The part of the balloon that bears the entire load is the

• A. load tapes
• B. envelope
• C. basket
• D. burner

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how weight is carried in a balloon. Load tapes are the strong straps built into the envelope that take the full weight of the basket and its payload and transfer that load to the envelope. They provide the primary load path, keeping the basket attached and the balloon structurally intact as the system is pressurized and lifted. The envelope itself is the fabric that holds hot air, not a load-bearing element for the payload, and the basket is the platform for occupants and gear, with its load transmitted through the tapes. The burner’s job is to heat the air, not carry the load. So the part that bears the entire load is the load tapes.