2024 Pilot Bios

Barx

Ryan Carlton

Danville, IL

Sponsored by

Classic Homes Realty

Years Flying Balloons - 13

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

I am the Technology Manager for the Danville Public Library, I also enjoy flying drones, playing dungeons and dragons, and designing and 3d printing various projects. I also hope to finish the renovations on my home brewery this year and resume making delicious home brewed beer.

Why did you become a pilot?

I was born into it.

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

Deciding where to go eat afterward.

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

What started as a small project to help my dad with an Excel spreadsheet turned into a website known as The Balloonists' Wind Forecast, or just 'Ryan's Winds'. The success of ballooning weather forecast has allowed me to travel all over the country and speak in front of thousands of fellow balloonists about technology and weather safety.

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

Balloons steer by ascending into levels of the atmosphere where the winds are going different speeds and directions.