Altimeter - A device carried in a balloon basket to tell the pilot how high the balloon is off the ground.

Altitude – the height above sea level at which an aircraft is flying.

Aeronaut – the pilot of a balloon or airship.

Basket - The part of a hot air balloon in which the pilot and passengers ride. It is usually made out of wicker.

Burner - The device used to bum propane and heat the air inside the balloon.

CASA – Civil Aviation Safety Authority is the Australian government agency that regulates all non military aircraft, pilots, airports and air spaces.

Crown Line - A rope connected to the very top of the envelope to help stabilize it during inflation and deflation.

Deflation Port - An opening, usually in the top of the envelope that is used to let hot air out when the balloon has landed and is ready to be deflated. The deflation port is opened by pulling the red line.

Drop line - A rope or nylon strap connected to the uprights and dropped to the crew on the ground to help guide the balloon to a desired landing spot.

Envelope - The fabric part of the balloon that contains the air.

Inflation Fan - A large, usually petrol motor powered, fan used to fill the envelope with cold air before the heating starts.

Mouth or throat - An opening at the bottom of the envelope through which the balloon is inflated and heated.

Parachute Valve - A separate, detachable piece of the envelope that closes the opening at the top. Used as both a vent and deflation port, it can be opened a little in night to let some hot air out and allow the balloon to come down, or be totally opened after landing to get all the air out of the balloon in order for it to be packed up.

Pibal - A small helium filled party balloon used to show the pilot the direction and speed of the wind. This gives an idea of what direction the flight will take.

Red Line - A rope or nylon strap connected to the top of the envelope. It is used by the pilot to let some or all of the hot air inside the envelope out in order to descend or land.

Rotation Vent - A panel located about half way up the balloon which is used to orient the balloon during flight and for the landing. Two lines come from the rotation vent, one to rotate left and the other to rotate right.

Smart Vent – is an Australian invented deflation system for balloons. It allows the pilot to release a lot of hot air from the balloon during landing and can be reset.

Thermistor - An electronic measurement system that tells the pilot the temperature of the air inside the top of the envelope. It is important not to get the fabric too hot. More than 125 degrees Celsius will damage most balloon fabrics.

Tether - Keeping a balloon tied to the ground so that it doesn't fly away.

Uprights - The metal or plastic rods that conned the envelope to the basket and hold the burner up.

Vent - A portion of the top or side of the envelope that can be opened briefly by the pilot to release some hot air to get the balloon to stop going up, or go down.

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