Up & Away Ballooning

Started ballooning in 1993. Obtained my commercial license in 1997. I was laid off my

“real job” and created Up & Away Ballooning, Inc. in 1999 from scratch. This was/is a commercial ballooning operation providing site seeing tours in the Sonoma County, CA area. We started with two balloons, one that could carry two riders and a six passenger. Added another six person balloon, then an eight passenger and finally a balloon that could carry 14.

In 2015, I sold the business to Calistoga Balloon Adventures, but the operation remained Up & Away. My wife and I moved to OR, but returned to Sonoma County in 2019.

In 2019, I was hired on at Up & Away Ballooning as the Site Manager and lead pilot.

In 2022, First Place at the Great Reno Balloon Race.

As of this date, I have 3123 hours in hot air balloons with a perfect safety record. I have flown in all the western U.S. states and New Zealand.