members in the launch and landing of his balloon. Some special shape balloons need up to 15 on their crew. Before inflation and launch each crew member is assigned a job by the pilot or crew chief. One person operates the fan and two others work the " throat." One or two are at the "crown," maintaining a constant pull on the line to control the speed of the envelope as it rises. An efficient crew can inflate a balloon in less than 10 minutes. After lift-off, the launch crew becomes the recovery crew. Because the craft lacks directional control, the crew must follow the craft in the direction the wind takes it. The crew attempts to stay as close as roads permit to anticipate the pilot's landingpossible.

Why don't balloons fly during midday?Thermals, created when direct sunlight heats the ground causes the heat to rise quickly. During this condition, it creates tremendous turbulence, and is very dangerous. During "thermals" the balloonist cannot control the balloon.

How does a pilot land a balloon?The pilot controls the balloon's descent by opening small vents near the top of the balloon and occasionally giving the burner a blast to keep the descent slow and gradual. As the air inside the envelop cools, the balloon descends. The pilot may drop a safety line for crew members to slow down the lateral movement of the balloon and "walk" it to a safe landing area. Upon landing the balloon is deflated by pulling a valve line which opens the parachute valve atop the