Piloting a hot air balloon is like a team sport. It takes an entire crew, who usually loves early mornings, to set up and prepare a balloon for flight.It all starts with the basket, or gondola ...

Hot air balloons are made up of three major components: the burner, the envelope and the basket. Here's how they help the balloons take flight.

Hot air balloons might seem like magic, but there is a lot of physics at play behind their ascent. Once they get up in the air, how do you make them go where you want them to?

Millions of visitors flock to about 200 balloon festivals across the U.S. each year. Volunteering on balloon crews lets some of those fans pursue the inflatable dream.