What can we say.  Kim is on of our best.  He is so enthusiastic we have nick named him Tigger.  He bounces around like he has a spring uno where.  He has his student pilots certificate and is logging hours any time we can get him up.  Our only worry is that he will get his license and we will loose him as a crew person.  We are not too worried yet since here is some of his best pilot work.

Brother Jon's daughter.  Audra is a balloon crew person right out of the gate.  Pictured here at the United States National Championships she is right at home on the balloon launch field.  She will jump on board on any flight if you tell her there is a spare spot.  Her infectious smile and go get em attitude will put a smile on your face.

Sarge as we all have come to affectionately know her.  Mom "Connie" Thompson started chasseing for Jeff back in the mid 70's.  Connie was the first chase team the Thompson Family had.  Later when Dad "Jim" started to fly she became his chase crew.  Father was content with flying in balloon festivals but mother wanted to chase in competition.  So father had no real choice but to become a competitive pilot and fly in balloon competitions.  Thanks to Mother being so persistent father was awarded the *Shields-Trauger Award this last year in Albuquerque.  This is the higest award in ballooning and father gave most of the credit exactly where it should have gone.  MOM...

This is a special award (BFA's highest) and therefore does not have to be awarded annually.  (BFA Balloon Federation of America)

Pat is the Universal Crew person.  Crewing for several of the pilots in the area he also goes on the road with brother Jon in the summer time.  When he is on the road with brother Jon he is the Chief Crew person for the Children's Miracle Network balloon team.  If you look on the TA calendar you will see his name on several days.  The GC on the calendar means Ground Crew so when you see GC Pat then that is ground crew Pat.

Retired navy seal and mailman for Disney, Patrick is also a student pilot.  He is learning to fly balloons while he chases for them.  Patrick also crews for several pilots but we like to get our hands on him first if  we can.   

Linda came to us out of the blue.  We received a call one day asking if we needed crew for Thursday.  Bewildered by the straight out comment or question we said sure.  Linda showed up and turned into one of the best crew we have ever had.  Pleasant with the passengers and almost as excited as the passengers she does a great job of answering questions and entertaining the passengers on the van ride back to the Black Angus after the flight.

Adam was another balloon baby born into the balloon world.  His father was a balloon pilot when he was young and he now has a desire to get back onto the balloon crew with intentions of becoming a pilot soon.

Hailey is the daughter of Jeff's sister Jule.  Hailey has been involved in ballooning since she was able to walk.  Starting out as crew for grandpa (Jim Thompson) Hailey and her brother Tyler were more or less born into ballooning.  Hailey has spent the last few summers down from Iowa, crewing for us!  It never fails the first day she is out on the crew as soon as all the other crews here her voice on the radio the next ten minutes all you hear is "HI HAILEY"  "HI HAILEY" "HI HAILEY"  "HI HAILEY" "HI HAILEY",,,.....

Mike "Pictured here in his skinny days" is simply one of the best.  Mike worked with Jeff for many years and has not only been one of the officials for the United States National Balloon Championships but has been part of the Thompson National Championship Competition team as well.  Currently his time is taken up by one of the other balloon teams in the area.  Mike has an open invitation to come chase for us any morning he wants.