Abstract

Objective of the study is to identify and assess the factors contributing to the extreme nature of the sport of hot-air ballooning. Methods and structure of the study. The research was conducted at the Russian Ballooning Federation between 2024 and 2026. The study sample consisted of 30 hot-air balloon pilots aged 24-58 (with qualifications ranging from Class II to Master of Sport, and having completed between 120 and 1,500 training and competitive flights), including 24 men and 6 women. Results and conclusions. Based on an analysis of the literature, technical and methodological materials, and the practice of conducting sporting flights, the author identified 15 factors describing various aspects of the extreme nature of sporting flights in aeronautical sport, and structured them in accordance with L.D. Gissen's classification of risk-inducing situations. The experimental study conducted made it possible to assess the level of extremity in the performance of sports flights from the perspective of pilot-athletes, to draw conclusions about the groups of factors most significant to them, and to highlight the need to improve theoretical and psychological training in the 'hot-air balloons' category of aeronautical sport.

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No. 5, pp. 24–26

Published: 08.05.2026

CC BY 4.0