Hot Air Balloon

The Hot Air Balloon is a flying vehicle that can be commissioned from Franklyn’s Lab after donating 28 Shiny Discs to Franklyn. Once ordered, it arrives in the mailbox the next day. After buying Vehicle Licence Level 3 from Fletch, the player can pilot it and use it for aerial travel across the island.

Like the Helicopter, the Hot Air Balloon is part of the Vehicle Licence’s flying-vehicle tier. It is not available at the start of the game, and it requires both the appropriate licence and Franklyn’s unlocked commission system before it can be obtained. It can also be recoloured with Paint, letting the player customize its appearance.

• Requires Vehicle Licence Level 3 to use.
• Commissioned at Franklyn’s Lab after donating 28 Shiny Discs to Franklyn.
• Delivered to the mailbox the next morning.
• Can be painted in multiple colours, including Black, Blue, Chrome, Gold, Green, Natural, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, and Yellow.

In terms of controls, the Hot Air Balloon uses the standard flying-vehicle handling set shared with the Helicopter: forward, left, right, back/reverse, up, down/land, and dismount/exit vehicle. This makes it useful for long-distance travel and reaching areas that are awkward to cross on foot or by land vehicle. Since it is a flying vehicle, it also fits naturally into late-game transport once the player has progressed far enough to unlock Vehicle Licence Level 3.

Because it is commissioned rather than crafted, the main barrier is resource progression rather than materials. Players need to advance through the licence system, gather the required Shiny Discs for Franklyn, and then wait for delivery before they can use the vehicle.