Neal began his ballooning journey over 30 years ago after a ride with former coworker David Spais, who needed passengers to log flight time. What started as a casual adventure turned into a passion as Neal began crewing for David before earning his private pilot license in 1981 and later his commercial rating.

Since then, he has flown countless flights, trained several pilots, and formed lasting friendships in the ballooning community. Neal and his wife, who met while she was a student pilot, celebrated their 20th anniversary at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, where they joined fellow balloonists for an unforgettable experience among over 500 balloons. Their adventures have also taken them flying over the Alps, showcasing the limitless opportunities that ballooning offers.

After several years as a fixed-wing pilot, Ben earned his balloon rating in ’89 and quickly became Chief Pilot for Harrison Aire in Ringoes, NJ, following the sudden departure of the previous chief. The intense training taught him valuable lessons about safe flying conditions. He later started his own passenger ride business, Color the Sky, in Doylestown, PA, which took on the corporate account for flying the Remax Balloon of New Jersey. As his family grew, he passed the business to a close friend to focus on local, enjoyable flights.

In 2010, Ben joined Neal and Kim’s team, rediscovering the joy of ballooning without the pressures of running a business. With over 1,000 flight hours since then, he looks forward to each flight, enjoying the camaraderie and familiarity of the area.

Tony DiCocco has been piloting balloons in New Jersey for over 25 years.  He started crewing with Neal Blackwell in Pennington, New Jersey ultimately earning his private and then commercial pilot’s license.  Tony is also a ‘fixed wing’ pilot – flying small planes.  And in earlier years also did a fair amount of parachute jumping.  All things air!

Like most commercial balloon pilots, most of Tony’s flying these days is paying passengers.  But also like most other balloonists, he much prefers the ‘family and friends’ flights.  What better way to pass the time than spend it with family and friends, doing something that you love.

Tony and his wife live in Hopewell Township, New Jersey along with their horses and llamas.  He’s even been known to take off from his farm and the horses don’t seem to mind!

Tom has been ballooning for over 4 decades, with his first free flight in Albuquerque in the famous World Balloon. Tom has flown commercially for passenger rides, corporate promotion and racing at balloon events.

His first major ballooning event was in Arizona, first Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF) in 1980 and his latest was in 2023. Flying at a balloon event allows many advantages – meeting and seeing other pilots, flying alongside other balloons and bringing the spectacle to the crowds.

The thrill for Tom is to bring the simplest form of flight to first time participants. “I remember the first time I saw a balloon – in Brooklyn NY by the way – and was hooked by the majesty and uniqueness. I had to know more. Balloon flight is like having a bird’s eye view of world below. It provides a different perspective on the ground we walk on.”