Students from Paynesville Primary School were on cloud nine last Wednesday, enjoying a morning with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), learning the ins and outs of its hot air balloon at AJ Freeman Reserve.
Despite the wet and wild conditions, Squadron Leader and RAAF’s longest serving balloon pilot, Sam Wright, provided an up close and personal lesson about the parts of the hot air balloon’s basket and burner system, giving students the opportunity to have a go at controlling the burners.
Students were also able to enter the “envelope” of the balloon, with the RAAF crew using an inflation fan to blow air into the balloon.
The envelope is typically made from a fabric similar to parachute or camping tent material.
Once inside the balloon, the students were given a rundown on the balloon from pilot Jeff Vella, who has been flying hot air balloons with the RAAF since 2001.
“In better conditions, we would have been able to fly the balloon, where we tether the balloon to three cars and get about 30ft off the ground,” Mr Vella said.
“But unfortunately we couldn’t do that today.”
He is also an Air Force pilot and an instructor at the RAAF Base in East Sale.
These visits by RAAF aim to encourage Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in classrooms, promote interactive learning and allow students to meet Air Force personnel and learn about the science of hot air balloons.
The tours ground to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic, but have gradually started to return to normal, with the group heading back to Canberra via Bega, stopping by at St Patrick’s Primary School last Wednesday.
Hot air balloons are one of the earliest forms of aviation. They were used for surveillance as early as WWI.
Today, the RAAF has three hot air balloons based in Canberra.
Operated by the Central Flying School, the balloons are now used for education as well as flight training.
