BSOPP Pilots

We had first seen a hot air balloon rise out of the forest near our then home in Simsbury, Connecticut while on an afternoon drive,. We didn't see another balloon until we moved to Colorado Springs in 1973 - it was Dewey Reinhard, of course. We approached the balloon and when Dewey saw our two future crew, Molly and Amy, he invited them to get into the basket. Our balloon career started a couple of years later when Dave and Joan Young and their family joined us as owners of a classic Piccard. Since then, our family has owned another Piccard and two Fireflys. I got my commercial pilot, instrument rating before I became balloon endorsed. I added the LTA Free Balloon endorsement to my license in 1975. I was instructed/mentored by longtime friend, fellow veteran/patriot and expert annual inspector, Tim Cole. We have flown in Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, New Mexico, Nebraska, California, England, France and Mexico, and of course made so many good friends along the way. I have enjoyed an incident/accident free 59-year career, largely due to Cindy, my superb crew chief and rescuer.