BJ Sullivan is a 20 year old student attending SUNY Cortland for Childhood education/Special education. I am a private hot air balloon pilot from the Glens Falls, NY area and have been flying for the past year. My interest in ballooning stems back to before I could walk when my parents brought me to the Adirondack Balloon Festival, and eventually I started to gain an interest in the balloons. In 9th grade I crewed for a special shape at the ADK Balloon Fest, and earned my first ride after beating the pilot in 9 holes of golf. I continued to crew for local pilots and went on to get my student license.

Roger Hooper has been an FAA Licensed Commercial Pilot for many years, and has flown in numerous festivals all over the East Coast.  “Limelite” is Roger’s second balloon, and if the different shades of green panels don’t demonstrate enough how much of a New York Jets fan Roger is… be sure to notice the flag attached to his crown line!

 

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Kevin Morris and his wife became interested in ballooning when some friends who owned a balloon asked them to come out and crew for them.  After that day they were hooked and crewed for a while, but they knew it wouldn't be long before they owned their own balloon.  In December of 2000 Kevin got his certificate on a cold winter morning.  The Balloon is a 1982 Raven Envelope, which they took ownership of in 1999.  Since 2000, he has flown in a few festivals each year and even logged a flight in the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta with a friend and his balloon.  When Kevin's not ballooning, he works professionally as a Fire Sprinkler Installer in the Albany and Saratoga regions of New York State.

Jonathan Blackburn has been a certified commercial pilot and instructor of hot air balloons for nearly a decade. Originally from Utah , he has flown throughout the Rocky Mountain States with several high altitude flights, and a solo mountain crossing of the rugged Wasatch range .  He relocated his family to Upstate New York in 2002.  The Blackburn Family has four hot air balloons varying in size and capacity. From a single passenger 56,000 cubic foot balloon to our flagship “OTTO,” an Aerostar Rally 126,500 cubic foot balloon capable of carrying up to 6 passengers.

Don Palen is a retired U.S.Navy Captain of some 34 years of service and is an all
around good guy, or so he says. He has been an ocean sailing racer, a down hill
skier, a ship's captain, and amateur chef, making, among other delicacies,
rather bad spaghetti bolognese. Having reached most of the goals he has set for
himself but one, he is now looking for a position as an engineer on the railroad.
He rarely takes himself seriously and has lived devoutly by that principal for
over six decades.

Try not to hold it against him that Bill Volk’s day job is as a lawyer (practicing out of West West Cummington, MA). Bill has done the legal research on ballooning and has determined that it is perfectly legal (according to all state & federal statutes) to die without having taken a hot air balloon ride. But what he has been told is that when you do die, you have to stand in line a long time and when you get to the front of the line St. Peter’s first question is “During your lifetime, have you taken a hot air balloon flight. If you say no, he says “You go to hell” Now, this may or may not actually be true, but ask yourself this: CAN YOU AFFORD TO TAKE THE CHANCE? After all the stakes are eternity – think about it.  

Steve Tuttle started ballooning just two years ago when he and his wife, Debbie, purchased “Morning Surprise”, a 1992 Cameron Viva-7 Hot Air Balloon. He completed his student training and obtained his private pilot license in September of 2006. Steve resides in Hyde Park, N.Y. with his wife Debbie and 16 month-old son Bradley. He is a Career Firefighter & Paramedic in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and also works part-time as a 9-1-1 Dispatcher for the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response. Steve and his family have Seasonal Campsites here at Camp Waubeeka, and he enjoys the opportunity to plan the Balloon Weekends for your enjoyment!

Kevin Morris and his wife became interested in ballooning when some friends who owned a balloon asked them to come out and crew for them. After that day they were hooked and crewed for a while, but they knew it wouldn't be long before they owned their own balloon. In December of 2000 after taking some training and solo'ing Kevin got his certificate on a cold winter morning. The Balloon is a 1982 Raven Envelope, which they took ownership of in 1999. Since 2000, he has flown in a few festivals each year and even logged a flight in the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta with a friend and his balloon. When Kevin's not ballooning, he works professionally as a Fire Sprinkler Installer in the Albany and Saratoga regions of New York State.

Andrew Avon has been around the sport of ballooning since he was two days old!!! A balloon was inflated in the hospital parking lot were he was born, with a banner stating congratulations to his parents! Andrew spent his childhood helping out with the Adirondack Balloon Festival, selling programs and calendars and crewing for various balloonists. Andrew enjoys flying his balloon "Happy Hour" with his friends and family in the Glens Falls, NY area.

Marc Brodeur is a commercial hot air balloon pilot flying "Flashover".
Marc is a retired firefighter from the City of Nashua, NH. He chose Flashover as the name of his balloon because of the correlation to firefighting.  Flashover is a Cameron O-77. Marc owns and operates Wizard of Awes Ballooning, which is in Southern New Hampshire.  We are very pleased to be coming to this event, and look forward to participating.

Vince Galet is a Commercial Pilot who has been flying balloons in the North East since 2004. The Sky Riders team was formed in 2005 and had a lot of fun and safe flying since then, because there is nothing like it…

Darrel Long had his first balloon flight in 1986 and crewed for a number of years for various balloons in Connecticut. In 1994 he designed and built “Spirit” and obtained his balloon license in July of 1995. He also holds private pilot ratings in gliders and single engine airplanes. Darrel lives in northwest Connecticut with his wife Laurie and his four children Ryan, Jordan, Jamie and Madison. They serve as his primary crew. Darrel’s balloon, “Spirit”, is a 70,000 cubic foot experimental homebuilt balloon. The basket was originally from a balloon called “Stardust” that was featured in the Woody Allen film Stardust Memories.

Bob Martel first got the ‘ballooning bug’ when one landed in his yard as a child – a long time ago! With more than 20 years of crewing experience, and kids grown, he pursued his LTA pilot’s liciense. Bob is now a commercial hot air balloon pilot who flies Harmony primarily in the eastern/central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire areas. He is also a corporate pilot for a regional credit union. Bob and his brother Jim fly Harmony to share the magic of ballooning.

Todd Monahan started flying in 2006 when I received my training in Albuquerque as a private pilot! My love for ballooning started at a very young age when I would witness the balloons flying over my house!  My first experience with ballooning was hustling out the door at 5am into the brisk morning air. With the sun peaking over the horizon, I’d race on my bike to the airport to catch a glimpse of the brilliant balloons ascending in unison. I will never forget the thrill of seeing a balloon up close, feeling the warmth of the burner, and the pleasant camaraderie amongst everyone on board.

Joe Moroney has always been interested in flying. It wasn’t until he scheduled a flight with a local pilot that it became a passion. From that point he and his family became a balloon chase crew. It was only a matter of time before he moved up to pilot his own balloon. Joe works full time as a Commercial Move Coordinator for Clancy Moving Systems in Patterson, NY and is also a volunteer fireman with the Beekman Fire Department. He hopes to move up and become a commercial pilot and maybe do something in advertising.