How Do You Steer A Hot Air Balloon? (With Examples)
The answer is yes and no.
Yes, using wind patterns you can control the general direction of the balloon. No, you do not have precise steering such as a car, boat, or other common vehicles.
Wind speed and direction change at different altitudes, allowing you to steer in general directions.
The speed and direction are not predictable, so for that reason, pilots will have a number of possible launch and landing locations. The pilot will choose whichever locations make the most sense with the current wind and weather conditions.
Sometimes right before the flight, pilots will release a helium balloon to get a visual sense of the wind.
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During the flight, winds are subject to change. It's important that pilots measure the wind while in the air to decide if they should stay with their predetermined landing location or switch it.
A number of factors affect wind speed and direction, but the main two are pressure and temperature. During sunrise and sunset the temperature of the earth changes because of the sun, resulting in changing winds.
A pilot can gauge changing winds by dropping items from the balloon. For example, many pilots spray shaving cream and watch how the wind affects its descent.
