Our Pilots
Please join us as we welcome a great group of pilots from around the country to the 2018 Freedom Balloon Fest. All of our pilots are here to fly, glow, have fun, learn about our Host Community and honor the service and sacrifice of our armed forces and their families.
Several pilots are offering rides to the general public. If you'd like to check an item off your bucket list, you may want to consider booking your balloon ride experience from one of the participating FAA Certificated Commercial Hot Air Balloon Pilots attending the festival.
Whether you are here to ride or watch, we hope you'll join the volunteer organizers of Project Uplift USA in thanking these pilots from around the region and country for making the journey to share their love of hot air balloons with us. Each is invited to attend and have at heart a shared mission to uplift us all this Memorial Day weekend.
Several pilots are offering rides to the general public. If you'd like to check an item off your bucket list, you may want to consider booking your balloon ride experience from one of the participating FAA Certificated Commercial Hot Air Balloon Pilots attending the festival.
Whether you are here to ride or watch, we hope you'll join the volunteer organizers of Project Uplift USA in thanking these pilots from around the region and country for making the journey to share their love of hot air balloons with us. Each is invited to attend and have at heart a shared mission to uplift us all this Memorial Day weekend.
Balloon Ride Pilots
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Vertical Divider
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All passengers are required to sign a Passenger Release & Waiver of Liability from the festival at the festival's Waiver Tent prior to their flight.
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Buddy Carter, Pleasant Garden, NC
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Mark Fritze, Tallahassee, FL
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Randy Lee, Four Oaks, NC
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Vertical Divider
Anthony Seeger, Travelers Rest, SC
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Tom Tomasetti, Raleigh, NC
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
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Tony Colburn, Tobaccoville, NC
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Patrick Grogan, Cleveland, NC
Click pilot's Name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Vertical Divider
Sean Richardson, Kannapolis, NC
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Kenny Shumate, Orlando, FL
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
John Paisley, Burlington, NC
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
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Jim Cusick, Marysville, OH
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Marc Klinger, Troutman, NC
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Mark MacSkimming, Harrisburg, PA
Click pilot's name to email for rides. Vertical Divider
Vertical Divider
Steven Stokoe, Lutz, FL
Click pilot's name to email for rides. |
Ready to fly? If you want to pay for a balloon ride, you will book your flight directly with the pilot. All passengers are required to check in at the Waiver Tent on the Festival Field at Fleming Loop Park.
The following pilots welcome inquiries for rides during the 2018 Freedom Balloon Fest. You must book rides directly with the pilot-in-command. The festival does not book rides. Project Uplift USA does not know what each pilot charges - you will need to contact each pilot to confirm their fees. Flying during a festival surrounded by dozens of balloons is a very special experience - for some, it's a once in a lifetime experience.
The following pilots welcome inquiries for rides during the 2018 Freedom Balloon Fest. You must book rides directly with the pilot-in-command. The festival does not book rides. Project Uplift USA does not know what each pilot charges - you will need to contact each pilot to confirm their fees. Flying during a festival surrounded by dozens of balloons is a very special experience - for some, it's a once in a lifetime experience.
Festival Pilots
Meet the pilots traveling from around the nation to fly, compete, tether, glow, to share their loving of ballooning, and to put on a show during your 2018 Freedom Balloon Fest celebrations:
Sandra Barlett, Mentor, OH
Vertical Divider
Ken Draughn, Burlington, NC
Vertical Divider
Clarke Harbold, Charlotte, NC
Vertical Divider
Phillip MacNutt, Salisbury, NC
Vertical Divider
Wayne Story, Austin, TX
Vertical Divider
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Meredith Bennett, Hilliard, OH
Vertical Divider
Drew Egerton, Statesville, NC
Vertical Divider
Brian Hoyle, Raleigh, NC
Vertical Divider
Barbara McKinley, Siler City, NC
Vertical Divider
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