2026 Pilot Bios



N Debt

Chad Kerns

Lincoln, IL

Sponsored by

Chris Griffin - Country Financial


Years Flying Balloons - 11


When you are not flying, what do you enjoy doing?


Hanging out with family, Traveling & Watching Sports.


Why did you become a pilot?


After crewing for a long time it just seemed like the next fun adventure to do!


What do you find is the most challenging about flying a hot air balloon?


Trying to find landing spots in the summer with all of the crops growing in the fields!


Short description of something interesting that ballooning has allowed you to do?


It has allowed me to travel around and meet some great sponsors and other pilots from across the country, building friendships along the way!


What do you most want the public to know/understand about hot air balloons and flying them?


Just because you see a balloon landing along a road or in a parking lot or someones yard does not mean it is an emergency landing. We are looking for locations with open space that the crew can find us and that we can take down the balloon without damaging it!