Aerostat - A lighter-than-air device. Examples include hot air balloons, gas balloons and dirigibles. An "aeronaut" is a person who pilots a lighter-than-air craft.

Balloon - Generic term for an aerostat.

Balloon Crew - A group of about four people who function both as ground crew, helping with pre-flight preparations, and chase crew, retrieving the balloon after its flight and packing it back into the chase vehicle.

Wicker Basket -The portion of the balloon designed to carry the pilot, passenger, fuel tanks, and other equipment. Also referred to as the gondola. Usually constructed from wicker and light wood base.

Box - Flying back and forth over the same area by using winds of opposite directions at different altitudes. A common phenomenon in valleys because of the drainage of air down mountains.

Burners - The fuel-burning source of power of the modern hot air balloon, consisting of coil tubing and a fuel-injecting nozzle. A double burner system generates up to 30 million BTU's per hour. A pilot "burns" by turning or pulling the blast valve.

Carabiner - A "D", or "O" shaped locking metal clamp used to connect things together (in particular, load cables to baskets, or tie-off lines to retrieve vehicles).

Chase Vehicle- The truck, van or trailer carrying the balloon components, pilot and crew. It is frequently decorated with corporate, commercial or personal logos and designs.

Crown - The top center point of the balloon envelope. Attached to the crown is the "crownline," which a crewmember holds taut when the balloon is being inflated, preventing swaying of the envelope.

Crown Line - A rope which, at one end, is fastened to the top (or crown) of the balloon envelope, and at the other end, is used by a member of the crew to help stabilize the balloon during inflation and deflation. It is usually a good 50-100 feet (15-30 meters) longer than the balloon is tall.

Crown Ring - The ring of metal at the top of the envelope to which all the load tapes are attached.

Deflation - The pilot of a hot air balloon deflates the envelope by "ripping out" the top panel, the deflation port, of the balloon with a ripcord, or deflation line.

Drop Line - A rope, belt or other line attached to the aerostat (usually the gondola) on one end. Normally furled or stowed during flight, it can be released by the pilot and secured by ground crewmembers who use it to maneuver the craft into or through tight areas.

Envelope - The portion of the balloon which holds the heated air (for hot-air balloons) or gas for gas balloons. Constructed of cloth such as ripstop nylon or nomex, or other light, relatively impermeable material. Load tapes running vertically down the envelope end in cables that attach to the basket's uprights.

Free Flight - Untethered, a balloon drifting with the wind.

Hopper - An aerostat where the pilot sits in a chair or harness underneather the envelope, as opposed to standing in a basket.

Inflation - The filling of an envelope with cold air from an inflator fan and hot air from burners. After the envelope is about three-quarters filled with cold air, hot inflation begins.

Inflator Fan - Hot air can't be directly put into the envelope it first has to be filled with cold air using the inflator fan. Only then can this air be heated using the burner. Before fans, the balloon had to be flap inflated
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Laying Out - Walking a balloon envelope out of its bag and spreading out the fabric, readying it for inflation.

Maneuvering Vent - A slit in the side or top of the balloon envelope, opened by the venting line for the spilling of hot air from the envelope. Venting enables the balloon to descend faster than it would normally by the cooling of the air inside the envelope. Venting can also be used to rotate the balloon.

Mouth - The opening at the base of the balloon envelope through which the flames from the burner passes to heat the air inside the envelope. This is sometimes referred to as the 'throat'...

Nomex - Fire-resistant material that the scoop and bottom section of the envelope are made of.

Pibal - A helium-filled pilot balloon release to ascertain the directions and velocities of wind at different altitudes.

Scoop - A specialized-shape skirt which, on American balloons, narrows to an inch or two on one side and widens to extend all the way from the top of the poles to the base of the envelope proper, forming a tilted mouth. The idea of the scoop is to provide better control of the aerostat's orientation. Ideally, the front (or main part of the scoop) will always be kept in the direction of travel. It may also aid in keeping the envelope full.

Skirt - The cloth segment of the envelope below the load cable connections, frequently detachable, often made of Nomex or similar fire-resistant material.

Special Shapes - Balloons of other than standard shape, such as a flying saucer, a dinosaur, a cowboy hat, a pink elephant, a polar bear, or a sneaker. These balloons are constructed with multiple compartments. Balloons with appendages built off the standard balloon shape are a little more difficult to handle than a standard balloon. Exceptionally horizontal or vertical shapes, though, require minimal wind for inflation and landing. Magellan Bear pic here

Splash and Dash - A maneuver in which a pilot tests his or her flying skill by descending to the surface of a body of water, touches the water with the basket, and ascends again. Other exercises are "tree-topping," touching the tops of trees in flight, and "kissing," touching the envelope of another balloon in flight.

Tether - A secured line restricting the ascent of a balloon. Used by pilots to give short "rides" to the public.

Thermals - Updrafts caused by heated air rising from the ground. By flying early in the morning or late in the afternoon, balloonists avoid these potentially dangerous conditions.

Throat - The mouth of a balloon envelope, usually bordered by a skirt or scoop to help direct the heat of the burners into the envelope.

Weight on/Weight off - Also know as Hands on/Hands off. Where the pilot instructs the crew to put their weight on the basket in order to keep it in one spot. Usually done while loading and unloading people and equipment after the envelope is inflated and prior to take off.

Winds Aloft - The winds at different altitudes.