2025 Pilot Bios



Deja Blu

Gary Whitby

Columbia, MO

Sponsored by

Sunrise Hospitality


Years Flying Balloons - 30


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


I’m remodeling our home and trying to get back to the golf course.


Why did you become a pilot?


I volunteered at an event and got to go for a balloon ride and fell in love with it.


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


Of course the weather is the main issue. You need to make sure that you’re safe before you takeoff.


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


Balloon has allowed us to travel the country and meet many wonderful people that we now call friends.


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


Flying in a hot air balloon is not only safe but it’s spectacular. From a hot air balloon you can see things that you’ll never see driving down the street or the road and also can talk to people when you’re 500 feet in there you can still talk to people and hear dogs, lawn, mowers, and cars.