The Balloonatics: Memoir of a Professional Hot Air Balloon Pilot

By Craig Elliott

Join Craig Elliott as he shares hilarious tales of adventure, mishaps, and high-flying shenanigans from his forty-two years as a hot air balloon pilot.

After graduating high school in 1976, Craig Elliott accepted a friend's invitation to join a local hot air balloon crew. That moment changed his life forever.

"I was sweating bullets by the time we lifted off, feeling a little faint, but that subsided, and almost instantly I felt exhilarated and enthralled. Everything below began getting smaller and smaller till it looked like one of those model cities with the miniature train set running through it. ... This is awesome "

Elliott was hooked-and would go on to spend the next forty-two years soaring across the skies of the United States as a proud "balloonatic."

From working alongside World Hot Air Balloon Champion Captain Phogg to narrowly avoiding collisions with observatory towers, The Balloonatics is filled with the breathtaking highs and turbulent lows that only a life in the clouds can bring.

With warmth, humor, and a touch of mischief, Craig Elliott invites you into the basket to experience the adventures, mishaps, and unforgettable characters that marked his long career as a hot air balloon pilot.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1965278736
• ISBN13: 9781965278734
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Mission Point Press
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 1.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"