Have you ever soared like the birds? If not, you can now! We are pleased to have the following commercial and private pilots joining us this weekend. Call (845) 831-6917 if you would like to reserve a ride during the festival at $225 per person.

Balloonmeister and pilot: Bill Hughes
Sponsor: Shadows Marina
Balloon name: Seagull
Bill Hughes, a former Navy pilot, with over 9,000 hours of flying everything from jets to helicopters, got into ballooning in 1970. He helped Malcolm Forbes make a transcontinental flight across the U.S. in 1973. The FAA previously designated him a Pilot Examiner and Safety Counselor. He has flown competitively throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan, winning numerous events.

Pilot: Paul Ward
Sponsor: KeyBank
Balloon name: Blue Diamonds
Paul Ward hails from Mahopac, NY, and holds both British and American balloon pilot certificates. Flying balloons since 1990, Paul now owns and operates Britannia Ballooning Adventures (www.britanniaballooning.com). Paul places great emphasis on landowner relations, and when not ballooning, is a business transformation consultant with Quest Worldwide and a professional coach. Visit www.drpaulward.com for more information.

Pilot: Larry Konash
Balloon name: Air America
Sponsor: Mid Hudson Medical Group
Owner of Air America and chief pilot, Konash began flying in 1971 at age 21. He obtained his pilot certificate by starting in airplanes. He owned and operated a Piper aircraft for years, flying all over North America before taking his first balloon ride in 1988. It was a love at first flight. He immediately added the commercial, lighter than air rating to his pilot certificate and started Air America, a hot air balloon company in northern New Jersey.

Pilot: Carroll Teitsworth
Sponsor: RE/MAX
Balloon name: RE/MAX
Carroll started his aviation career as a US Navy Pilot. He then operated a small airport and flight school for five years before becoming a full-time balloonist in 1978. Now he operates the Liberty Balloon Company, flying about 100 flights per year. He also teaches thousands of school children about balloons each year across the USA. He has been awarded the BFA president’s Award for Education in recognition of his influence on the balloon world in the areas of education and safety. He is also the Chief Pilot for RE/MAX of New York and New Jersey.

Pilot: Glenn Horton
Sponsor: Migliorelli Farm
In 1997 Glenn was introduced to ballooning for the first time and fell in love with it. Now he flies when ever possible. Flying primarily in Columbia County, just outside of Hudson, NY., Glenn can also be found ballooning at local festivals. During the week, Glenn spends most of the time managing a network of automated weather stations for the New York City DEP, but on any given weekend when the winds and weather allow, you can usually find him near a balloon eager to fly.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a love for the outdoors, ballooning has made this match perfect in Glenn’s eyes. It’s more than just a passion for him, it’s a way of life.

Pilot: Rudi Sachenbacher
Sponsor: Health Quest
Balloon name: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Rudi’s involvement with the sport of hot air ballooning goes back to the late 1970s. After many years spent as a crew member for local New England pilots, he purchased his own balloon (LooneyTune) in 1996. Ten years later he purchased Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was created to celebrate free spirits everywhere. The balloon’s artistry and color were supplied by Dr. Jonathan Wolf (www.skydyes.net) of Albuquerque, NM, and crafted by Lindstrand Balloons USA in Galena, IL.
Rudi resides in New England and participates in festivals throughout the USA, Canada and Europe.

Pilot: Brian Smith
Sponsor: Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel
Brian has been around hot-air ballooning for as long as he can remember. Since he was too small to talk he was being woken up early to “help” his dad (also a balloon pilot) launch the balloon and subsequently got hooked on the sport. As always, he wishes to thank his dedicated crew for their ongoing efforts. In his real life, Brian is a full time Realtor based here in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Pilots: Taras and Minka Hrechniw
Sponsor: Vineyard Commons/JK Scanlon
The Hrechniews are a husband and wife team for more than 20 years, are new to this year’s Mid Hudson Balloon Festival.
Over time, they have come to a mutual obsession with all things lighter-than-air. He now is a Private Balloon Pilot, having trained under Bill Hughes, and she is close to becoming one as well. Having graduated from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, they are both artists; he, an Art Services Specialist; she, an Art Director/Graphic Designer. They currently live in a house built of their own design in the Catskill mountains with their three cats, and take great pleasure in flying off their front lawn in their balloon, BluRadius.

Pilot: Tim Hughes
Sponsor: Daily Planet
Balloon name: Rainbow
Tim has been around balloons all of his life helping his father as chase car driver for many years. Tim works for the Town of LaGrange and lives in Stanfordville with his wife and son.

Pilot: Rich Hamilton
Sponsor: TD Bank
Rich and his family got the bug back in 1993. They had been crewing for many folks over the years. In 2001 they locked into one pilot in particular (Ken Shumate) and have been crewing for him since then. Rich purchased a balloon in July and completed his private certificate working with Bill Hughes. This is a true family activity as all are involved in the sport. We have made some really good friends and laughed our butt’s off.