Meet the Pilots for 2025
Colton Krause- Pride, LA
Shawn Krause- Zachary, LA
Shawn Krause- Zachary, LA
I’ve been a hot air balloon pilot for 5 years, but I’ve been ballooning my whole life. In my free time, I enjoy ballooning with my family.
Shawn Krause- Zachary, LA
Shawn Krause- Zachary, LA
Shawn Krause- Zachary, LA
Shawn Krause 57 years old, I have been flying balloons for over 30 years and have almost 1100 hours of flight time. My family and I operate Really Hot Air Balloons in Zachary La. that offers rides, tethers, promotions and instructions. The name of my Balloon is R.U. Kidding Me!?!?, it is a 1991 Aerostar S-57A built by Raven Industries a
Shawn Krause 57 years old, I have been flying balloons for over 30 years and have almost 1100 hours of flight time. My family and I operate Really Hot Air Balloons in Zachary La. that offers rides, tethers, promotions and instructions. The name of my Balloon is R.U. Kidding Me!?!?, it is a 1991 Aerostar S-57A built by Raven Industries and is 90,000 cubic feet in volume and its head crew chief is Judson Hebert.--
Chad Hebert- Zachary, LA
Shawn Krause- Zachary, LA
Karen Kent- Port Allen, LA
My name is Chad Hebert, and I am a resident of Zachary, LA. I was first introduced to ballooning by my wife and her family. Hot air balloons have introduced us to so many life long friends who have become family. My favorite part of ballooning is the excitement it brings to each of my two sons any time we’re around them. My balloon’s name
My name is Chad Hebert, and I am a resident of Zachary, LA. I was first introduced to ballooning by my wife and her family. Hot air balloons have introduced us to so many life long friends who have become family. My favorite part of ballooning is the excitement it brings to each of my two sons any time we’re around them. My balloon’s name is Marilyn.
A fun fact is that it is named after the seamstress that originally sewed it together. It is also the very first balloon that was built in the manufacture’s Longview, TX factory.
Karen Kent- Port Allen, LA
Karen Kent- Port Allen, LA
Karen Kent- Port Allen, LA
I’ve been flying for 25+ years. It’s always been a dream of mine to fly as the birds and butterflies do. Flying balloons has made that dream came true.
Balloons: Louisiana Bayou Dream and Karen’s Dream
Mike Hanson- Greenwood, MS
Karen Kent- Port Allen, LA
Mike Hanson- Greenwood, MS
1991 LTA private and commercial certificate
• Owned and operated a successful small ride operation since 1992 to present.
• Commercial hot air balloon pilot for Bryan Foods, Sara Lee, Mossy Oak, Mississippi Prinng, Rainbow Ryders
• BFA 2016 Rookie of the Year
• Flown for several high-profile passengers including, President Bill Clinton, Al
1991 LTA private and commercial certificate
• Owned and operated a successful small ride operation since 1992 to present.
• Commercial hot air balloon pilot for Bryan Foods, Sara Lee, Mossy Oak, Mississippi Prinng, Rainbow Ryders
• BFA 2016 Rookie of the Year
• Flown for several high-profile passengers including, President Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Brooks and Dunn, 38 Special and User
• Pilot for the Make-A-Wish foundation.
• LTA pilot for charity fundraiser for Palmer Home for Children and Peavey Electronics Orphan relief project.
• Balloon Meister for Grenada Lake Thunder on Water and Greenville Mississippi Aviation n Days
• 2500+ hours as pilot of command of Hot Air Balloons.
Balloon: Miss Lou
Frank J Anger- Belden, MS
Karen Kent- Port Allen, LA
Mike Hanson- Greenwood, MS
I am retired with two daughters and five grandkids. I have been flying hot air balloons since 1995. Live in Belden, MS which is a suburb of Tupelo, MS Was a distributor of bottled water for 38 years. Sold the company in 2021 and got tired of piddling so I studied and got my Real Estate License in 2023. I am a Real Estate professional
I am retired with two daughters and five grandkids. I have been flying hot air balloons since 1995. Live in Belden, MS which is a suburb of Tupelo, MS Was a distributor of bottled water for 38 years. Sold the company in 2021 and got tired of piddling so I studied and got my Real Estate License in 2023. I am a Real Estate professional with ELITE Realty in Tupelo, MS.Been flying hot air balloons since 1995.
