Flight Manual for Gas Balloons of Type NL-STU
Issue 2.0
July 25, 2016
Page 4-5
Preflight checks:
4.4.2.3 Ballast bags
The basket is loaded with 30 to 40 ballast bags, each weighing 15 kg, inside the basket. A fur-
ther 60 ballast bags, each weighing 15 kg, are suspended from the sand bag line on the outside
of the basket and distributed evenly around all four sides of the basket. If the fabric walled bas-
ket is in use, the ballast bags have to be suspended on the load ring. Use therefore ballast
straps (ref. ANNEX 2).
CAUTION:
During inflation – particularly in the case of gusty winds – it must be ensured that
the balloon is weighed down with sufficient ballast to ensure that the basket re-
mains safely on the ground.
NOTE:
For smaller balloons, a correspondingly smaller number of ballast bags may be
used. One ballast bag weighing 15 kg is required for every 10 m³ of the envelope
volume.
4.4.2.4 Preparing the envelope
Check the parachute and the edge of the parachute opening for tears or damage. Then pull the
parachute line out of the balloon through the parachute opening, until its lower end only extends
approx. 2 m out of the stretched out appendix. Lay the parachute line in a meandering pattern,
and place it approx. 2 m to one side of the parachute opening inside the envelope. This is to
prevent the parachute line from getting caught in the pull-down belts during inflation.
The parachute is tied to the two oppositely arranged parachute limit tongues, each approx. 10
cm long, on the inside of the envelope. Use a cotton thread or a strip of balloon fabric with a
breaking strength of 60 to 80 N (~6 to 8 kg) for tying the parachute.
CAUTION:
The parachute limit tongues must only be fastened
with a single tie
!
Preflight checks:
The pilot must check that the load ring is in a good general condition. The following must be
checked:
tubular steel ring
,
slings
and
toggles
.
The pilot must check that the envelope is in a good general condition. The following must be
checked:
gores
,
gore seams
,
reinforcements
,
deflation opening
,
parachute
,
fastening
of the parachute line
,
load belt
,
suspension ropes
and
emergency opening
, if present.