Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the feedback, takes a little research but makes the video much more informative, personally I try to study the sometimes subtle differences in design understand the how's and why's balloons are in so many shapes and styles #geekingout :-)

​@@TheBigBalloonFestival Since you are likely far more familiar with balloon designs than I (both past and present), I'd like to ask if you have ever seen or heard about anyone incorporating a double rotational vent (left and right) on both sides of a balloon's envelope (left side and right side or front and back) in order to give the pilot lateral control, say along the x axis (right-side rotational vents would open simultaneously to push the balloon to the left and vice versa) or individual vents that would vent hot air straight outward to allow a pilot to steer the balloon left or right, to and fro, on calm days when the wind wasn't too strong? I would like to try this in some of my designs.

IT's a very good technical question, and an idea that is talked about a lot (over a pint or 2), in the real world I've only seen one adaptation with might have been working, or it might not the margins are very fine and hard to define. so rotation vents on or near the equator are there to flow the air out at an angle and spin `the surface' of the balloon, most of the internal air moves little (as far as I can tell), so actioning that rotational force to `thrust vector' and change the momentum of the whole mass is a very different thing. The only practical demonstration I have seen involved the use of the parachute (where pressure is highest) to tack a few degrees off the track of prevailing winds, the pilot was actively forcing the flame to one side of the balloon, the side with a section of the parachute open. (but on lookers were unsure if the balloon was finding a different breeze or if the pilot was just throwing gas away or it it worked) away from that hot air Airships are of course a step in that direction, but they have a rotax engine and still struggle to gain much in headway against a wind. Have you done any research into Andre's expedition to the north pole, cracking and successful idea on steerage

​@@TheBigBalloonFestival You provided me with some interesting and valuable information and reminded me that most of the heat and pressure is at the top of the balloon's envelope, which is an important factor! About a month ago, I had ordered and received a book titled, The Aeronauts and have had the pleasure of reading it all the way through. In it is one of my favorite adventure stories, which is that of Andrée's Arctic expedition in a balloon named the Eagle (Ornen). Now that you mentioned it, I do recall he chose to design his balloon with vents a bit lower than the top crown (he was afraid the top would get iced over) and he used long drag lines. I remember the drag lines fell off shortly after their launch but I can't remember if he had much success at steering the balloon. Perhaps no one knows if he could steer it unless he reported that in his log book that was found many decades later. I have some other design concepts to provide far more control and steering and which would be more likely to succeed, even against gusty winds. I won't go into too much detail in a public forum, since I hope to patent the ideas, but it does involve a similar approach as airships, involving a semi-rigid inner structure and powerful engines (electric and-or gas powered). If paragliders can do it, I'm confident hot air balloonists can too. I'm also hoping to design more aerodynamic shaped envelopes to reduce drag as much as possible. Something almost saucer or lens shaped. All these concept designs will surely need to be tested, of course. As soon as I find the money and time! :) Thanks again for taking the time to give me valuable feedback!

Andre figured out that by dragging ropes in the water the balloon moved slower than the wind, in the same way as a ship did, as a result setting sails on the balloon meant he could steer left and fight away from the main thrust of the wind, 20/30 degrees (if my memory serves me right) unfortunately on the north pole expedition they had to cut away the ropes after the launch. Look forward to your inventions, be happy to answer any questions I can help with

The first 2 1/2 minutes were in the failing light of the evening before, as that was the best chance of the whole weekend, the forcast was never looking brilliant that weekend but we made it work, and it just kept getting windier from then on really.

Yes far too windy, but only 1 or 2 of the balloons on display that day were in a condition where they can be flown, all the others are retired so take off was never on the cards

@@TheBigBalloonFestival Retired? Does that mean that they have become not air tight enough with age? Or rather the nylon or polyester have become too fragile with UV perhaps for a safe flight?

Your correct both weakness in the strength of the fabric, and porosity are the main reasons these balloons can no longer be flown. But they can still be enjoyed on a ground display for many years