Why do Hot Air Balloons Fly So Early in the Morning

Simply put, because it’s the perfect time for launch! Right on sunrise.

In addition to incredible views, sunrise also provides stable and calm conditions.

Whilst balloonists rely on hot air for lift, they hate thermals or convective conditions. When a balloon is flying in stable air the pilot determines the height by use of the burner. However, if caught in thermals the balloon will ascend whether the pilot wants it to or not. Even worse, is the unplanned descent after being ejected from the top of a thermal! This is not a comforting experience and may not be solved simply by flying out of the thermal as remember, the balloon moves only with the air.

The surface wind speed is the landing speed and balloons always make ‘wheels up’ landings. Balloonists thus prefer the early mornings before the wind speed increases.

For these reasons, balloon pilots avoid the windy thermic parts of the day and should therefore be expected mostly in the mornings or evenings.

The best way to appreciate how a balloon operates is obviously to take a ride in one. Almost every aeroplane pilot is amazed at the complexity and subtlety of air currents they discover in a balloon. It seems that many power pilots are nervous (or perhaps simply uncertain) about the concept of flying in a balloon but it is the smoothest gentlest form of flight possible.