[hyde]

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How well can balloons steer?

The whole premise is that if they're going the wrong direction, they change their altitude, right? That always seemed pretty far-fetched to me. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
-Sam

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Balloons can not steer at all. They go wherever the wind goes.
Winds often change direction slightly with a change in altitude. Average change in direction might be 30 degrees within 1000 feet of altitude. Occasionally there is greater steerability. albequerque is famouus for having 'box winds' where you can steer 360 degrees and land near where you take off. This situation is not always present.
The winds we fly in are light and variable.
I once flew 100 miles at altitudes up to 12,000 feet and did not vary my direction at all. Also a rare occurance.