Balloons have fascinated generations of children and adults alike. Developed during the early 1800s, balloons are used in a number of applications including recreational, industrial, medical, military and meteorological. Many balloons find a brief life at birthday parties, sporting events and fairs. Balloons also scale up well – hot-air balloons were the first aviation vehicles carrying flyers to great altitudes. Balloon-borne instrumentation measures weather parameters, and small balloons are inserted into arteries to expand and alleviate plaque laden areas.
Here is a video of us inflating the hot air balloon before the ride.