Do hot air balloons go higher than planes? We will answer the question that has been debated for many years, and give you an accurate answer.
At first glance, it seems as though hot air balloons should go higher than planes because they have less weight to carry.
It is true that a hot air balloon does not weigh much more than a person alone, but there are other factors that affect how high they can fly.
Planes don’t just take off into the sky on their own – they need to be pushed by some kind of machine in order to get them going fast enough.
Once this happens, their wings generate lift and together with gravity help propel them up in the sky at speeds of over 100 mph.
First, let’s take a look at what the science says. In order to keep an object afloat in the air, it needs some form of buoyancy.
A balloon has a gas that is lighter than the surrounding air and so when heated up, it will rise because of this buoyancy.
Airplanes on the other hand have engines which provide thrust to counteract gravity and maintain altitude.
The height limit for balloons varies depending on how much heat they are producing but generally speaking they cannot go more than about 6 miles high before needing extra fuel tanks with oxygen to produce enough heat (and lift).
Planes on the other hand can go up to 20 miles high and higher still with the use of extra oxygen tanks.
So, while it’s difficult for a balloon to go much higher in altitude than an airplane, they can stay at that height for significantly longer due to how long their fuel lasts.
The planes will eventually need refueling which requires them descend back down closer towards earth where there is enough air pressure so that they don’t get crushed by gravity.
In short: hot air balloons cannot fly as high as airplanes but they are able to remain at that height for much longer periods of time.
How high do hot air balloons go?
Hot air balloons are a fun way to view the world from new heights. The question is, how high do hot air balloons go?
They can usually reach altitudes of about 12000 feet or 3.6 kilometers.
This is roughly half as high as commercial airplanes fly and a quarter of the height achieved by space shuttles on their return journey.
The average temperature at this altitude is -50 degrees Celsius (-58 Fahrenheit) which makes it hard to breathe with unprotected lungs.
In order to avoid hypoxia (lack of oxygen), pilots wear protective masks that provide them with enough oxygen for 20 minutes at an altitude of 5000 feet above sea level.
This means they need more than double the amount when trying to survive in such low temperatures.
It also depends on the size of balloon, how much hot air it carries and what type of weather conditions are present.
When correctly inflated with warm air, a typical 600-gram (20 oz) balloon can lift about 500 grams (17 oz).
The weight will vary depending on temperature and altitude so you need to factor those in when calculating your figures.
Hot air balloons have an inherent buoyancy that’s hard to measure or predict exactly which makes them difficult for pilots to control at high altitudes where there’s less oxygen available.
To get around this problem some heavier gas such as hydrogen has been used but production was discontinued after several highly publicized accidents involving leaks from these types of balloons leading many people to mistakenly believing that they are completely safe.
How far is it possible for a hot air balloon to fly?
Which one should I take if I want the best view possible-a plane or a balloon?
The question may have crossed your mind when you saw a balloon in the sky and thought about how cool it would go up higher then planes.
If you are looking for the best views possible, then a plane is probably the way to go.
Planes are high enough in altitude that they can offer clear views of the ground below and all around them while balloons have to stay at lower altitudes to keep from floating away.
That means hot air balloons don’t go higher than planes-they typically fly between 500 and 3000 feet above the earth’s surface.
However, if you want an immersive experience where you can feel like one with nature-then hot air balloons might be better for you.
Hot air balloons fly between 500 and 3000 feet above ground level so they don’t get as close as planes do.
But, this means that there’s less people or lights below them which many find more peaceful anyways.
That being said though, do keep in mind that if your balloon flies too low because of strong winds or other weather conditions.
It may bump into trees which could cause the balloon to deflate and your adventure to come crashing down.
I’m Annie, a twenty-something year old girl who loves hot air balloons. So much so, that I have a full time job as a Flight Instructor and it is all I love talking about. Something about being up there in the elevated altitudes helps all my stresses float away!