Trail lesson ballooning Liège

Ballooning is the oldest form of aviation. As early as 1783, the first hot air balloon took off. The technique has not changed since then. The material has, of course, been considerably modernized.

The powerful burners give an indescribable kick. You blow a flame of 800 degrees Celsius into an enormous space. The balloon is as big as 3000 square meters. You heat the air to 100 degrees. Because warm air is lighter than cold air, the balloon floats up. Then let the wind carry you away. Below you is an enchanting little world. Experience that silence and enjoy!

Location

You take off from the Belgian city of Liège. Depending on the wind direction and in consultation with the passengers, the starting point and route will be chosen.

Theory

You start the test lesson with theory about the basics of ballooning. Because how do you actually control a balloon? You might think that you can't. A balloon floats with the wind, right? Almost right. The direction of the wind depends on the altitude at which you are flying. So by rising and falling you can steer a little. The instructor will tell you all about it. Of course there is every opportunity to ask questions. This extensive theory lesson takes about an hour. During this hour the following topics are covered

• General aviation regulations
• aviation regulations specific to hot air ballooning
• meteorology
• navigation
• comprehensive ballooning techniques

Practice

After the theory, you and the instructor get to work on your preparations. In about half an hour you will get ready for departure. You will help to build up the balloon. You learn how to get the balloon ready for take-off independently. After take-off, you will learn how to maintain the balloon's altitude and, of course, how to prepare for landing. You will notice that operating the burners gives you an enormous kick. During the flight, which lasts an hour, try to enjoy the beautiful view as well. Of course, the instructor will help you operate and fly. Along the way, the instructor will give you lots of additional explanations. After landing, you get to work disassembling and folding the balloon. Then the instructor will go over the lesson with you in a debriefing. Both parts take about another half hour.

Passengers

You will be alone with the instructor all day, so there will be no other people in the basket. This way the instructor really has all the time and attention for you.

Total Training

This trial lesson is a taste of the total training. During an instructive afternoon you will learn what it takes to get your license. The total training to become a balloonist takes about 1 to 3 years. It consists of a theoretical and a practical part. In addition, you have to undergo a flight medical examination. The theory training consists of 8 subjects including meteorology, navigation and radio communication. During the practical part, issues such as flight preparation, inflation, take off, landing and emergency procedures are covered. After passing your exams you can apply for the Commercial Ballooning license. This allows you to fly commercially with up to 3 passengers. After that you can continue with the profchecks to be allowed to fly bigger balloons.