A Talk With Our Pilots – Memorable Flights - Part 1

 One thing you’ll find out about most of our pilots….they have some great stories to tell! So we asked our pilots “Who has been your most interesting passenger(s) in your balloon. Tell us about your flight….  

Sally Lidinsky – “I had the pleasure of flying 3 generations at the same time: a man, his daughter, and granddaughter. It was very cool to experience the flight from each of their perspectives. Additionally, this man was a long-time member of a motorcycle club and about 15 members of the club chased us on their motorcycles. It was awesome.”  

Tom Rousch – “A Polish heiress. We flew in the Alps, landed next to a pub, and she treated us all to dinner and lots of beer. Our crew arrived very later, and we were all pretty inebriated. Lots of laughing and singing! My crew was not pleased with us.”  

Tony Colburn – “I had a couple who had a reverse wedding. First they had the reception at the launch site, then they got married in front of the inflated balloon. After they were pronounced husband and wife, they got in the balloon and we flew off. The flight was uneventful but at the landing we had a champagne toast with the couple sitting on the bagged balloon.”  

Ty Parson – “Had a young couple do an engagement ride, and we were so excited for them, but after the flight they confessed they were already married for two years. He had wanted to give her the ring in a balloon ride with another balloonist and the weather never worked out for him. We were so surprised and laughed so hard. Wonderful memories.”    

Ed McDaniel – “My instructor David Stinebaugh. He always made things interesting and one morning when we were flying we got to see the space shuttle launch. That’s something you just don’t usually get to see from a balloon!”

Randy Lee – “Guys doing marriage proposals. We have done well over 100. We make proposals a memorable experience. They are interesting because of the way they propose with different styles and levels of nervousness. I can say everyone has dropped to their knee except one. One lady didn’t say no, but she did say she would have to think about it and gave the ring back to him. Had one leave the ring in the chase vehicle, so we waiting until after the flight for celebration. Had one to pin the ring in his pocket with a safety pin and his hands were shaking so bad I thought I was going to have to help!”