Lyonel Doherty

Times-Chronicle

The world of hot air ballooning came to Oliver last weekend, giving many people a bird’s eye view of Senkulmen Business Park.

Okanagan Ballooning out of Kelowna took people on tethered rides during the grand opening of the District Wine Village on Sept. 18.

Business manager Joy Klempner said Okanagan Ballooning is the only commercial hot air balloon operator in B.C.

She listed several interesting realities about these balloons, including the fact  you can only control their height.

“It goes with the wind (direction), you can’t control anything other than the height.”

She noted her husband (registered pilot John Klempner) can control the balloon within an inch.

“If he’s coming in to land, if he has to go over a house, he can clear it by one inch.”

Joy said you wouldn’t fly a hot air balloon in wind over 10 km/h. But in Alberta they can fly in 40 km/h winds because they have the wide-open areas to land.

She noted a wicker basket is the best fabric that absorbs a lot of shock for hot air ballooning. The one used last Saturday was a six-passenger basket.

“You can get baskets that hold up to 48 people, but you wouldn’t fly them in the Okanagan because they are meant for big open spaces.”

The balloon material itself is Ripstop nylon (like a windbreaker), and the bottom of it has fire retardant on it, she pointed out.

The balloon, which is five storeys tall, is kept aloft with a liquid propane burner.  It carries 120,000 cubic feet of air, and the burner itself sends out 40 million BTUs, which is 99.8 per cent efficient, with very little waste.

She stated a propane burner’s longevity during a ride depends on the outside temperature. For example, in the winter it will last six hours, whereas in summer time it will last a couple of hours, she noted.

Joy said you have to heat the balloon up higher than the outside temperature in order to get lift. Of course, if the burner is inactive for any length of time, the balloon would start to sink and fall over.

Kim (waving) and Kris Chenier have a blast in a hot air balloon during the District Wine Village’s grand opening on Sept. 18.
(Photo by Lyonel Doherty)