                              Command : BALLOON

 SYNTAX:
   [##:##] Command: balloon [<BALLOON/FLEET> | <SECTS>] [climb|descend]

The balloon report command is a census of your balloons and lists all the info
available  in  readable  format.  The command also lets you control the ascent
and descent of individual balloons.

The <BALLOON/FLEET> and <SECTS> arguments are provided in case you  only  wish
to  look  at  one  balloon, or one fleet of balloons, or all balloons within a
given area.

The optional [climb|descend] argument lets you change  a  balloon's  altitude.
In order to climb, each balloon must contain enough lighter-than-air gas to be
able to reach the next altitude level.  Use the `show balloon volume'  command
to  see  required gas volumes.  Low altitude flight can be maintained with 50%
of the maximum amount of gas; high altitude flight requires 75%.  At low alti-
tude,  gas  volume  slowly  decreases with each update.  At high altitude, the
loss rate is twice as fast, and at any altitude, the loss  rate  increases  as
balloon  efficiency drops.  If gas volume drops below 50% of the maximum capa-
city, the balloon, unable to sustain flight, will crash.

                              Command : BALLOON

To launch a balloon, use the `launch balloon' command.  Once  the  balloon  is
airborne, the `balloon' command is used to make altitude changes or land.

To replenish gas, you must land the balloon.  In any sector capable of  build-
ing  a  balloon,  the gas volume automatically increases with each update at a
rate equal to 100 times the number of elapsed  etus  times  the  sector  effi-
ciency.  In other sectors, the rate is only half as fast; if you don't own the
sector, the rate is cut in half once more.

Balloons can usually land almost anywhere except  in  sanctuaries,  wasteland,
mountains,  bridgespans, and water.  You will be informed if a sector does not
offer an suitable landing areas; harbors, airfields, and trade  centers,  how-
ever, guarantee good landing sites.

Balloons can be loaded, unloaded, boarded, and tended only while they  are  on
the  ground.   Balloons  can  be  loaded  only  in harbors, airports and trade
centers, but can be unloaded anywhere.  You use the `nav' command to move bal-
loons  once  they are airborne.  `Radar' and `look' range increases with alti-
tude, but at the price of increased visibility.

                              Command : BALLOON

If you wish to move a balloon while it is on the ground,  you  can  do  so  by
using the `transport' command.

Changes in altitude cost 1 mobility unit and normally  require  a  crew.   The
only  time  that a crew is not needed is when you release an unmanned balloon.
Unmanned balloons are neither retrieveable nor navigable, and  will  fly  over
the same sector forever until they either lose too much gas or are shot down.

Balloon expects an argument.  To see every balloon you own, give it the  argu-
ment '*', or type "balloon *".

The report format contains the following fields:

        bal#  the balloon number
     balloon  the type of balloon (balloon, blimp, airship, etc)
         x,y  the balloon's current location (relative to your capital)
         f/c  fleet and convoy designation letters (set by `fleetadd' command)
         eff  the balloon's efficiency
         alt  the balloon's altitude (land, low, or high)
         civ  civ is the number of civilians on board

                              Command : BALLOON

         mil  mil is the number of military on board
        food  the amount of food on board
         mob  the mobility of the balloon
        tech  the tech level of the balloon
         gas  the volume of gas in the balloon's envelope

For example:
   [##:##] Command: balloon *

   bal#   balloon type      x,y    f/c  eff  alt civ  mil food mob tech  gas
      4 airship           -25,-11      100% land   0    5   50  51  146 4635
     22 balloon          -127,23       100%  low   1    1    2  10   55  770
    152 blimp              62,8        100% high   0    2   10  44   82 2245

   3 balloons

   [##:##] Command: bal 4 climb

                              Command : BALLOON

   airship #4 climbing to low altitude in -25,-11.
   1 balloon

   [##:##] Command: bal 4 climb

   airship #4 climbing to high altitude in -25,-11.
   1 balloon

See also : build, cargo, fleetadd, navigate, load,  lookout,  scrap,  upgrade,
transport, balloon-types

