Darren Kling
Art Aloft
From a very young age I’ve always had a h4 interest in aviation. I took my first ride in a balloon in 1989 and was introduced to a form of flight far different from anything I had experienced before. In 1993 I received my commercial pilots license and started BigSky Balloon Co. providing balloon rides and corporate advertising in NW Montana.In 2000 I relocated my business to Portland. OR and have been operating a corporate balloon contract in the Pacific Northwest region. For the past year I’ve been working on establishing a balloon ride business once again, and am very excited to now offer scenic balloon flights from central Oregon in my hand painted artaloft balloon. Balloons have the unique ability to capture peoples imagination and transport them into an environment they’ve never experienced before. Sharing that experience with people for the first time is what continues to make it a fresh and exciting job for me. |
Koh Murai
Yu-Zakura
I am predominantly a sport flyer but also provide some instruction. I also enjoy aerostat construction with my first effort an AX-5. One of my other joys in LTA aviation is working on, executing, and helping others with long distance, long duration, and high altitude flights. It has been my pleasure to be the launch master for 5 world record flights set over 3 flights. Yet time spent aloft is still the biggest thrill after all these years. The people you meet and become involved with are right up there with flying.From 1991-1998 I was involved as launch crew, launch master, and consultant for several trans-global balloon attempts. These included Earthwinds Hilton, Virgin Global Challenge, ICO Global Challenge, and Global Hilton. From 2000 – 2005 I was involved with scientific balloon and systems design and flight operations for a small private firm supporting various government and university agencies. This work included designs and flights in earth atmosphere, near space, and planetary exploration. |
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 Mark Trujillo
iSOAR
Mark Trujillo resides in Corvallis, OR, and has his single engine land airplane and lighter than air balloon pilots’ licenses. Mark received his fixed wing airplane pilot’s license in 1084 and added his instrument rating in 2004. Mark received his hot air balloon license in 2008 and also hold a commercial rating in hot air balloons which he earned in 2010.
Mark and his wife, Kris, are proud owners of a new Firefly hot air balloon, named iSOAR. iSOAR is a 90,000 cubic feet balloon which has a useful load of 1,200 pounds. iSOAR has flown in many NW hot air balloon events, including the Tigard Festival of Balloons, Balloons Over Bend, Rogue Valley Hot Air Balloon Rally (Medford, Oregon), Loose Goose (McMinnville, OR), Madras Hot Air Balloon Rally, John Day Hot Air Balloon Rally and the NW Art & Air Festival.
Mark is the President of Willamette Aerostat Society (www.wasballoon.org), which is a hot air balloon club open to all hot air balloon pilots, their crew and the general public. When not flying his hot-air balloon, Mark enjoys crewing for other balloon pilots as crewing provides the opportunity to meet new people and learn more about the sport of hot-air ballooning. |
 Chris Whitfield
Heaven Bound
Chris took his first hot air balloon ride in September, 2007, with Alan Sanderson and was immediately hooked. He purchased his first balloon the following spring with his uncle, Jason Fast, and began training with Marianne LeDoux. He got his private license in September 2008 and continued sharing a balloon with Jason through 2009. Chris flew his second balloon during 2010 and, with instruction from Carmen Blakely, achieved a commercial rating in October. In the spring of 2011, he and his wife Jennifer built their current balloon, Heaven Bound, with guidance from Bob and Marianne LeDoux. Chris and Jennifer recently moved to the Albany area and, this year, Chris will be the balloonmeister for the Albany Art and Air Festival. This is his first year flying the Bend event. |
 Bill Woodhead
WWJD
Bill Woodhead has been an airplane pilot for over 35 years and a balloon pilot for over 30 years. He lives in Grants Pass, OR, where he operates HIS SKY Balloons, a hot air balloon excursion company and a hotel, Best Western Inn at the Rogue.
