Hot air balloon flight
Have you always dreamed of flying? Perhaps paragliding, skydiving or the free-fall sensation of bungee jumping are too much for you. We suggest a quieter, more relaxing kind of flight: the hot air balloon flight. We set off from within Wonderland Cluj Resort and rise above Cluj.
If you grew up with the novels of Jules Verne and always wanted to follow in the footsteps of the characters in the novel “Five Weeks in a Balloon”, now you can make a dream come true!
Duration
30-60 minutes
Price
2400 lei – 3200 lei
age group
5+
Book a hot air balloon ride
The hot air balloon rises to between 60 – 300 metres, but it can fly just above the treetops or even at over ten thousand metres. Propulsion is given by the wind speed, and the distance covered in the balloon depends on that speed. Four passengers and the pilot can fly in a balloon. If one of your dreams is to take a hot air balloon ride, at Wonderland Resort Cluj you can make it come true. There are different types of flight, with varying prices.
Tethered flight
Tethered ascent and descent · 5 min · the flight is arranged for a group of at least 35 people · price 75 lei / person · capacity 4 + 1 pilot · Monday – Thursday from 20:30 to 22:30Event flight
Unique team building · Marriage proposal · Birthday · Monday – SundayThe History of the Balloon
In the past, in the early days of ballooning, people considered balloons to be a kind of “fire-breathing monsters”. On landing they were often attacked with stones, sticks and pitchforks, so pilots made a habit of offering landowners champagne to appease them. Nowadays people look up at the sky in fascination at these fire-breathing “monsters” and there is no longer any chance of pilots being attacked.
Even so, the tradition has been kept, so every flight is celebrated with a glass of champagne and the recital of verses that have become a custom over time.
The Balloonist’s Prayer.
“May the wind receive you gently.
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so beautifully that God
will join you in laughter and gently
set you back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.”
Required equipment
What you need – to bring with you
Comfortable clothes
What is included – provided by us
Pilot
1. Why do balloon ascents take place at such unusual hours?
The ideal times for a hot air balloon flight are in the morning, after sunrise, and in the evening, before sunset, when the cooler temperatures and gentler wind create an ideal atmosphere for flying. If the wind speed is higher than 10 km/h (4 m/s), flying becomes dangerous. Likewise, in rain, fog or storms the balloon stays anchored to the ground.
2. How many people can fly in a balloon?
Four passengers and the pilot
3. Is it dangerous to fly in a hot air balloon?
There is an inherent risk in everything we do. It is said that it is safer to fly in a balloon than to drive a car. Ballooning is just like any other sport: if you follow the rules and are responsible, it is as safe as you make it – and we pay attention to every detail and have vast experience in the field. That is why you can rely on us and feel 100% safe.
4. How are hot air balloons inflated?
The envelope of the balloon is spread out on the ground and a motorised fan fills the balloon with air. Once the envelope is inflated, the air inside is heated with a special burner. The balloon will rise and then lift off the ground as the air continues to be heated.
5. How high and how far do balloons fly?
Hot air balloons usually rise to between 60-300 m. – they can fly just above the treetops or reach over ten thousand metres. Given that hot air balloons fly at the speed of the wind, the distance covered depends on it. For example, in one hour of flight with a wind speed of 3 m/s, the hot air balloon will cover about 11 km.
6. How does a hot air balloon work?
Hot air ballooning is based on the difference in air temperature between the inside and the outside of the balloon. Using burners, the air is heated and the balloon gains height. To descend, the air inside cools down (either by itself, or it is vented through the top of the envelope). When it is time to land, the envelope is opened fully to let the hot air out and deflate the balloon.
7. Who can pilot a hot air balloon?
In order to fly a hot air balloon you have to obtain a pilot licence from the Civil Aeronautical Authority and hold valid medical insurance.
8. What are hot air balloons made of?
The three main components of the balloon are: the envelope, the basket and the burner.
The envelope is made of special nylon (the same material as a parachute) and can be around 20 m tall. It has the property of being very light and strong at the same time. The basket is made of wicker and is framed with aluminium or stainless steel edges. Inside the balloon there is dedicated space for the gas tanks, the flight instruments, the pilot and the passengers.
9. What gas is used?
Balloons use liquid propane to heat the air. Propane is a predictable and safe fuel, but it is extremely volatile. The flame given off by the burners can rise up to two metres high, in a burst kept under the pilot’s close watch and rigorous control.
10. Can I follow a balloon?
Following a balloon can be fun – but safety is our number 1 priority. If you choose to follow the balloon, you must bear in mind that it could land at a considerable distance, or somewhere nearby. Please respect private property by using only public roads and pay attention to the traffic. We know that balloons draw the eye, but if you are at the wheel, please stop the car to admire them. If you have followed a balloon to its landing place, please follow the crew’s instructions. The crews are trained in safety procedures and are usually welcoming to curious people who want to have a close look, but it is important that we are polite.
11. What is the history of the hot air balloon?
In the 1700s the Montgolfier brothers, owners of a paper factory in France, one day noticed a piece of paper that flew up through a hot chimney. They began to experiment by filling a bag made of silk with smoke and were delighted to find that it rose to the ceiling. Inspired by the experiment, they wanted to make the first flight with a hot air balloon. However, since they had promised their father that they would not risk their lives on this first flight, the passengers were a duck, a rooster and a sheep, despite the fact that there were volunteers who had offered to try the balloon flight. This first flight took place at Versailles on 18 September 1783 in the presence of King Louis XVI. The three animals landed unharmed after eight minutes of flight.
The first human flight in a hot air balloon took place in Paris on 21 November 1783. Built of paper and silk by the Montgolfier brothers, it was piloted for 22 minutes by two noblemen. From the centre of Paris they climbed about 170 metres above the rooftops before landing a few miles away, in a vineyard.
Why is champagne associated with hot air ballooning?
The tradition is connected with the first balloon flights in France. In the early days of ballooning, the owners of the land on which the balloons happened to land would attack them with stones, sticks or pitchforks, since they considered them “fire-breathing monsters”. The balloon pilots would offer the owners champagne to appease them.
Although nowadays landowners are unlikely to still mistake balloons for
“fire-spitting monsters”, after every flight a toast is held with champagne and
“The Balloonist’s Prayer” is recited.
“May the wind receive you gently.
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so beautifully that God
will join you in laughter and gently
set you back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.”
