Meet The Pilots
Meet the skilled and passionate pilots who bring the Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Races to life. Each one brings their own story, experience, and love for ballooning, making our event truly unforgettable. Get to know the people behind the balloons and the magic they create in the sky.
The Hummingbird
Aaron Foelske
New Lenox, Illinois
15 Years Flying in Creston
Aerius
Andrew James
Savannah, Missouri
8 Years Flying in Creston
Joint Custody
Mike Swallow
Ottumwa, Iowa
5 Years Flying in Creston
Dark Side of the Balloon
Randy Stone
Indianola, Iowa
48 Years Flying in Creston
Trilogy
Jeremy Rubin
Ankeny, Iowa
10 Years Flying in Creston
Hidden Suprises
Al Appenzeller
Indianola, Iowa
10 Years Flying in Creston
Cherry Bomb
Holly Pfeifer
Indianola, Iowa
22 Years Flying in Creston
Highly Contagious
Darcy Hoch
Milo, Iowa
17 Years Flying in Creston
Black Pearl
Michael Oberman
Queen City, Missouri
8 Years Flying in Creston
Supercluster
Theo Hartman
Champaign, Illinois
5 Years Flying in Creston
Condor II
Bill Smith
Storm Lake, Iowa
30 Years Flying in Creston
TJ's Toy
Rick Goosey
Pleasant Hill, Missouri
21 Years Flying in Creston
With a Twist
Grant Pfeifer
Des Moines, Iowa
24 Years Flying in Creston
Straylight 3
Jon Shelton
West Des Moines, Iowa
19 Years Flying in Creston
ResurreXion
Bret Christian
Indianola, Iowa
22 Years Flying in Creston