The Balloonatics: Memoir of a Professional Hot Air Balloon Pilot

42 Years. Thousands of Flights. One Wild Ride Through the Skies.After graduating high school, Craig Elliott accepted a friend’s invitation to join a local hot air balloon crew. That moment changed his life forever.Join Craig Elliott on a laugh-out-loud, edge-of-your-basket journey through his unforgettable career as a hot air balloon pilot. What began as a spontaneous invitation to help crew a local balloon in 1976 quickly turned into a lifelong passion—and a front-row seat to some of the wildest, weirdest, and most awe-inspiring moments ever experienced above the earth.From flying with world champions like Capt. Phogg to navigating close calls with observatory towers and unexpected weather, The Balloonatics is packed with high-altitude hijinks, unexpected lessons, and the kind of stories only a true “balloonatic” could tell.With warmth, wit, and a dash of daring, Craig Elliott shares four decades of airborne adventures—bringing readers into the sky and into the heart of a unique and extraordinary way of life. Read more