A hopper balloon (simply hopper) is a small, one-person hot air balloon. Unlike a conventional hot air balloon where people ride inside a basket, there is no basket on a hopper balloon. Instead, the hopper pilot usually sits on a seat or wears a harness similar to a parachute harness. Hoppers are typically flown for recreation. These aircraft are sometimes called "Cloud Hoppers" or "Cloudhoppers." However, these terms formally refer to the products of a particular manufacturer, specifically Lindstrand Balloons. Nonetheless, "Cloudhopper" is used by many people as a genericized trademark, which refers to all craft of this general type. In more careful usage, "hopper" is the generic term. Most hopper balloons have envelopes that range in volume from 14,000 to 35,000 cubic feet (400 to 990 m3) and have a maximum flight duration of 1 to 1.5 hours. The two principal commercial balloon manufacturers today offering hopper balloons for sale are Cameron Balloons and Lindstrand Balloons. Most other hopper balloons are experimental aircraft designed and built by amateur constructors.
Read more about Hopper Balloon: History, Cloudhopper
Famous quotes containing the words hopper and/or balloon:
“Maxim de Winter: Tell me, is Mrs. Van Hopper a friend of yours or just a relation?
Mrs. de Winter: No, she’s my employer. I’m what’s known as a paid companion.
Maxim de Winter: I didn’t know that companionship could be bought.”
—Robert E. Sherwood (1896–1955)
“When I am on a stage, I am the focus of thousands of eyes and it gives me strength. I feel that something, some energy, is flowing from the audience into me. I actually feel stronger because of these waves. Now when the play’s done, the eyes taken away, I feel just as if a circuit’s been broken. The power is switched off. I feel all gone and empty inside of me—like a balloon that’s been pricked and the air’s let out.”
—Lynn Fontanne (1887–1983)