Hot air balloon

No. Flying in a hot air balloon is pure pleasure, calm, and romance. The balloon itself, as an aircraft, is the most thoroughly tested of all flying machines. After all, it’s the oldest — the one that began humanity’s adventure with flight. There is, however, a certain level of risk related to weather conditions. In dynamic conditions and changing weather, unexpected shifts or strong gusts of wind can occur. That’s why DreamBalloon places great importance on weather forecasting and flight planning. Before our passengers receive confirmation that their flight will take place on a given day, they can be sure that this information has been carefully considered and analysed by both the pilot and the head of flight operations — always with safety as the top priority.

Why does a balloon fly? A balloon works according to a basic law of physics — warm air is lighter than cold air. This means that any “bubble” of warm air in the atmosphere will always rise. By adjusting the amount of warm air and the temperature difference between the air inside the balloon and the air outside, the pilot can easily control the altitude. Thanks to modern technology and perfectly refined burner and fuel systems, temperature control — even in very large balloons — can be achieved with an accuracy of up to 0.5 degrees. This allows for precise control of the flight altitude.
However, direction and speed are a different story. Here, we still rely on the forces of nature — our knowledge of meteorology helps us predict wind directions and speeds at different altitudes.

We don’t know the exact number, as ballooning in Poland is developing very dynamically. Every month, the Civil Aviation Authority registers new aircraft — and balloons make up a significant part of them. There are certainly more than 150 balloons in Poland. The vast majority of them are small sport balloons. DreamBalloon is the only company in Poland that owns a balloon capable of carrying 32 passengers at once.
We are also the company with the largest fleet of hot air balloons in Poland.

A balloon pilot is able to control the flight altitude with remarkable precision. You could say they have conscious control over every single metre of altitude. They can keep the balloon steady at, for example, 34 metres for a longer period, and then gently descend or climb higher.
However, they have no control over the direction or speed of the flight. That depends entirely on the wind. However, meteorological knowledge allows the pilot to estimate wind directions and speeds at different altitudes. In this way, by adjusting the altitude, the pilot can influence the course of the flight.

A typical hot air balloon commonly seen in Poland weighs around 350 kilograms. This weight includes the envelope, the basket, and the fuel system. Such a balloon can lift approximately 700 kilograms. However, the balloons operated by DreamBalloon are much larger and heavier. Our largest balloon, including all passengers, weighs around 4,500 kilograms — with 500 kilograms being the weight of the envelope alone.

A hot air balloon can be divided into three main components based on its construction. These are: the balloon envelope, the fuel system, and the basket. The balloon envelope is made of polyester or ripstop nylon, which is resistant to tearing. The fabric’s role is to retain heat inside the balloon while remaining resistant to moisture and UV radiation.
The balloon basket is woven from rattan, but its structure consists of a framework of steel tubes combined with a sturdy wooden floor and strong steel cables. Rattan has the advantage of being extremely strong and flexible, able to absorb multiple impacts that may occur during landing.
The fuel system consists of burners, hoses, and gas cylinders.

Of course, everything depends on the size of the balloon, as well as its equipment and the materials used. A smaller balloon designed for private use can be purchased for around 150,000 PLN. Commercial balloons, due to their larger size, cost significantly more. Our largest balloon cost around 750,000 PLN — and that was just the beginning of the expenses, which also included: a specialised trailer, a vehicle, navigation and communication equipment, and much more.
However, hot air balloons are an excellent medium for advertising. This sometimes helps reduce the cost of purchase if a company is interested in placing its branding on our balloon.

During the flight, the burners that produce hot air burn pure propane. It’s important to remember that hot air balloons are fundamentally different from gas balloons, which use a gas lighter than air and rely on sand ballast for balance. In our balloons, the pilot controls ascent and descent by heating or cooling the air inside the balloon.

A hot air balloon is an aircraft of considerable size. Even the small ones — carrying just two passengers — look impressively large when viewed from a distance. The image below illustrates the proportions perfectly — comparing balloons of different sizes with a Boeing 737 aircraft, which carries over 160 passengers. Its size can only be compared to that of a two-passenger hot air balloon. Twenty-four-passenger balloons are incomparably larger.

In principle, everyone can fly in a hot air balloon. The nature of this aircraft is such that, under certain conditions, there are virtually no age or fitness limitations.

However, DreamBalloon recommends that every passenger planning to take part in a standard balloon flight be generally healthy and in good physical condition. All passengers must be able to communicate in either Polish or English to fully understand the instructions provided by the pilot before the flight.

According to aviation regulations, the balloon pilot is responsible for the entire flight and for the safety of all passengers, and ultimately decides whether the flight can take place.

As a rule, we must refuse participation in the flight to:

• Women who are beyond the 12th week of pregnancy on the day of the flight.
• Children shorter than 130 cm (usually around 6–7 years old).
• Persons with disabilities using a wheelchair — in such cases, we can arrange a special balloon adapted for accessibility, but this requires individual arrangements.
• Persons with a strong fear of flying who are unable to control their anxiety. A slight fear of leaving the ground is common for most people, but it’s very rare for that fear to dominate and cause irrational behaviour. In such cases, we must refuse participation in the flight.
• Persons who are not able to complete a 60-minute flight while standing independently.
• Persons under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances.

