Glossary

Plain-language explanations of the ballooning terms used across the game and this site.

Pibal

Short for "pilot balloon" — a wind-observation method where a small balloon is released and tracked to measure wind direction and speed at different altitudes. In the game, you check a table built from this kind of observation (the pibal table) before you fly, and read it to figure out which altitude will carry you toward your target.

JDG (Judge Declared Goal)

A real hot-air-ballooning competition event where the judges declare a single goal, and pilots try to drop a marker as close to it as possible. This is the basic format you play in this game.

Rip line

A rope near the top of the balloon that, when pulled, vents warm air out of the envelope, causing the balloon to descend.

Burner

The flame device that heats the air inside the envelope. Holding the burner key makes the balloon rise.

Gore

One of the vertical panels that make up a balloon's envelope (its outer fabric). This game's balloon has 16 gores, and pattern design works panel by panel around them.

Marker

A ribboned marker dropped from the gondola to measure how close you got to the target.

MSL / AGL

Two ways of measuring altitude. MSL is height above sea level; AGL is height above the ground directly beneath you. The same MSL altitude can feel very different depending on the terrain below.

Gondola

The basket that hangs beneath the balloon and carries the pilot.