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Help us welcome back Neida Bueno for another great year at Balloons and Tunes Roundup!
“I’m from Albuquerque, NM. I started ballooning in 1972 after my family went to the first Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. I received my Private Pilot Certificate shortly after my 16th birthday, and have flown all over the SW. I love sharing the joy of flying with friends and making new friends along the way, as well as watching my son grow to love the sport as much as I do. I also enjoy giving back to the ballooning community by volunteering, both at Balloon Fiesta and Balloon Camp.”
We are happy to have you again Neida!
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*Keith Evans and his wife Marianne are excited to join us in Kanab for their 5th Annual Balloons and Tunes Roundup, and have been return pilots ever since. Keith and Marianne are from Santaquin Utah. Keith and his family have been ballooning for 22 years this July. From the first time Keith helped inflate that first balloon he was hooked and it wasn’t long until his wife and kids caught the balloon bug too. Under the tutelage of many pilot friends; Keith finished his pilot requirements and became a private pilot on May 31, 2014. In October 2017, to add some diversity to his instruction, Keith went to Albuquerque NM to finish up his commercial pilot requirements, testing, and flights. Keith successfully passed all requirements and received his Commercial Pilot rating on October 21, 2017.
Keith, Marianne, their children and many friends have been blessed to spread their love of ballooning with many people along the way. Some of their favorite places to fly are Kanab, Payson, American Fork, Craig Colorado, and Windsor Colorado among many more. Keith loves to spend time answering questions and letting kids (old & young) experience the joy, wonder, power, science, and pure pleasure that is ballooning. Keith has been known to spend hours letting kids climb in and out of the basket and anyone can fire the burner to experience the power. One of our favorite things is to land in a neighborhood and let the children come help put the balloon away.
For the first time Keith’s new balloon will be flying in the festival. You may notice it looks a lot like the old balloon. Come see if you like the changes as we inflate and take to the beautiful skies over Kanab! See you soon!
We can’t wait to have Keith and Marianne soaring in our beautiful Kanab skies once again! Welcome back!
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Help us welcome Bruce Pivic!
Bruce has been a pilot since 1991. He received his commercial pilot license in 1993 and has over 1500+ hours of flying logged! Bruce’s hometown is Rock Springs, Wyoming. Bruce has a degree from the University of Wyoming in Electrical Engineering. During the summers Bruce spends most of his time in Rock Springs and loves flying his balloon “Wyoming State”. He escapes the Wyoming winters flying his alternative balloon “Defiance” in Sun City, Arizona. Bruce is the owner of Infinity Power and Controls – WyoRadio, with 4 radio stations. “I love to fly and get to meet all kinds of interesting people.”
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*Help us welcome back William (Bill) Noe!
“LTA Commercial Pilot since 2012
Red Rock Balloon Rally Board member
Freedom Flight Balloonmeister
Monument Valley Balloonmeister
Flying a 2015 Cameron Z-105, custom patterned after my previous Aerostar, with a Cameron basket with a walk through gate. I enjoy flying in the Southwest rallys, including Kanab, Page, Bluff, Cortez, Monument Valley, Red Rock Balloon Rally, Freedom Flight, St Patrick’s, and Balloon Fiesta. I am now teaching Auto shop and Welding for our school District.”
We’re happy to have you Bill!
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Help us welcome Tom Keller to the 5th annual Balloons and Tunes Roundup!
“As a skydiver, Tom had always wanted to jump from a hot air balloon. In 1995, he finally got his wish at an air show in Ponca City. Two years later he was invited back for more skydiving at the Ponca City event. That’s the year he met Kelli. Tom and Kelli were married a year later. Kelli was his flight instructor, and he taught her how to skydive. They started out with just one balloon, then they bought another, so they could both fly. Tom received his private pilot license in 1999, and his commercial pilot license in 2004. Over the years, he has taken hundreds of people for their first balloon ride.”
Welcome back Tom! We’re happy to have you! Be sure to watch for both of Tom’s balloons at this years’ event, Funner (red, white, and blue), as well as Tommy Lift at the balloon glow. What beautiful and unique balloons!
