Changes: The Hot Air Balloon

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“Why, 'tis a floating basket with folk in it."
"Whatever will they dream up next?”

― Donald and Douglas, James and the Red Balloon, sixth season

The Hot Air Balloon
Model Series

The Hot Air Balloon, also known as the Red Balloon, came to Sodor primarily to carry holidaymakers. It is stationed at Dryaw airfield and carries passengers around, providing a rather different view of the Island. James is rather fond of the balloon.

Bio

In its first appearance, James and Thomas were jealous of the balloon because they thought it would steal their passengers until Sir Topham Hatt explained that it would attract more passengers to the Island. The balloon fell on top of James after it ran out of hot air. James was petrified, and let off a huge burst of steam, which invariably blew the balloon back up again.

Later on, Sir Topham Hatt and Lady Hatt used the balloon to transport to them to the grand opening of Rumblin Bridge station as Harold was having engine trouble. Unfortunately, the balloon's burner runs out of fuel and crashes into a tree. Skarloey saw the damaged balloon and offered to take the Hatts to the grand opening instead.

In its last appearance, Mr. Percival arranged for a special balloon ride for Pansy and Patrick's birthday. However, Duncan accidentally caused the balloon to crash into the weather-vane on Mr. Percival's house, tearing a hole through the material. Realising the error of his ways, Duncan collected a balloon repair man, who had little hope of repairing the balloon until Duncan suggested using a birthday flag to repair the damage.

Appearances

Television series

Season 4 - Train Stops Play (edited scene)
Season 6 - James and the Red Balloon
Season 7 - Emily's New Coaches, The Old Bridge (deleted scene), Edward's Brass Band, The Runaway Elephant, The Grand Opening, Best Dressed Engine (deleted scene) and Three Cheers for Thomas
Season 8 - Emily's New Route (deleted scene)
Season 12 - Duncan and the Hot Air Balloon
Season 20 - Hugo and the Airship (mentioned)

It is also the main focus of the seventh season song, The Red Balloon. It also appeared in the eighth season song, Patience and the ninth season song, Every Day's a Special Day on Sodor.

Magazine stories

2004 - James and the Red Balloon, The Grand Opening and Taking Off!
2010 - The Birthday Ride

Several different types of Hot Air Balloons appear in the mini book, James and the Balloons, written by Christopher Awdry.

Trivia

The music video, The Red Balloon refers to the balloon as a male character and implies that he is sentient.

Non-rail vehicles

* RWS only | ** T&F only | *** Other Media only

Road vehicles	Terence \| Bertie \| Trevor \| George \| Caroline \| 040 BMC \| Bulgy \| Bulgy's Friend \| JTK 62 \| Willie's Tractor \| Tractors \| Post Van \| The Orange Caterpillar Crane* \| The Horrid Lorries \| Butch \|Thumper \| Elizabeth \| The Pack \| Nelson \| Jack \| Alfie \| Oliver \| Max and Monty \| Kelly \| Byron \| Ned \| Isobella \| Patrick \| Buster \| Nigel \| Madge \| Kevin \| Flynn \| Ace \| Ester \| Cleo \| Sir Topham Hatt's Car \| Buses \| Dyson Lorries \| Soft-sided Lorries \| Caterpillar Cranes \| Taxis \| Fire Engines \| The Ambulance \| The One-eyed Truck \| The Loader \| Sodor Bakery Van \| Miss Jenny's Land Rover \| The Blue Mountain Quarry Vehicles \| Algy* \| Angus* \| The Green Bus* \| The Float Lorry* \| The White Van* \| The Dodgems* \| The Special Bus Service* \| The Ice-Cream Van* \| The Open-Topped Double-Decker Bus* \| The Wedding Car* \| The Police Car* \| The Excavator* \| The Combine Harvester* \| The Milk Float* \| The Coalman's Lorry* \| The Racing Cars* \| The Car-Train* \| The Signwriter's Van* \| The Sodor Animal Park's Buggy* \| Simon's Express Sandwich Service Van* \| Sodor Food and Drink Van* \| Baggage Transporters** \| Crawler Tractors \| Forklifts \| George's Friends* \| Cargo Lorries \| Sodor Mobile Library* \| Sodor Poster Colours Lorry* \| The Cement Mixer* \| The Fish and Chips Van* \| Sodor Sand and Grit Blasting Service Lorry* \| The Yardman's Car* \| The Vet's Car* \| Breakdown Lorries***
Aircraft	Harold \| Tiger Moth \| Jeremy \| Emerson \| Isla \| The Tandem Rotor Helicopter* \| Mitchell* \| The Hawker Hurricane* \| G-Hewi \| The Biplane \| Aeroplanes \| The Hot Air Balloon** \| The Airship \| The Light Aircraft* \| The Seaplane* \| Hang Gliders***
Watercraft	Bulstrode \| Captain \| Skiff \| Dilly*** \| P.S. Cumberland Road* \| S.S. Kathryn* \| North Star* \| Nancy and Violet* \| S.S. Roxstar* \| Lucinda \| Alysia \| Northlight \| Sodor Line \| Krystyna \| Barges \| Boats \| The Japanese Ship \| Salvage Boats \| Canal Boats \| Lakesider III \| The Fultan Ferry \| Tramp Steamers \| Fishing Boats \| The Tug Boat* \| The Yacht* \| The Lifeboats* \| The Sodor Voyager* \| S.S. Sodor* \| Sir Topham* \| Steam Boat* \| Sodor* \| Speedboats* \| Seasprite* \| Lizzie* \| The Submarine* \| S.S. Sodor Queen* \| S.S. Sodor Steamline* \| Sodor Harbor* \| S.S. Mermaid \| Captain Calles' Pirate Ship \| Cutty Sark* \| The Mayor's Yacht \| Terrey \| The Old Ship \| The Old Dinghy* \| The Sea Farer* \| S.S. Stoten \| The Car Ferry*
Cranes	Big Mickey \| Cranky \| Colin \| Owen \| Merrick \| Reg \| Beresford \| Carly \| Kobe \| Cassia \| Carter \|Cranes \| Ol' Wheezy \| Hee-Haw \| Happy Hook
Others	Trailers \| Bluebird***

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 * The [[Music Videos|music video]], [[The Red Balloon]] refers to the balloon as a male character and implies that he is sentient.
-{{Other vehicles}}
+{{Non-rail vehicles}}
 [[Category:Non-rail vehicles]]
 [[Category:Aircraft]]