Meet The Pilots

Kris Braden began ballooning in 1984 when he was 7 years old; that’s when his dad bought his first balloon. He went on to get his private license in 1994 when he was 16, and then his commercial license only one year later in 1995 at 18 years old. All this experience has cumulated in over 3,300 hours of flight time.

His most interesting flight took place in Battlecreek Michigan. He was flying the Red Baron frozen pizza balloon and landed in a nudist colony. They were all very friendly and even helped him pack up the balloon! However, his favorite place to fly so far would have to be Gallup, NM in the Red Rock Park (if you haven’t seen the photos, we highly recommend Googling the event, it’s beautiful). Throughout his career, Kris has flown for different TV shows, movies, and commercials. The most recent was a Ram truck commercial called Ram: Way of Life (Outdoor), check it out here!

Troy received his private pilot certificate at age 16 and commercial pilot license at 18. He has flown over 5,800 hours and more than 20,000 passengers. Troy has flown in 45 states and 13 countries. He has flown commercial contracts for Century 21, Labatt’s Beer, Sears, Swatch Watch, Maxwell House, PSA Airlines, United New Mexico Bank, Breyer’s Ice Cream, Comet Cleaners, Fox Photo, Disney/Pixar, and RE/MAX. Troy also enjoys flying gas balloons; he has built 2.

Troy’s accomplishments include 14 New Mexico State Championships, 2 North American Championships, 2 US Hot Air Team Nationals, the 1992 Chrysler Transatlantic Challenge flight with Richard Abruzzo, giving Walter Cronkite a lesson at Chateau de Balleroy in 1993, dropping a skydiver (Bob Martin) from 32,000 feet, then ascending to 34,000 feet, the 1996 America’s Challenge, landing in the Canadian wilderness and being rescued by helicopter, the 2001 Gordon Bennett, crossing the Alps from Germany to Italy with Earl Miller, Cluster flight for Disney/Pixar’s movie UP, flying over 4,000 feet sitting on a carbon fiber La-Z-Boy chair with 70 helium balloons, and flying over the unique rock formations, stunning valleys, and ancient cliff dwellings of Cappadocia, Turkey.

After being born into ballooning and taking his first balloon ride at 18 months old, Morghan followed in his father’s footsteps to become a pilot. He is from Albuquerque, NM and has now been a pilot for 7 years. Morgan’s favorite place to fly is the first day of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, he gets chills of excitement taking off with hundreds of balloons as this is a feeling only few experience. You can catch Morghan flying in our of our four cities, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, and Park City!

The hearts of the Rainbow Ryders Team, and the ballooning community as a whole, are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of an invaluable member of our community, pilot Dean Donley. Though words seem inadequate to express the sorrow felt, we extend our deepest condolences and support to his wife Debbie and their family, now and always. He lived his life to the fullest, taking advantage of the latest and greatest technology out there. If it went fast or offroad, you can bet he owned it. Coupled with his signature sweet tea and Texan twang, he gave passengers the bucket list adventure they deserved with every flight he took.

Dean began his aviation career in the Air Force. He was stationed here in Albuquerque in 1989, which was when he decided to volunteer at the Balloon Fiesta to crew. Soon after he met a local pilot, and continued crewing for him even after the festival. In 1996, he joined the team at Rainbow Ryders as a crew member. It didn’t take long for him to decide that flying is what he wanted to do. After serving in the USAF for 20 years, Dean retired and spent his retirement flying hot air balloons every day.

Dean will remain in our hearts forever, and will be in our thoughts with each and every lift off. He filled his life with adventure, leaving the world less exciting without him in it. Here’s to you Dean Donley!

CJ is originally from Nashville, TN, and has been working in aviation professionally since 2012. In 2017, CJ decided to switch careers to transition from Hang Gliding to Ballooning. He moved to Albuquerque, NM and walked into Rainbow Ryders and asked for a job as a balloon crew member, he knew this was the place to start. He has now been a hot air balloon pilot since 2018, and flies with Rainbow Ryders in Phoenix, AZ. CJ’s most memorable flight was flying amongst a swarm of powered paragliders at the Arizona Flying Circus while dropping a skydiver from the basket.

Hailing from Emporia, Kansas, Mike Heffron took his first balloon ride in 1984 and has been flying for over 15 years.

Inspired by friends, he found a lifelong passion in ballooning and now pilots CoddiWoMPLe—a wheelchair-accessible balloon named after the whimsical phrase meaning “to travel in a purposeful manner toward a vague destination.”

Mike’s favorite place to fly is Colorado Springs, and one of his most memorable flights was celebrating a passenger’s 100th birthday aboard CoddiWoMPLe.

Anthony took his first balloon ride before he could even walk. His family had balloons when he was young and although his family got out of flying, Anthony was always enamored with them and knew he wanted to fly. After his first trip to Balloon Fiesta at 9 years old, he was hooked. From then on, he spent years attending Balloon Fiesta as a spectator and then went onto begin crewing. In 2017, Anthony bought his first balloon and obtained his pilot license.

One of his most interesting flights, as well as his favorite was over the Grand Canyon. He describes the experience as humbling and breath-taking. You can find Anthony flying year round in his hometown of Albuquerque, NM.

