“IT is too crowded on the ground, we can find more space in the sky,” said Hu Sheng.
These are not the words of a scientist seeking ways for people to immigrate to the moon.
Hu, a man in his 30s, is a lover of hot air balloons.
“Floating in the air is a spectacular feeling,” said Hu, “No one around you, no sound disturbs you, only air and wind embrace you.”
The scenery is most beautiful from a height of 30 meters to 50 meters, according to Hu.
“In fact, hot air balloons are the safest kind of aircraft, something many people don’t understand,” said Hu who has logged countless flying hours since he took his first hot air balloon ride as a teenager in Hunan Province.
Balloons is popular in Beijing, but few people in Shanghai have tried it, said Hu. He has flown only a few times in Zhongshan Park and Shanghai Aviation and Aerospace Popularization Center.
Now Hu is trying to find some hot air balloon enthusiasts to share the ballooning experience with him.
“We can float in isolated places to enjoy the scenery in the sky, or we can make a short-distance tour to nearby Putuo Mountain. That would certainly be more interesting than going by ship,” Hu said.
Adventurous couples looking for an out-of-the-ordinary wedding should consider a ceremony aboard a hot air balloon, suggested Hu.
Becoming a balloon pilot is not as complicated as most people imagine.
“Actually, it is not very difficulty to learn to operate the balloon,” said Hu who is also a businessman running aircraft, “Two or three classes is enough,” Hu said.
First, you direct the wind into the balloon to help expand it. When it becomes bigger and begins to stand, the basket containing the fuel bottle must be centered under the balloon the fuel lighted. The balloon will rise slowly as it fills with superheated air.
If you are a novice, you can tie one end of a rope to the basket and secure the other end to the ground to prevent the balloon from floating away.
“Though you can’t control the exact location and the direction you want to fly, it is a good feeling to just go with no fixed destination,” said Hu. “Sometimes, you get a surprise when the balloon stops in a strange place that you hadn’t imagined.”
(Shanghai Star 12/12/2000)
