Spiedie Fest

Hot Air Balloon Festival, Binghamton, NY - 1997

I had the pleasure of being a part of a hot air balloon crew. A very good friend of mine took a liking of hot air balloons and got his pilots license and then ended up buying a couple of hot air balloons. He had been asking me for years to come flying with him or to one of the festivals and I finally took him up on his offer.
After this one experience I realized I should have been going all along. It was an awesome experience. It was so great to be a part of the crew that transports the balloons, sets up the balloons, chases the balloons and breaks them down.

Pilot, Michael Caccavale in the basket.

Some of the crew.

Fill it up using a fan and flame.

My first flight as a passenger and crew.