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Balloon Name: Too Fun It’s a winning combination with long time committee member (and tutu model) pilot John Lewis and new HHAA corporate sponsor WESTconsin Credit Union. They’re teaming up to fly a geocaching travel bug in this year’s event—going for a geocaching record for high flying bugs!! John’s a 9 year commercial pilot who lists his occupation as “pencil pusher”. Welcome aboard and thanks to WESTconsin Credit Union!!! |
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Balloon Name: RE/MAX This is Steve’s 15th year at the Hot Air Affair. He’s been a balloonist for 26 years, logging 1600+ flight hours. Steve flies for RE/MAX North Central, making special appearances on behalf of RE/MAX offices throughout the region. This year he coordinated balloon events at the St. Paul Winter Carnival Look for the RE/MAX balloon in our torchlight parade, media flight and school programs. |
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Balloon Name: US Bank US Bank balloon and the local US Bank location have lots of history with HAA. The balloon made its inaugural flight in Hudson in 2002 and the 2006 balloon appearance was part of ground-breaking ceremonies for a new Hudson building. Flying for 31 years, Scott has more than 1,650 hours in the air and flies in special events throughout the United States. |
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Balloon Name: Biddles Mark’s a long time HHAA pilot and this is his third year with a special shape. Biddles is a sophisticated 105-foot tall English bear wearing a red vest. He’s the main character in a children’s book “Mr. Biddle and the Squirrel’s Tale” written by Anne Mason. Mark enjoys flying balloons in the Southwestern United States, particularly Albuquerque and Gallup, New Mexico. |
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Balloon Name: Wally Brand new to HHAA is the special shape clown fish along with new sponsor Family Fresh Market. Wally comes complete with a cold air inflatable clown fish friend plus a mascot. Bring your camera for a Wally moment! Thanks to Family Fresh Market for being a new balloon sponsor and hosting a HHAA pre-event. Check out the Super Hot Coupon from Family Fresh Market in this year’s HHAA brochure!! |
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Balloon Name: Freedom Flight III Luke flies the big black balloon with the POW-MIA logo from the Freedom Flight fleet. Luke’s an 18-year pilot with 550 hours in the air. When not volunteering for the POW-MIA cause, Luke’s a computer tech/consultant. Thanks to Luke for his dedication to Hot Air Affair…he’s back as our Balloonmeister for 2010. |
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Balloon Name: 2-Be-Here Returning to the HHAA again this year after being a participant in the very first event in 1990, owner Steve Jacobs is in with both feet! In addition to being a balloon sponsor, he’s donated his time to HHAA off season and pre-events, including the Up, Up & Away 5K race last fall. His giant balloon will launch last on Saturday morning, allowing visitors an up-close peek at one of the largest balloons in the country. |
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Balloon Name: Winsome Scott’s a 20-year balloon pilot who’s company was at the very first Hot Air Affair in 1990. He’s a HAA committee member who’s helping out this year with appearances by his commercial balloon company at HHAA pre-events and the St. Paul Winter Carnival Grand Day and Torchlight Parades. His balloons can be seen launching year-round from Aamodt’s Apple Orchards west of Stillwater. |
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Balloon Name: M&I Bank Dale is participating in his fifth HHAA with his M&I Bank sponsor. Dale will be flying Hocus Pocus with M&I Bank envelope banners. Dale is an 18-year pilot logging more than 500 hours in the sky. He loves the experience of flying and the chance to meet new people on almost every flight. Crew members from M&I Bank went to Iowa this past summer to help Dale at a Hawkeye event. |
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Balloon Name: Stormy Weather This is Ed’s fourth year as an event pilot in Hudson with balloon sponsor Pier 500. Ed flies a 105,000 cubic foot black Cameron balloon that makes a bold weather statement. He’s an airline pilot with 23,000+ hours flying and a commercial balloon pilot with 2,200+ hours as pilot in command over his 33 years ballooning. Thanks Ed for helping with our school programs and other promotions—and Rich Jaworski!! |
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Balloon Name: In Harmony This is Nick’s fourth trip to Hudson and his third year with balloon sponsor Oakwood Dental. He says that in 31 years of flying, ranging from events in Louisiana to Canada, from the frozen tundra of Hudson in winter to the sauna of Baton Rouge in July, and from flights skimming the corn tassels to 12,000 feet—ballooning remains a passion and a joy to share with family, friends & spectators. |
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Balloon Name: Liberty Belle Bill got his start in ballooning at the Hot Air Affair and he’s returning this year to celebrate his eleventh anniversary as a balloon pilot. His 69,500 cubic foot Aerostar sports a patriotic theme while adding to Bill’s 375+ hours in the air as pilot in command. Bill’s family helped start a balloon rally in Belview, MN and liked it so much they moved there this past year!! |
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Balloon Name: Crayola Lite Gus is our only 21st year pilot at the HHAA!! He’s been ballooning for 29 years with nearly 900 hours in the sky. His experience as a commercial balloonist has been helpful to Hot Air Affair through the years, serving as the Balloonmeister and weather officer. Gus is an award winner at ballooning events—and his two decades of supporting the HHAA is award winning with us!! |
