Balloon Name: Sky Shark
Pilot Name: Jason Harlow
Hometown: Topeka KS
Sky Shark is owned by Jason Harlow of Springfield, MO. Built in 1991 (coincidentally the same year Jason first crewed and rode in a balloon) by Cameron Balloons US. Sky Shark stands an impressive 70 feet tall when fully inflated. It's dual burners produce over 30 million BTU's. During Sky Shark's former life as a corporate balloon for Kodak, it traveled to various places across the United States including the Daytona 500, the Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Central Park in New York City.
Jason first earned his pilot's certificate at the age of 17, and at the time was one of the youngest balloon pilots in the nation. He has logged over 400 accident free hours in the air flying balloons ranging in size from 1 man cloud hoppers all the way up to 12 person passenger balloons, and has also flown special shapes. He has flown in 3 countries, and even crossed an international border in a balloon. 
Balloon Name: Hocus Pocus
Pilot Name: Tony Goodnow
Hometown: Topeka, KS
Tony was the 3rd in his immediate family to earn their pilot's certificate, preceded by his mother Connie, and his father Jerry. He grew up around ballooning, crewing with his family as much as possible and taking his first balloon ride at age 2, beginning his flight training at age 14, and making his first solo flight at age 16. Soon after that he let ballooning take a back seat to being a teenager. He and his wife Julie are trying to get their 5 children involved in ballooning before their teenage years set in and they realize it isn't "cool" to get up at 5:00 in the morning to hang out in a dew covered field with Mom and Dad.
Tony and Julie hold administrative positions with the Great Plains Balloon Club and they generate the club's monthly newsletter and maintain it's website.
Balloon Name: "GOTTALUVIT"
Pilot Name: Kiman Kingsley
Hometown: Miller MO
Kiman started his journey in ballooning in 2007. He purchased, took his first ride and received his LTA rating all in that same year. He has always been fascinated with flying. He with the help of his brothers owns and operates a 2000 acre farm as well as a crop dusting operation. His greatest pleasure is to give someone a first time experience of flying whether it be in airplanes or balloons. He's from Miller MO a small farming community and grew up with small town values like honesty, integrity, and compassion. His love for flying opened up a whole new world for him which led him to " GOTTALUVIT " and a community of friendship and sharing.
Balloon Name: LeeLynn
Pilot Name: Kasey Schwemmer
Hometown: Wichita KS
Kasey Schwemmer and his family got into ballooning in the early 90's while watching balloons at the Wichita River Festival. Soon after they started crewing for some friends who they had seen at the festival setting up and flying their balloon. After many years of being crew and a frequent passenger, Kasey began flight training on his 14th birthday, and finally received his pilot certificate in November 2007.
At age 13 he began building 1/4 scale remote controlled hot air balloons, and in early 2007 completed a single-place balloon that has a trash bin as its basket. LeeLynn was acquired in 2010 with the help of his wonderful parents, whom the balloon is named after by joining their middle names together. Kasey is now 23 years old and loves ballooning even more than when first involved.
Balloon Name: Spirit In The Sky
Pilot Name: Michael Scott
Hometown: Oklahoma City OK
Michael began ballooning with his parents in 1987 in Oklahoma, and his wife Josie got her start in Missouri in 1989. He and Josie met at the 1995 Wake Up to Missouri US Nationals in Columbia, MO where Josie and her father Joe were assigned as crew to Michael and his family. They were married in 1999 and are always accompanied on their travels with their long haired dachshund Ladybug.
Michael is an FAA Certified Repairman and Commercial Pilot with almost 1500 hours as Pilot In Command, and has flown in 34 states and 4 countries, and has flown such celebrities at Al Gore and Tom Selleck. Michael is also a dealer for FireFly Balloons and is often recruited to travel to North Carolina to assist with the construction of new balloons.
Josie is an FAA Certified Repairman, as well as being the Practical Nursing program coordinator for a local school.
Balloon Name: Champaign Cowboy
Pilot Name: Dennis Short
Hometown: Broken Arrow OK
Dennis got involved in ballooning in the mid 80's crewing for local pilots with his older brother. Back then there were 8 or 10 pilots who would fly just about every flyable weekend in the Tulsa area. It was a good group and they always a good time! He even started training with one of the local pilots back then but then let ballooning take a back seat to 'life'...marriage, kids, a real job, etc.
Fast forward to the late 90's and he was driving home one day and saw some of the pilots getting ready for the media flight for the Tulsa Gatesway Balloon Festival. He went out onto the field and saw what looked like an approachable couple (turns out he was spot-on there!) and asked if they needed any crew. They said they did, and the Shorts ended up crewing for them for the rest of the weekend. That weekend not only got their family back into ballooning but introduced them to their now great friends Carson and Martha Lane.
