! Wouldn't you want to be comfortable when landing from several thousand feet!
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D |
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Depression
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Commonly known as low pressure or a low, associated with horrible rainy and stormy weather with warm and cold fronts.
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