Hot air balloon rides have become a popular celebration treat. But do they really just drift with the wind? Investigate the meticulous planning needed for round-the-world flights. Learn how journeys are monitored and measured, and discover how pilots merge mathematics and geography while high aboveā¦

Transcript -- A short introduction to this album.

An insight into the planning that goes into a hot air balloon journey and also how maps can be produced through filming from a hot air balloon.

Transcript -- An insight into the planning that goes into a hot air balloon journey and also how maps can be produced through filming from a hot air balloon.

This track shows us how a hot air balloon is produced and how the application of spherical geometry is imperative when planning a round the world flight, and what programmes and software packages are used to make these calculations.

Transcript -- This track shows us how a hot air balloon is produced and how the application of spherical geometry is imperative when planning a round the world flight, and what programmes and software packages are used to make these calculations.

Through a complex example, we learn how journeys are measured when the points are not on the equator and how this is calculated using Theta.

Transcript -- Through a complex example, we learn how journeys are measured when the points are not on the equator and how this is calculated using Theta.

Great-circle distances might be the shortest way to travel, but they are not always the easiest. We also look at how lines of latitude aren't great-circles and that permission must be acquired to fly over many countries.

Transcript -- Great-circle distances might be the shortest way to travel, but they are not always the easiest. We also look at how lines of latitude aren't great-circles and that permission must be acquired to fly over many countries.