Over the next few years they got involved with the Gatesway Festival and started crewing for balloonmeister Phillip Thompson and local pilot Martin Philpott. The day they learned that their favorite balloon 'Champagne Cowboy' might soon be for sale Dennis immediately started trying to think of a way he could talk Kim into letting him buy it when she turned to him and said "we HAVE to buy it!!"
After buying their balloon in 2005 Dennis began his training and earned his private pilot's certificate and hopes to have his commercial rating soon. Dennis and Kim enjoy the many friends they have made while ballooning and they are keeping the whole family involved. Their daughter Kayla enjoys being on the chase crew, and their son TJ plans on earning his pilot's certificate on his 16th birthday.
Balloon Name: For The Love Of The Game
Pilot Name: Amamda Sabia
Hometown: Overland Park KS
Chris went on his first Hot Air Balloon ride in 1988. The ride was for his father’s birthday and the whole family went along. One ride was all it took for Chris to be bit by the ballooning bug. He and his father, Vince, began following the balloons and were there for many landings. Soon the balloon teams they were chasing invited them to come along as crew. So Chris & Vince became chase crew and his mother, Dolores, would chase as time allowed.
Chris became a crew chief and learned all about Hot Air Balloons for the next four years. Then in 1993 Chris got his student certificate and begin his Hot Air Balloon pilot training. In 1995 he obtained his private Hot Air Balloon license and then completed his commercial Hot Air Balloon license in 1997. During this time Chris also obtained his fixed wing pilot license.
He then bought his first balloon in 1995. He also, began flying the RE/MAX balloon for the Mid States region, flying in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Chris flew the RE/MAX balloon until May of 2002. In addition, he has flown for Coca-Cola and Kellogg's.
In the 9 years that Chris has been a pilot, he has flown hundreds of hours in Hot air balloons. He has flown all over the United States and has competed in hot air balloon competitions. With over 400 hours logged in airplanes, Chris is currently working on his advanced airplane certifications. In addition, he is the full time pilot and flight instructor for his company Kansas City AeroSports. He is also the Cameron Balloon Dealer for the Kansas City area and sells Hot Air Balloons and balloon equipment. Chris enjoys flying and is proud to share his enthusiasm for the air with his passengers and students.
Chris met his wife Amanda in May of 1999 while piloting the RE/MAX balloon. He was returning from Springfield, MO and was scheduled to have the evening off, but decided to take the Kansas City RE/MAX flight so as not to inconvenience the other pilot. Amanda was working at her office RE/MAX, First when her broker asked what she was doing that evening. Amanda responded with “homework, but what would you like me to do”. As fate would have it, there was an open space on the RE/MAX balloon that Chris was piloting and Amanda accepted the offer to board. Chris and Amanda meet in the parking lot of Target at that evening and flew together for the first time.
Chris had a busy summer that year flying the RE/MAX balloon and Amanda was busy selling homes. On October 4th Chris called Amanda and offered her two spaces in the RE/MAX balloon … of course she took him up on the offer. Amanda and her mother flew with Chris that evening. After the flight Amanda offered to buy Chris a beer. Chris then turned to invite all of his “balloon buddies” and off they all went.
Chris and Amanda have been together ever since. Amanda has been chase crew for Chris from that time on. Amanda has been the crew chief for their company since the end of 1999.
Currently, Kansas City AeroSports owns 4 Hot Air Balloon systems. Traveling extensively with the Wonder Bread Balloon. Weather permitting, we schedule Hot Air Balloon Rides year round, in the Kansas City Area. Providing an advertising opportunity for Walmart Neighborhood Markets as well as providing a fun and exciting passenger experience.
Balloon Name: Blue Eyes Flying
Pilot Name: Wil LaPointe, Balloon Meister
Hometown: Collinsville OK
Wil LaPointe is the owner of Skyway Balloons, Inc. and has served as our balloon meister for a number of years. Wil was in the cellular communications business when he saw his first hot air balloon in the Tulsa area. He immediately realized the potential to draw a crowd, so he purchased a rooftop type to advertise his business. One day, a salesman stopped by who was also a balloon pilot. Although Wil had never been “up” in a balloon, he purchased a red, white and blue passenger balloon, perfect to promote his U.S. Cellular business. The pilot took him for his first ride and he was immediately hooked on the experience.
Wil then trained to become a licensed pilot himself and even became quite successful at competitive racing, eventually being ranked #5 in the entire country. Wil has several balloons but will be flying his new balloon Blue Eyes Flying this year or possibly his balloon with the 8-ride basket.
For the last twenty years, Wil has been having the time of his life introducing people to the joy of hot air ballooning. 
Balloon Name: Freedom Flight V
Pilots Name: Luke Cesnik
Hometown: St. Cloud MN
Freedom Flight, the POW/MIA Hot Air Balloon Team, has flown in more than seven hundred events since its first flight in November 1989. The non-profit now has three balloons that attend 35 to 45 events a year, staffed entirely by volunteers. Now in it’s twenty-second year, Freedom Flight continues to attract attention.
