Does a hot air balloon flight consume a lot of fuel?

Hot air ballooning is an eco-friendly means of transport!

Montgolfiere.be is particularly attentive to this aspect: to achieve this, we use larger volume balloons that are oversized in order to consume as little gas as possible. We are the first global operator to use a large-volume commercial double-envelope balloon designed and manufactured in cooperation with the world’s largest hot air balloon manufacturer: Ultramagic, which is also a pioneer in its field and a global leader.

We work closely with Ultramagic to innovate and find technical solutions to minimize the CO2 footprint of our activities as much as possible.

Montgolfiere.be orders its balloons in Ultralast, an ultra-resistant fabric with a double coating that is much more expensive to purchase but less porous, allowing for lower propane consumption per flight and a reduced carbon footprint.

We use high-tech burners developed by Paolo Bonanno that apply the Coandă effect in order to maximize burner efficiency and minimize propane consumption.

The Coandă effect (named after Romanian engineer Henri Coandă, born in 1886) is the tendency of a fluid jet to be attracted to and adhere to a convex surface over which it flows. The fluid follows the surface and is deflected before detaching with a trajectory different from the one it had upstream. This phenomenon can be described as a stationary bifurcation in fluid flow. In simple terms, by using the Coandă effect for combustion, gas consumption is significantly reduced.

You are asked to travel light in order, once again, to minimize gas consumption as much as possible.

We remain open to any improvements and use of technology to further reduce the environmental impact of our activities.

Our company is a partner of Carioka in order to reduce our environmental impact.

How a Hot Air Balloon Uses Fuel

Many passengers are surprised to learn that a hot air balloon does not need continuous engine power to stay in the air. Unlike airplanes or helicopters, a hot air balloon flies by heating the air inside the envelope, making it lighter than the surrounding air. The pilot uses propane burners to maintain the desired altitude, but the burners are activated only for short periods throughout the flight rather than running continuously. Once the balloon has reached its cruising altitude, it can often glide quietly for several minutes before additional heat is needed. This is one of the reasons why balloon flights are known for their peaceful atmosphere and remarkable silence. The amount of fuel consumed depends on factors such as the size of the balloon, the number of passengers, the outside temperature, wind conditions, and the duration of the flight. A typical passenger flight generally lasts about one hour and is carefully planned so that the fuel carried on board is more than sufficient for the entire journey, including safety reserves.