In West Philadelphia born and raised

In the Marine Corp was where he spent most of his days

Chillin’ out, maxin’, relaxin’, all cool

And crewing some balloons outside of the school (the military)

When a couple of guys who were up to something good

Started taking flight in his neighborhood

He got in one little basket and RR got prepared

We said, You’re movin’ with your doggie and girl to hot air (in the desert)

And that’s how Kyle has now been a balloon pilot for 11 years, 5 of which are with Rainbow Ryders

Jacob Little, an Arizona native comes from a family of balloonists. He attended his first balloon event when he was just one month old. At the age of 5, he took his first ride with his father and from that point forward began to love the sport. Jacob stood his first balloon up when he was 12 years old, and began working on his dream of being pilot five years later.

Jacob has now been a pilot for 7 years. He has flown all over the country, but one of his most unique flights was in Puerto Penasco, Mexico where he ended up landing on the beach. You may even see him flying his balloon “Ándale” at a local balloon event near you. Staying true to his roots, you can find him flying year round in our Phoenix location or seasonally in Park City!

Steven aka Mezz, grew up in a ballooning family with both of his parents being hot air balloon pilots and he always dreamt of flying professionally since he was a child. As soon as he was big enough to climb into the basket, that’s where you would find him. Mezz is originally from Warwick, Rhode Island but currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he has been a pilot for 10 years. He also participates in competition flying, and enjoys the excitement and thrill of the sport.

Greg was a fixed wing pilot for 26 years. He flew F/A-18’s for the US Marine Corps and retired as a Lt. Col. after a 24 year career. Post his honorable military career, Greg chose Hot Air Ballooning as his next endeavor. Greg flies in our Albuquerque location, his favorite flight is flying 5 over the misty Rio Grande River as the sun rises over the Sandia Mountains and the Sandhill Cranes are calling from the far beach. Rainbow Ryders thanks Greg for his service and is lucky to have him as part of the team and continue his love of all things aviation.

Jesse Newcomer hails from Lancaster City, Pennsylvania. He got into ballooning by learning the sport from the ground up (literally!). He began his career in hot air ballooning as ground crew on the East Coast and quickly moved to piloting the balloons instead. His most interesting flight was actually in the city of Philidelphia where he flew through the downtown area and ultimately went across the Delaware River for landing. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona to work for Rainbow Ryders and is learning to love the desert life.

Jesse began crewing balloons as a part-time summer job before his sophomore year of high school. Crewing became a hobby on the weekends through the remainder of high school and during aviation training. Jesse attended flight school in Phoenix where he received his CFII, commercial multi, and single-engine aircraft ratings. In February 2014 Jesse began working at Rainbow Ryders and took part in a pilot apprenticeship program.

In May 2014 he earned his commercial balloon certificate and has been flying passengers and corporate balloons since. It’s all about balloons with Jesse, when he is not behind the burners he still loves crewing. His energetic personality, enthusiasm for ballooning and extensive knowledge of aviation make him a great member of the Rainbow Ryders team.

Alfred Salazar began his involvement in ballooning in 1997 when he started crewing for award-winning balloonist Richard Abruzzo. Alfred obtained his private rating in 2006 and in 2007 he began flying in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta every year since. He has owned four balloons and with always wanting to be involved in every aspect of ballooning, he was the crew chief for the Corporate Dos Equis Balloon.

He has been a part of the Rainbow Ryders team since 2005 and in his spare time, enjoys flying fixed winged planes. Alfred’s son loves seeing his dad fly and with Alfred’s guidance, will be flying balloons when he grows up. He has been in the business for over a decade and still enjoys every day he gets to fly!

Patrick’s love for hot air balloons began early, as his grandmother often took him to the local balloon races. His first flight as a passenger was in 1984 with his mother and grandmother. In 1988, he began crewing for a recreational balloonist, and just two years later, his family purchased their own hot air balloon and began flying recreationally. By 1991, Patrick had earned his commercial rating and was flying passengers as well as training others to fly.

He has participated in numerous balloon events across the country, including multiple years at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, dating back to 1991. Over his career, Patrick has logged approximately 11,000 hours in hot air balloons, averaging around 350 hours of flight time per year. Much of that time has been spent flying passengers for hire in the Phoenix area, with over an estimated 100,000 passengers flown since 1991. Patrick has flown so many hours in hot air balloons that, if you converted his flight time into miles, he would have traveled around the Earth more than three times!

Hot air ballooning has remained a lifelong passion for Patrick. He enjoys traveling and makes a point of flying a balloon wherever he vacations. Even in his spare time, he could often be found at the launch site, flying recreationally.

Jon is originally from Kissimmee, Florida and he’s been in ballooning as long as Rainbow Ryders has been a company – over four decades. However, his very first balloon ride was back in 1974.

He attended the National Balloon Championships with his family in Indianola, Iowa as a spectator. During that time, they met a pilot and helped him pack away the balloon. At that point, his brother Jeff was hooked and talked their parents into letting him take lessons. Hot air ballooning quickly began a family sport, with Jon becoming the 3rd pilot in his family (just behind his brother and dad).

Jon has flown all over the world, including Canada, Ecuador, Japan, and Mexico. He loves flying in the mountains the most though, no matter the country. He’s even flown over the continental divide in Breckenridge, Colorado! Nowadays, you can catch him flying in any one of our three cities.