Support Equipment  Standard support equipment for ballooning includes an inflation  fan, transport/chase vehicle, and small miscellaneous items,  such as igniters, drop lines, gloves, spare parts, and helmets.  have a cowling of fiberglass or metal because a cage  or grill alone is not sufficient to stop rocks or pieces  of blade from being thrown.  The inflation fan is one of the most dangerous pieces of  equipment in ballooning.  [Figure 2-12]  Keep this fact in mind  when purchasing and operating any inflation fan. Fan blades  have been known to shatter or break, throw rocks at high  velocity, and inadequate cages or guards fail to protect fingers  and hands. Any fan considered for purchase by a prospective  pilot should be evaluated for potential safety hazards. Also,  remember that the blade spinning at high revolutions per  minute (rpm) generates a significant gyroscopic effect. Fans  should not be moved while running. If the fan must be moved,  it should be shut off, repositioned, and restarted.  Fans come in different styles and sizes. Personal finances,  style of inflation, and size of the balloon determines the best  fan. Points to consider in selecting a fan are:  Balloon ground transportation varies.  [Figure 2-13]  The most  common vehicles are a van with the balloon carried inside, a  pickup truck with the balloon carried in the bed, or a van or  pickup truck with a small trailer (flatbed or covered). Some  considerations in selecting a transport/chase vehicle are:  2-9 • Storage—some balloonists, who do not have room for  inside storage and want security on the road, choose  an enclosed trailer. If an enclosed trailer is used for  storage of the balloon, the trailer should be a light color  to help reduce the heat inside. Keeping the trailer cool  keeps the tank pressure within reasonable limits (so  as not to aggravate a potential fuel leak), and reduces  the vaporization of gasoline in the fan tank (the fumes  • Number of crew members—if the number of crew  members is small, handling the balloon should be  made as easy as possible. If the number of crew  members is large, the size of the chase vehicle and  other factors may be more important.  • Convenience—for ease of handling the balloon, a small  flatbed trailer low to the ground makes the least lifting  demands on the pilot and crew. One consideration is  that volunteer crew members may have little or no  experience in backing a small trailer.  • Finances—if costs are an issue, a trailer hitch on the  family sedan and a small flatbed trailer may work  just fine.  • Safety—fan blades today can be wood, aluminum,  fiberglass, or composite, with wood being the  most popular. Wood or aluminum blades designed  specifically for balloon fan use are best. The fan should  • Weight—someone has to lift the fan into and out of  the transport vehicle. Wheels help one person move  the fan, but they add to the weight and are not helpful  on soft ground. One person can carry a small fan, but  a larger fan may require two people.  • Fanmaintenance—agoodfanrequireslittlemaintenance  and should be easy to maintain. Check the oil  periodically and change it once a year. Check hub bolts  and grill screws for tightness on a regular basis.  • Fuel—gasoline degrades in storage. Do not store  gasoline in the fan due to fire hazard and the formation  of varnish, which can clog fuel passages.  • Cubic feet per minute (CFM)—fan blade design, duct  design, and engine speed determine the amount of air  moved in a given time. Do not confuse engine size with  CFM. Larger engines do not necessarily push more  air. The volume of air moved is primarily a function  of blade design and performance. Moving a high  volume of air is not necessarily the ultimate goal in fan  performance. Some people prefer a slower cold inflation  to accommodate a thorough preflight inspection.  • Transport—available space in a pickup truck, the back  of a van, or on a trailer may determine the size of the  fan.  Transport/Chase Vehicle Inflation Fans  Figure 2-12.  Balloon inflation using a typical inflation fan.