A hot air balloon is a kind of non-powered aircraft

An aircraft is a flying machine.

The word aircraft originally meant airships and balloons. It comes from the words air and craft, a term from boating as were many early aviation words.

There are many different kinds of aircraft.

Some aircraft keep in the sky by moving air over their wings. Examples are aeroplanes, helicopters, and gliders. Some aircraft keep in the sky by floating. Examples are balloons and airships.