Andy Richardson
Andy began his love for ballooning at an extremely young age. He took his first ride just before entering the 2nd grade. And from that point he decided that ballooning was his passion. Andy bought his first hot air balloon at the age of 14 making him one of the youngest active balloon pilots in America at that particular time. Now over a decade later, Andy is proudly running the largest ballooning company in the area.
David Mitchell
David is a Commercial balloon pilot from New Castle, Indiana. David has been involved with hot air balloons his entire life, as his grandfather was one of the earliest balloonists in Indiana. Along with a lifetime of involvement, David has over eight years of piloting experience, and also flies single engine airplanes.
Dennis Biro
Captain Dennis Biro been flying since 1964 and is commercially license in fix wing aircraft as well as hot air balloon. He has over 4,500 plus hours in both types of aircraft combined with over half that mount in hot air balloons alone, as a commercially rated lighter than air balloon pilot. He has flown professionally, as a corporate balloon pilot for several well known companies, such as Del Taco Restaurants, General Mills Corporation, Yoplait USA and Pacific Sunwear. Some of his most famous passengers have been Loretta Swit, from (M*A*S*H) The TV series, Jack Klugman, (The Odd Couple) and Bill Handel (KFI Los Angeles Radio Talk Show Host) as well as several television sports and news cast anger personal over the years did live coverage of his balloon flying over the Las Angels basin. He has been on the TV series That's Incredible Several times, doing stunts from a hot air balloon at over 5,000 feet in the air and the TV Special, The Guinness Book Of Records (AIR TO AIR TRANSFER FROM A HELICOPTER TO A HOT AIR BALLOON BY PARACHUTE).
Paul Felty
Paul Felty is one of your more enthusiastic pilots. He works for one of the Airlines in Indianapolis and loves coming to Bloomington to fly. Paul has flown balloons for the past 7 years and is Commercially Licensed through the FAA.
Bob Burke
Bob is the newest addition to the Pilot Family here at Airbus Balloon Rides. Bob Burke owns and operates the flight school, aircraft refueling business and maintenance shop at the Bloomington airport. Bob’s wealth of knowledge of aviation makes him one of the most knowledgeable balloon pilots in the area.
