THERE was a surprise in store for families that got wind of the Royal Australian Air Force’s plan to launch one of its hot air balloons at Boonah Show Ground last week, and that was free air balloon rides for anyone who wanted one.
The RAAF have three hot air balloons they use as public relations tools.
These craft can launch from small open spaces like school ovals which means they are the perfect prop for aviation related education programs.
Their visit last week was planned to co-inside with Legacy’s fundraising Scootaville ride that left from Boonah Showground. RAAF member Sam Wright said he took the air balloon to a lot of events.
“Our main job officially is to promote a positive image of the Air Force and we do this by supporting a lot of regional and remote activities,” he said.
“The balloons are very mobile and it’s really low cost for a pretty high impact.
“We like to go places where people come up to us and say ‘oh I saw you guys 10 years ago’ and all that sort of thing.
“It is a unique experience because it’s the only air force aeroplane - and it is a proper aeroplane - where you can talk to the crew and actually go for a ride.”
While the balloon is easily transported, blown up and piloted, none of that matters if something completely out of the RAAF’s control is not playing ball, and that’s the weather.
“Big picture wise...as long as it’s not raining or too hot, we’re pretty good,” he said.
“If it’s above 43 degrees we just lose a lot of lift and can’t get it off the ground.
“The big one is always the wind and you’d be surprised to know it doesn’t have a great deal of wind tolerance because it is effectively a big sail.
“It only takes a little bit of wind to stop us doing our operation.”
A small crowd gathered and waited patiently while RAAF personnel inflated the air balloon on the large showground oval.
Once it was up more patience was needed because the wind was too strong to safely carry passengers.After a short while the wind calmed down enough for a few flights to take place with four people at a time climbing into the balloon’s basket and travelling upwards.
Unfortunately, not everyone had an opportunity to ride as the wind soon became too strong and flights were called off.
Mr Wright said air balloons were treated like any other air force aircraft.
“The people flying them are qualified air force pilots and the crew have previously been permanent air force members,” he said.
“It is flown and operated like a normal aeroplane.” Mr Wright was an air force pilot for 25 years and he flew fixed wing planes.
“I came across the balloon at the tail end of my career and it is a 100 percent public relations activity, there is no operational aspect to it,” he said.
“It’s not even a strictly recruiting thing either, it’s a little bit more nebulous than that in it’s about creating a positive image.”