Greatest joys I get from ballooning are seeing the smiles on young kids faces as well as adults, who when they see a hot air balloon are still kids at heart.
America, Koola Koala and America the 2nd (RC balloon)
Geoffrey Jones- Zachary, LA
Geoffrey Jones- Zachary, LA
Geoffrey Jones- Zachary, LA
My name is Geoffrey Jones and I live in Meridian MS. I work for Atlas Roofing Corp. in the research and development department. I have had my pilot's license for around 3 years, but I have been crewing for my parents all of my life. Balloon Name: Gravity's Rainbow
Fred Poole
Geoffrey Jones- Zachary, LA
Geoffrey Jones- Zachary, LA
Fred Poole has a 25 year history in aviation. He is a skydiver with over 700 jumps, a fixed wing pilot with a seaplane rating and of course a commercial hot air balloon pilot. His company Champagne Sunrise operates out of Meridian Mississippi and has taken hundreds of passengers for rides safely over the years.
In addition to norma
Fred Poole has a 25 year history in aviation. He is a skydiver with over 700 jumps, a fixed wing pilot with a seaplane rating and of course a commercial hot air balloon pilot. His company Champagne Sunrise operates out of Meridian Mississippi and has taken hundreds of passengers for rides safely over the years.
In addition to normal commercial operations Fred uses Champagne Sunrise as outreach for the community, delivering letters to the north pole for Santa for local schools, and donating tether rides for the local children’s museum.
During the week Fred is the General Manager of Peavey Electronics, one of the largest manufacturers of Musical Instrument and Professional audio equipment in the world, selling to over 136 countries world wide, and a member of the BFA Board of Directors.
Memberships licenses and Certifications:
USPA (United Stated Parachute Association) holding a D license
BFA Pro Division
BFA Board Member
Gary Jones
Geoffrey Jones- Zachary, LA
Rusty Miller
I am Gary Jones, I live in Diamondhead, MS and have been a balloon pilot for more than 30 years. My son Geoffrey is also a pilot and will be flying in this years event as well.
My balloon is called Wind Waker. Its name comes from the popular game series The Legend of Zelda, Wind Waker.
Rusty Miller
Marshall Gower
Rusty Miller
Rusty Miller and his wife of 31 years, Tracy, live in Southwest Alabama. Rusty has always had a love of aviation recalling taking his first Comercial airline ride as just a toddler. In his adult life he enjoyed fixed wing aviation and even skydiving, but never obtained a FAA license until a few short years ago when he got his LTA/Ballooni
Rusty Miller and his wife of 31 years, Tracy, live in Southwest Alabama. Rusty has always had a love of aviation recalling taking his first Comercial airline ride as just a toddler. In his adult life he enjoyed fixed wing aviation and even skydiving, but never obtained a FAA license until a few short years ago when he got his LTA/Ballooning license in less that a year. His love for ballooning caught on fast never really being exposed to the sport, he was hooked the first time he was able to touch a hot air balloon. He now owns four balloon systems but his favorite is the Stars and Stripes balloon. Rusty says his favorite part of ballooning are the people. Never hesitating to share his love of the sport, it puts a smile on his face to talk about it and anyone’s ear he can get will be smiling when he tells his story as well. He has flown all over Southeast United States and New Mexico but looks forward to future travels and wherever his new found passion carries him.
Balloon Twisted Spirit
Marshall Gower
Marshall Gower
Marshall Gower
Marshall Gower, 32, is an Asset Reliability Leader at Constellium, where he ensures the efficiency and reliability of the company's assets. He is married to Tesa with two daughters Sadie and Emma and balances his professional career with his passion for aviation. In June 2021, Marshall earned his fixed-wing pilot's license, and in 2023, h
Marshall Gower, 32, is an Asset Reliability Leader at Constellium, where he ensures the efficiency and reliability of the company's assets. He is married to Tesa with two daughters Sadie and Emma and balances his professional career with his passion for aviation. In June 2021, Marshall earned his fixed-wing pilot's license, and in 2023, he furthered his aviation credentials with a lighter-than-air license
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Balloon- Stained Horizons