2010
Pilot Bio’s are currently being establish
Look for this update soon...

--2009--
Pilot Bio’s

Rachel’s Ascension – Tony Saxton2008
The Great Wellsville Balloon Rally Balloonmeister, Tony, has been involved in ballooning since he was nine years old. His interest started when he saw a balloon fly over his home and his brother Scott insisted they chase the balloon. Tony crewed for a local hot air balloon team and eventually learned to fly. Tony received his Commercial Pilots Certificate in 2000.
 During his career in ballooning, Tony has crewed or flown balloons in France, Canada, and numerous US states. He has also had the opportunity to fly several special shapes including Balloon Hilda, Chesty the Marine Bull Dog, Uncle Sam, and Matrioshka. Tony has attended and flown at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta for the past five years. This will be his fourth year attending the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally. Wellsville has become one of his favorite festivals he attends.
 Tony and his brother Scott own and operate Endless Mountains Hot Air Balloons, Inc. They offer champagne balloon adventures in northeastern and southeastern Pennsylvania

Kay-Sara II - Jason Krug
Jason first caught “balloon fever”, during his first balloon flight in 2001. He decided to make the transition from crew, to pilot in 2005. He earned his commercial rating in 2006. He is looking forward to all of the experiences and great friends he is sure to make in the wonderful world of ballooning

The Great Escape Hot Air Balloon Team - Jim Kozlowski  
  We have been involved with ballooning for approximately 17 years. Shortly after beginning to crew, I like many other balloonists became hooked, purchased a balloon and began taking lessons. I am a commercial pilot and do a good deal of flying in Cattaraugus county and southern Erie county. We do somewhere in the neighborhood of eight to ten rallies per year, most within New York State. My crew consists of my immediate family, my wife Peg and Jill our daughter. Another crew member that is with us more times than not is Pegs brother Dave.  
  We have been flying the Wellsville rally for over 12 years and have had many memorable flights. Our current balloon “Yawaemekat”, is a Firefly 8B and is a multi colored diagonal design with kaleidoscope top.
  Since we have participated in the Wellsville rally, we have found this event to be extremely well organized and the work that goes into it shows many times over.

Too Bodacious - Scott Saxton
Scott Saxton has been around hot air balloons since the age of two. Once old enough, he began crewing, and then eventually started pilot training in 1994. Scott received his Private FAA License in 1998, and then his Commercial FAA License in 2001. He and his brother Tony founded Endless Mountains Hot Air Balloons, Inc in March of 2003. In 2005, the company expanded to fly passengers in both Northeastern and Southeastern PA. Scott has crewed for and flown balloons throughout the United States, including flying the Corn Palace Balloon Club special shapes and the Liberty Bell Special shape.

Balloon formerly known as Balloon Grant - AielloGrant
Aiello was born on March 6, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Orlando, Florida in 1972, and joined the Orlando Fire Department in 1976, retiring in 2003. Grant became a balloon pilot and bought his first balloon in 1984. He has owned several balloons, ranging in sizes from two person to six person balloons. Grant worked under Joe Kittinger and flew for the Flying Circus from 1986 to 1992. He has attended numerous balloon races throughout the United States and Canada. He has traveled the world flying and giving lessons, including places like Costa Rica, China, Japan, and France.

The Snail - John Owens
John Owens first got hooked on Ballooning after taking his first flight during the 1987 Great Wellsville Balloon Rally. He immediately returned home and chaired the Great I Love New York Rally Over Chautauqua Lake just two months later. This rally is still going strong in Jamestown, NY under its new name “SkyJam”. He first flew a Re/Max balloon for his own office and several others across the state. In those days he counted heavily on the Hand Family in Wellsville and elsewhere for crew (and survived!). He owns and operates scenic flights as Balloons Over Chautauqua. He and his wife Mary Ellen have two children in college, Jennie and Evan.

Kay-Sara - Heather Krug
Heather got her first taste of ballooning in 2001 and has been addicted ever since. She crewed at the local balloon festival for 4 years, and then begged her husband to buy a balloon in 2005. A second balloon was added in 2006. Heather began her balloon pilot training in late 2006, and received her private rating in 2009. She plans to get her commercial rating in the future as well. Heather enjoys getting her whole family involved in ballooning, including her two daughters, Kailey 11 and Sara 5. She also enjoys the friends she has made through ballooning and looks forward to continuing to meet many more interesting and good friends to come. Heather is excited to start giving back to the ballooning community!

Friend Ship too - Mark Pluta
Mark has always had a passion for flight starting at the age of 5 when his parents took him on a family vacation by plane. The balloon bug struck in 1996 during the annual Adirondack Balloon Festival in Glens Falls, New York when his mother, Carol Pluta insisted on going for a family balloon ride; something she had always wanted to do.After that ride, Mark spent the next ten years crewing for various pilots in the Glens Falls area and at local festivals. After another balloon ride in 2006, and with some guidance from Grant Aiello, who he was crewing for at the time, Mark decided to take it to the next step and get a license and a balloon of his own. After completing lessons from his mentor and good friend, Russ Barber, Mark bought “Friend Ship Too” and obtained his private pilot certificate on Labor Day of 2008. He is now working towards his commercial pilot license as well as mixing in some pleasure flying with friends and family, especially his mother, Carol who serves as Mark’s crew chief and also has a student pilot certificate. Mark can be found flying almost any weekend in the Glens Falls area. His future goals are to give back to the sport by instructing new students who wish to become pilots and just plain have fun in the sky!