THE "smart vent" system releases hot air from the top of the balloon after landing. NOTE: This must not be done at altitude!
Here you can see the vent in operation. You are looking straight up at the top of the balloon. In the first photograph, the vent is only partially open. In the second one, the opening cable has been pulled to retract the vent fabric. This permits the air to escape much more rapidly, thus causing the balloon to deflate.
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Interesting Links:
- A short history of ballooning and a discussion of modern balloon construction can be found at the UK Balloon Rides site.
- How Things Fly: The National Air and Space Museum explains what enables balloons to stay aloft.
- Landowner relations: Things NOT to say to the owner of the field in which you just touched down.