2026 Pilot Bios

Round About

Ted Gransbury

Carmel, IN

Sponsored by

Halloran Family Foundation

Years Flying Balloons - 13

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

Chasing the doggo and learning how to fly other things.

Why did you become a pilot?

Mostly for the echoes. And the french toast.

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

The most difficult thing about flying the balloon is getting it to land at that perfect spot that it's currently approaching. It seems like just above the ground Mother Nature has a giggle and pushes just enough to nudge us off course.

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

I get to rise into the air very early in the morning and I could hollar as loud as I could, if I wanted. And eventually the echo would find it's way back. Also, I've gotten many invites to breakfast if I could land on specific spots. If those invites would happen more when I'm approaching and less when I'm passing over that'd be ideal.

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

Sometimes we're going here, and then suddenly we're going there. We have some control, but not as much as we'd like. But that's the adventure, going where the wind takes you. Ready?