(Paul Kuehnel - York Daily Record/Sunday News)

The York County Balloon Festival finishes off with a perfect flight.

Hot air balloons rise on the principle that hot air rises. Place the hot air in a container and the container becomes lighter than the air around it. It takes a huge amount of energy to get the balloon aloft, about the equivalent of 2-3 BBQ tanks. Once the balloon is underway it's hight is maintained with small blasts of heat.

It's not a very efficient ride given the number of people it can carry and the speed it travels, but an often silent, historical experience.