Ballooning > Cool Sites

• Hot Air Balloon Simulator - Compete against world balloonists in virtual sky. Keep in shape regardless of outdoor weather.
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• Construction d'un ballon à gaz - Construction traditionnelle d'un ballon à gaz à filet. Cool project to homebuild a gas balloon in France. Tons of detail and description, includes drawings and plenty of detailed photos. They even built their own basket. Site is written in French only.
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• Balloon Events.org - The free worldwide Balloon Festival calendar. Extensive list of where to go and see hot air balloons and balloon events all over the world. Includes dates and websites. Regularly updated.
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• Orisinal.com - Among The Clouds - Online balloon simulation game. Can you fly fastest, hit all the targets and miss the obstacles? Fun!
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• Remote Automated Weather Sensor Tutorial - There's a giant network of government weather stations out there that aren't part of the aviation system. This brief online course tells how to find and use their data online. Free course narrated by Bill Hughes of Liberty Balloon School.
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• Bart's Special Shapes - Impressive photo collection of 600+ special shape balloons.
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• Hot Air Balloon Crewing 101 - Complete guide to crewing hot air balloons by pilot Dean Carlton. The page includes all aspects of crewing from set up, chasing, landing to landowners relations. Detailed instructions for each role the crew plays.
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• SkyDyes! - Tiedyed hot air balloons - Julia Dream and Gloria Caeli! Entire flying balloon systems in dramatic colors and patterns. We are now manufacturing balloons using SkyDyes! fabric and designs, in partnership with Aerostar and Lindstrand Balloons! The ultimate source for psychedelia - tiedye,fractals,spirals, etc...
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• Gallery of Photos - Beaucoup de ballon à air chaud - Stunning collection of balloon pictures capturing the spirit of ballooning. 51 calendar quality pictures including gas balloon pictures, hot air balloons over the alps, even a balloon launching from a castle atop a pinnacle. My favorite collection.
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• Garrison Creative Glassworks - Hand blown hot air balloons crafted from glass. Multi-colored glass makes them look just like the real thing, in many patterns. Very attractive design.
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• BalloonCast: Weather for Hot Air Balloon Pilots - Balloon pilot weather forecast and current conditions. See multiple locations all on one page, including radar and winds aloft. All codes translated to English, all times local. Designed specifically for balloon pilots.
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• Balloon Parachute Artwork - Balloon parachutes should not be 'plain' They should have a design of some sorts. This web site is dedicated to show as many different balloon parachutes as the author can find. Photos of hot air balloon artwork.
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• The Early Years of Sport Ballooning - An affectionate look at hot-air sport balloons in the 1960s and 1970s. Focus is on differences among different manufacturers' products, and differences between early hot-air balloons and those available today. There's a lot of info here not available elsewhere on the web. Photos of obscure builders' balloons. Recommended.
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• Gas Ballooning.net - Website dedicated to providing information about flying gas balloons. It provides information, reference books and general reading on gas ballooning. Also pictures of gas balloons.
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• Solar Balloon How-Tos - Make your own solar-powered hot air balloons out of black trash bags, from 5 feet tall to 10 feet. Also browse and send pictures in the photo gallery, watch videos (including aerial views) and lots more.
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• ArtAloft - An entirely hand-painted hot air balloon features scenes from the pacific northwest. Mountains, the sea and sun, crops, even geese flying. Tremendous detail.
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• Crewing on a Hot Air Balloon Team - Questions and answers, learn what's involved in crewing, also provides guidance and support for existing crew members. Lots of detail not found elsewhere!
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• Champagne Glass Earrings - Solid sterling silver champagne glass earrings with a champagne color crystal looks like champagne with silver bubbles. Be the talk of those post-flight parties!
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• US National Lightning by Intellicast.com - This map depicts where lightning strikes have occurred in the United States between 30 and 60 minutes ago. The strikes are color coded based on when they occurred.
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