Cloud Hopper PH-ZSL, Van Harten Ballonvaarten

A hopper balloon (simply hopper) is a small, one-person hot air balloon. Unlike a conventional hot air balloon where people ride inside a basket, there is no basket on a hopper balloon. Instead, the hopper pilot usually sits on a seat or wears a harness similar to a parachute harness. Hoppers are typically flown for recreation. These aircraft are sometimes called “Cloud Hoppers” or “Cloudhoppers.” However, these terms formally refer to the products of a particular manufacturer, specifically Lindstrand Balloons. Nonetheless, “Cloudhopper” is used by many people as a genericized trademark, which refers to all craft of this general type. In more careful usage, “hopper” is the generic term. Most hopper balloons have envelopes that range in volume from 14,000 to 35,000 cubic feet (400 to 1000 m3) and have a maximum flight duration of 1 to 1.5 hours.

Ballonfeest Joure, Provence Friesland, The Netherlands
Photo made with Canon Powershot A40