He has flown balloons in a majority of the states in the USA, as well as Israel, Africa, and Canada. Bill flies yearly in over a dozen balloon events including The Great Reno Balloon Race and the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. Bill has been flying the Special Shape Balloon Arky for over 12 years, taking it to events in Israel, Canada and the US. |
 Brann Smith
Bluesky
My first experience with hot air ballooning was 15 years ago. It then became my passion as I soon realized that it is such an amazing and unique sport. In 1999, I completed my commercial pilot training and began flying in Oregon with my own company. I believe hot air ballooning is not just about flying but the people you encounter and the wonderful experience and memories we create together.During career as a Pilot, I have flown in six states; Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevade, Arizona and now California. Currently in Chico, California, I plan to again fly as a business and give back to the community where I grew up. I hope to share the joy and serenity of floating through the air with as many people as I can, hoping to inspire the feeling of freedom and adventure to the hearts of others that it brings to me. |
 Carrie Hanneman
Saranyu
Champagne and propane. Who could ask for more all before 9am? Needless to say, I am a balloon junkie. I have been involved in ballooning for 22 years. I started crewing for a commercial company in Napa Valley and soon decided that I wanted to fly these magical floating balloons. I earned my commercial ticket in 1995 and have been flying for fun ever since, as I also have a full time career as an Oracle consultant. My husband, Greg, and I try to attend as many ballooning events as possible every year, but there is also fishing and crabbing to enjoy here in Oregon, so our time gets split. I have been blessed to be able to have flown in events in OR, WA, CA, NM and Nevada. Hakuna Matata and soft landings! |
 Tim Gale
Checkmate
In the beginning, I had a dream…really. When I was in my teens and modern hot air ballooning hadn’t been invented yet, it was a dream that repeated several times. One of those dreams that one wishes when nodding off to sleep. It offered the feeling of effortless free flight at low speeds without the encumbrances of a fuselage. I could will changes in altitude location and enjoy the silence of engine-less flight. The dream didn’t include a basket or envelope. That was to come later.
Add about fifteen years and an opportunity. In Bend, Oregon, I found a way to taste the feeling of the dream. All with sub-zero temperatures, a basket, envelope and others to share the feeling. More glimpses of the dream came along as time passed, mostly without the frigid temperatures.
With my first solo, the dream returned with strength in one a flight offering gentle winds, easy steerage and the option to concentrate on the feel of flight. Since then, the years and hours aloft have accumulated, with local flights, rallies and the camaraderie so many of us enjoy. Friends do collect and with ballooning they seem to be from more distant places. Places like Boise, Walla Walla, Albany, Albuquerque, Madras and Pendleton to name a few. These places gather balloonists and extend their arms in hospitality into their communities. The result: Many active, tiring yet refreshing weekends.
Twenty-three years in ballooning, having owned four envelopes and starting on the fourth log-book, has been a great portion of my life. Ballooning is still living parts of that dream I remember from so many years ago. A dream that is a pleasure to share with others as we wander through the boundary layer of the earth’s atmosphere in the cool calm mornings.
I’ve been involved in safety for ballooning through acting as a safety officer for various balloon events, organizing safety seminars, managing the BFA safety Seminar Program and as a FAA Safety Team Representitive.
The salutation: “Calm winds and gentle landings” continues to find value for me as does the Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times” (oh so true for the end of 2008 and into 2009 for many). |
 Robert Raper
Independence
I received my commercial certificate in 1996. Bought my first balloon in 1995 while learning to fly. Currently have 4 Balloons and manage my business – High Plains Drifter Hot Air Balloons, LLC. Currently I am moving from Miles City, Montana and returning to North Bend, Oregon. I usually attend 7-10 events annually including Reno, Nevada and Albuquerque, New Mexico. I fly throughout the western 11 states. |
 Marianne Ledoux
SewHappy2
Bob and I fly homebuilt balloons in the beautiful Willamette Valley from our backyard launch site as well as other launch sites around the area.
I received my commercial license in 1984 (skipping private altogether). I became the local instructor, guiding students to their pilot’s certificate. Along the way I enjoyed holding many offices of the Northwest Ballooning Association and the 45th Parallel Aerostat Squadron. I am currently a member of the Balloon Federation of American and the Willamette Aerostat Squadron.
In 1986, Bob built our first homebuilt balloon, Castaway so that he would have a balloon to fly, as I somehow always managed to be the pilot-in-command. Thus started our life as a two balloon, two pilot family. Throughout the years we have continued our homebuilding and I currently fly our sixth homebuilt balloon, SewHappyII. We travel to rallies around the Pacific Northwest and enjoy our beautiful local flying area.
In 1995, I won the Northwest Hot Air Balloon Championship competition flying SewHappy. I can claim to have been the only woman to have won the competition and am the reigning champion, since unfortunately the event was cancelled after that year.
I fly balloons as a hobby, for the therapy, for the love of the sport and the friendships ballooning brings, and for the opportunity to share the magic with others. |
