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United Van Lines began its hot air balloon program in 1982 with a standard-shaped balloon and added the first truck-shaped balloon to the company's fleet in 1992. Over the years, seven balloons have been flown in the United program, three in the shape of a United Van Lines moving van. The unique truck-shaped balloon is a crowd favorite and is featured across the United States in festivals and races.
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 The 92,000-cubic foot balloon features license plates, headlights, and a "van operator"
waving from the "cab."
Its envelope weighs 570 pounds as compared to the 230 pounds of a similar capacity
standard balloon.
When fully inflated, the truck balloon is 77-feet long, 55-feet high and 42-feet wide.
The majestic van balloon is fueled by propane, which heats the envelope to 250 degrees
Fahrenheit. Variation in the envelope temperature provides vertical movement, but the
direction of the flight is completely dependent on prevailing wind currents.
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The United balloons have been featured in numerous television newscasts, specials and commercials. United's pilot, Roy Caton, has been flying hot-air balloons professionally since 1982. In the last 22 years, Caton has traveled through all 48 continental states and Canada. In that time, he has driven over 1,000,000 miles and flown more than 2,000 hours. |
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