Depending on the care it is given, a balloon envelope may last 500 or more flying hours. Some colours are more resist to sun shine and the effect of heat ageing. In the past red has been particularly prone to early failures. Considering that most sport pilots fly from 35-75 hours a year, balloons do last a long time.

Most balloons are larger than your house. They hold from 19,000 to 211,000 cubic feet of air and loom from 50 to 90 feet. See similar questions...

Flights are conducted in calm and light winds, which usually mean early dew-sparkling mornings or the softly diffused light of evening. Whichever, the visual experience is unforgettable. Morning flights are at approximately 6.30 am during the summer months and evening flights are at approximately 6.30 pm. Times vary throughout the year according to sunrise and sunset. See similar questions...

A gas balloon envelope is completely enclosed at the bottom and is normally filled with a lighter-than-air gas such as helium. Hydrogen is used in some foreign countries where helium is not available and nitrogen is also used, but only on a very limited basis. A hot air balloon gets its lift from heating the air within the envelope. See similar questions...

Balloons are heavy. The envelope on a balloon weighs around 250lbs, the wicker basket with all it's equipment and fully loaded fuel tanks might weigh around 450lbs and then their are the passengers. Add all that up and it's a lot of pounds! So what's the scoop? Well while indeed balloons are very heavy on the ground, while in flight with several tons of heated air inside, the balloon is at that time indeed, lighter than air. That's what causes it to ascend every so gracefully. See similar questions...

Propane is the most common fuel, but in some countries where propane is either very expensive or not readily available, butane is used. The fuel is carried inside the gondola in aluminum or stainless steel tanks that range in size from 10 to 20 gallons. Average fuel consumption is about 15-20 gallons per hour depending upon the load carried in the gondola, the outside air temperature and the condition of the envelope. See similar questions...

Well...not really. Most balloon fiesta's or rally's use various balloon 'tasks' to challenge the competing pilots. These tasks can be things like a Hare & Hound, Judge Declared Goal or various fly to target events. All of these events require the pilot to judge the winds at various altitudes to try and adjust the course of the balloon. Then the pilot will drop a bean bag and streamer marked with his name or number. The closest marker to the target wins. See similar questions...

As a rule of thumb, 1 cubic meter of hydrogen lifts 1.1 kilogram, 1 m3 of helium lifts 1 kg and 1 m3 of hot air lifts 300 grams. (In Anglo-American measures: 1000 cu. ft. of hot air lift a maximum of 20 lbs. and 1000 cu ft. of helium lift about 60 lb.) These figures are on the safe side and allow for variations in altitude, temperature, humidity and also purity of the helium. See similar questions...

Depending on the care given, a balloon envelope may last 500 or more flying hours. Considering that most balloon pilots only fly 35-75 hours per year, most balloons will last a long time. The gondola will last much longer, perhaps thousands of flight hours with proper care. See similar questions...