The Balloonatics - by Craig Elliott (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

After graduating high school in 1976, Craig Elliott accepted a friend's invitation to join a local hot air balloon crew. That moment changed his life forever.

"I was sweating bullets by the time we lifted off, feeling a little faint, but that subsided, and almost instantly I felt exhilarated and enthralled. Everything below began getting smaller and smaller till it looked like one of those model cities with the miniature train set running through it. ... This is awesome!"

Elliott was hooked-and would go on to spend the next forty-two years soaring across the skies of the United States as a proud "balloonatic."

From working alongside World Hot Air Balloon Champion Captain Phogg to narrowly avoiding collisions with observatory towers, The Balloonatics is filled with the breathtaking highs and turbulent lows that only a life in the clouds can bring.

With warmth, humor, and a touch of mischief, Craig Elliott invites you into the basket to experience the adventures, mishaps, and unforgettable characters that marked his long career as a hot air balloon pilot.

Review Quotes

"The Balloonatics is a story that should be told. Flying in a balloon offers long periods of sublime enjoyment-flying gently through the sky enjoying breathtaking scenery that cannot be replicated in any other aircraft. But those periods can be punctuated by moments of sheer panic and terror. Those moments will go unnoticed by the passengers with a good pilot in control. But a good pilot will remember them forever."

-Mike Kendrick, legendary balloonist and aviation pioneer

"A phantasticly phunny and excellently exciting read! Highly recommended if you enjoy adventure and entertainment. The Balloonatics captures the essence of the heyday of hot air ballooning in the '80s and '90s in a no holds barred tale of phlying, traveling, and partying on the road with professional commercial hot air balloon pilots."

-Denny Floden, aka Capt. Phogg, 1st World Hot Air Balloon Champion

"This sport of ballooning that we love, captures us for different reasons. The experience of floating above the world, the challenge of learning, the thrill of competition, or perhaps simply sharing with others the beauty of the oldest and purest form of flight. But there is a common thread that weaves through it all-community. The Balloonatics reminds us that we share a common bond-part friendship, part laughter, part love of our sport. We may come together for different reasons, but we are united in the love, laughter, and beauty of what we do. We are perhaps unlike other air sports in that regard. We can fight tooth and nail in flight, then laugh, joke, celebrate, and commiserate with each other. The Balloonatics is both a great trip down memory lane, and a reminder that we are privileged to fly and to share this sport with each other."

-Andy Baird, owner of Cameron Balloons