Yes, it’s definitely worth bringing a camera, a video recorder, or even binoculars. There are no restrictions on using them during the flight, and the experience itself will surely provide countless opportunities for truly unique photos. Our crew will let you know when you should put your camera away for safety reasons.

In general, the temperature during a balloon flight is almost the same as on the ground (any differences in air temperature are very small and often balanced by the lack of noticeable wind inside the balloon). So, always dress according to the weather conditions on the day of your flight. However, keep in mind that the entire adventure lasts about 3–4 hours. It may happen that you leave home during the day when it’s warm, but return in the evening after sunset. That’s why it’s always a good idea to bring an extra sweater or jacket.

Tall passengers should consider bringing a cap with a visor. The balloon burners are positioned at a safe distance above the head, but the radiant heat can sometimes cause slight discomfort for taller people. A cap with a visor completely eliminates this issue.

Footwear is an important part of your outfit. Please make sure your shoes are comfortable and, ideally, cover your entire foot and ankle. If that’s not possible, make sure they at least have soft, sporty soles.

Of course! Spectators are always very welcome. They can not only watch the take-off and see the balloon in flight, but also follow its route live on our website www.mojlotbalonem.pl. If they follow the balloon efficiently, there’s a good chance they’ll even witness the landing.
Please remember to inform your family that there are no toilets at the take-off or landing sites. We usually choose open, undeveloped areas for take-off.

We always want to deliver everything our passengers hope for. However, sometimes it’s simply not possible. A balloon travels in the direction and at the speed of the wind. Therefore, it’s difficult to plan a flight directly over specific places that are not along the flight path. However, it’s very possible that you’ll see your home — or at least your neighbourhood — from above if the flight takes place nearby.

A hot air balloon flight itself is a calm and peaceful experience. Even when flying in stronger winds, you don’t feel the speed — the balloon remains stable, as from the moment of take-off, it becomes “a part of the air.” That’s why nobody in the balloon feels fear of heights. Everything feels natural, and time seems to pass much faster. However, the most sensitive moments are take-off and landing. While the pilot can usually control the balloon well during take-off — choosing the right location depending on wind direction and speed — landing always requires proper preparation. Our pilots always explain this clearly to all passengers before the flight. Every passenger has the opportunity to enter the basket before the flight. The landing position is carefully practised with everyone — both before and during the flight.
When following all the instructions carefully, landing often turns out to be the most exciting part of the entire flight.

That’s something we never know for sure. The direction of the wind is the only factor that determines the balloon’s flight path — and it’s also the one that changes the most quickly. The wind direction can shift by several dozen degrees during the flight, so no pilot can precisely predict the landing site beforehand. Of course, every pilot makes such predictions, and all passengers are informed about the planned route — but those forecasts always come with a considerable margin of error. That’s why we provide all our passengers — as well as their families and friends — with access to live flight tracking at www.mojlotbalonem.pl.
There, you simply select the pilot you’re flying with, and the site will show you the ongoing flight in real time. The flight path can be revisited for up to 24 months after your flight. You can also share it on social media.

A hot air balloon flight can be controlled only to a limited extent. We have no control over the speed or direction of the flight. These factors are entirely determined by the wind. The pilot can only control the altitude of the flight. Of course, before take-off, the pilot checks the wind directions at different altitudes and adjusts the flight plan accordingly. That’s why it’s difficult to specify the exact distance a balloon will travel. The pilot can estimate an approximate distance shortly before take-off — although even that may still change. In practice, we usually cover between a few and 20 kilometres in an hour, though under certain conditions — when the wind speed differs significantly between ground level and higher altitudes — the distance can reach up to 30 kilometres.

For passenger flights, a hot air balloon typically flies between 1,000 and 3,000 feet (300–1,000 metres). At lower altitudes, you can clearly see everything below you in stunning detail. Above 500 metres, you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views stretching for dozens of kilometres in every direction. Sometimes we ascend to higher altitudes, but only when we are sure that all passengers feel comfortable and experience no fear. During the flight, we also descend very low — sometimes just a few metres above the ground. Most passengers agree that the most exciting moments are during the low-altitude parts of the flight.

It’s directly related to flight safety. During spring, summer, and early autumn, a phenomenon called thermals occurs. At that time, the ground heats up from the sun, and warm air rises from it in the form of invisible “bubbles.” Although invisible to the naked eye, this can directly affect a balloon flight — in extreme cases, the pilot may lose control of the altitude. This phenomenon begins about three hours after sunrise and disappears around two hours before sunset. That’s why we can safely fly only during those times — early morning and late evening.

Below is the approximate meeting time. You will receive the exact meeting time and location on the day of your flight, no later than 2:00 PM, or for a morning flight, no later than 9:00 PM on the day before your flight.

During the autumn–winter months and early spring, flights can be conducted at various times of the day (even around noon). Therefore, for the months not listed in the table above, flight times are provided directly on the day of the flight.

Balloon flights can only take place within three hours after sunrise or three hours before sunset. Therefore, the flight time varies each month but is always either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This is due to the vertical movement of air known as thermals. Thermals occur when the ground heats up and warm air rises from heated surfaces. This phenomenon can be dangerous for balloons, so to avoid it, we schedule flights only when the ground hasn’t yet heated up or when the sun is no longer warming it intensely.