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Balloon Name: Euphoria Rich is a 37 year balloon pilot with 2400 hours in the sky. In June, 2009 he made a flight to 33,000 feet—not your everyday kind of flight. The flight took lots of support and help from many people and two attempts. Rich thanks Minnesota balloonist and world record holder Ed Chapman for all his advice, support and equipment. |
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Balloon Name: Boris Pete’s a former Hot Air Affair Balloonmeister returning this year as a pilot with Aamodt’s Balloon Rides. Look for Pete with former balloon pilot Jim Wiersgalla who’s participating this year as a sponsor. Jim’s a long time supporter of Hot Air Affair and generously donates his time and framed artwork produced by his company to HAA events and charitable causes. |
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Balloon Name: April Love Making his 15th visit to Hudson, Steve’s remembered for his lively Torchlight Parade entries and valued participation in the Friday school programs. He says one of his most memorable flights was taking a blind man for a ride. He had him fly the entire flight—verbal commands only. He says you had to be there to experience the enjoyment and self-satisfaction….for both of them! |
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Balloon Name: Sabrina A private pilot and owner of a hardwood floor company, Mike has been flying balloons for 15 years and has 264 hours as pilot in command. He’s a long-time HHAA pilot and his 77,000 cubic foot Head balloon can be seen in Wisconsin rallies throughout the year. Welcome back Mike!! |
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Balloon Name: Yellow Brick Road The Brouillet family started ballooning in 1992 crewing for the Garfield balloon. Pat’s a retired machinist and has been a pilot for 10 years. This is his eighth Hot Air Affair. He’s flown with HHAA charter balloon sponsor Best Western Hudson House Inn for numerous years and the event appreciates them both!! |
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Balloon Name: Barney, The Purple Teardrop |
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Balloon Name: Solar Flair Glenn’s a 25+ year pilot with 350 hours in the sky who flies a 100,000 cubic foot Cameron balloon. ViXX hosts their Lift Me Up program, working with Glenn to provide a balloon ride each year to someone touched by cancer. Nancy Fouks coordinates the program for ViXX to help a cancer patient step away from his or her daily challenges to enjoy a lift up flying with Glenn. |
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Balloon Name: Air Forge III A 20-year pilot with more than 525 hours in the sky, Mike holds a commercial rating and flies an AX7 Firefly balloon. This is his tenth year at Hot Air Affair and we’re pleased to have him fly special guests of the event. Whether it’s a reporter or photographer, prize winner or local teacher, there’s always room in Mike’s basket to take an enthusiastic passenger. |
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Balloon Name: Valley Girl Another HHAA charter balloon sponsor is flying with Valley Girl, a 90,000 cubic foot blue Aerostar with pink and teal “teardrops”. Jim’s a 20-year pilot with more than 1500 hours in the sky who flies for Aamodt’s Hot Air Balloon Rides, Inc. Thanks Jim for helping with HHAA promotional events year round and especially at the St. Paul Winter Carnival parades. |
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Balloon Name: Kay's Wind Dancer II Ken’s a 20-year pilot with 800 hours in the air who is a very active director/organizer for two ballooning events; one in June in Manitowoc, WI and another in August in Hartford, WI. Ken also sits on the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) Board of Directors, serving as the Secretary to the board. His balloons can be seen in the skies of Albuquerque during the annual Balloon Fiesta as part of the Wisconsin contingent to New Mexico. He’s flown in Hudson for more than 10 years and also owns a Lindstrand 60,000 cubic foot racer. |
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Balloon Name: Northern Lights This is Steve’s first Hot Air Affair, flying one of the balloons from Aamodt’s Balloon Rides. Steve showed up at a Hot Air Affair meeting this winter—and all the planning didn’t scare him away!! Welcome Steve and welcome back Wells Fargo sponsors, long-time supporters of the HHAA. |
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Balloon Name: Easy Wind John’s a commercial balloon pilot with 12 years of experience flying over 700 hours in the air. His Aerostar balloon holds 105,000 cubic feet of air and John’s passenger will come from charter balloon sponsor Zappa Bros., a North Hudson company providing snow removal services for the HHAA for more than 20 years. |
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Balloon Name: Aerial Command This is Brian’s first year at Hot Air Affair and he lists his occupation as a fire chief in Iowa. When not battling blazes, he’s flying his 77,000 cubic foot National balloon over the Hawkeye state. He’s been a pilot for 18 years with 435 hours in the air as pilot in command. Welcome Brian!! |
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Balloon Name: Goldie Bert’s been flying balloons for about 30 years and he’s bringing Goldie, one of two balloons he and his pilot wife Jane own. They have been long time Hot Air Affair supporters and help promote the Hudson event when participating in other rallies throughout the Midwest and around the United States. |