Luke Cesnik pilots Freedom Flight V, with its teary-eyed eagle ensnared in barbed wire. Cesnik, a Vietnam war veteran and frequent balloonist, resides in St. Cloud, Minn.
Judging by the throng of visitors that gather around Cesnik and his crew, it's obvious the organization is achieving its mission.
Spectators milling about the trailer soon learn just how accessible the sport is as they're recruited to help with the launch. (When space is available, the truly lucky ones are invited to fly).
Cesnik's father, a fixed-winger pilot, sparked his son's love of flight by allowing the 10-year-old to accompany him in his plane. Five years later, Cesnik earned his own flying license. Nine years ago, yearning to broaden his flying expertise, he became a balloon pilot. His extensive experience, honed by logging 40 flights a year, affords him a wealth of maneuvers and finesse that make the flight pure bliss for him and his three passengers. 
Balloon Name: Freedom Flight III
Pilot's Name: Dr. Jim Tuorila
Hometown: St. Cloud MN
Freedom Flight, the POW/MIA Hot Air Balloon Team, has flown in more than seven hundred events since its first flight in November 1989. The non-profit now has three balloons that attend 35 to 45 events a year, staffed entirely by volunteers. Now in it’s twenty-second year, Freedom Flight continues to attract attention.
Jim Tuorila's (also known as Big Jim and Tarzan) most memorable hot air balloon flight comes with a small bit of irony attached to one of its more prominent elements, altitude.
He had flown hundreds of times. But when one of his passengers requested that he take his distinctive black balloon with the easily recognizable POW/MIA logo to 5,000 feet, Tuorila acquiesced with little enthusiasm.
"I don't like to fly high," he said, laughing. "I'm afraid of heights. I can't lean over the side of a tall building and feel comfortable. I probably wouldn't be flying this balloon if it weren't for the issue." But the POW/MIA issue and the balloon are inseparable.
Everywhere we go, the reception has been positive and overwhelming, and that keeps us flying."
Balloon Name: Rainbow Rider
Pilot Name: Jack Neal
Hometown: Wichita KS
Jack and Becky Neal were first introduced to ballooning by pilots Don Sprier and Mitzi Hall. They later crewed for their friend Ron Irvin after he bought his first balloon. In 1990, Jack and Becky bought their first balloon from Paul Minter and named it "Rainbow Rider". Jack got his license in 91' and his commercial license in 93' . Jack and Becky flew in Anthony at its' first balloon rally and every one since then. They have made a lot of friends in Anthony and enjoy flying in the the area surrounding it. Of course they feel they have the best sponsor ever, that being Irwin-Potter Drug. Joe and Judy have been great friends over the years to the Rainbow Rider crew/family. 2011 should be another great year for the Anthony Rally. 
Balloon Name: SKYDIVER
Pilot Name: Tom Keller
Hometown: Derby, KS
As a skydiver, Tom had always wanted to jump from a hot air balloon. In 1995, he finally got his wish at an air show in Ponca City. Two years later he was invited back for more skydiving at the Ponca City event. That’s the year he met Kelli.
Tom and Kelli were married a year later. Kelli was his flight instructor, and he taught her how to skydive. They started out with just one balloon, then they bought another balloon so they could both fly. In 2004 they purchased the new Lindstrand balloons which they now fly. Tom received his private pilot license in 1999, and his commercial pilot license in 2004.
Together they have been flying hot air balloons at national and regional events for the past 13 years. They operate a small balloon business providing hot air balloon rides, flight instruction, advertising, and Lindstrand Balloon sales.
Balloon Name: JOYRIDE
Pilot Name: Kelli Keller
Hometown: Derby, KS
Kelli’s favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz. As a child, she always imagined if she was lost, a balloon would take her home. When she moved back to her hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma, she used to see balloons flying in the distance and dreamed that one day she could at least get up close - not realizing she could drive to see them landing. In 1994, a friend told her the balloons would be launching down by the river…..and the rest is history. She started her pilot training the following year and with the help of many balloonists & friends, she received her private pilot’s license in June of 1996 and her commercial license a year and half later.
In 1997, Kelli participated in the Ponca City Air Show, where she met a skydiver named Tom from Kansas. He invited her to come skydive, in Wichita, which she did. Tom taught Kelli to skydive and Kelli taught Tom how to fly a balloon. It was a match made in heaven!
Kelli & Tom have been flying hot air balloons together at national, regional and local events for the past 13 years. They own & operate a small balloon business in Derby, Kansas. HAVNFUN hot air ballooning provides hot air balloon rides, flight instruction, event organization, balloon advertising and are dealers for Lindstrand Balloons US. Their twin balloons of rainbow colors on a white background are a delight and it is always fun to see if you can figure out who is flying which balloon!