Pilots
Pilot Profile
Ben Humphreys
Columbia, MO
Balloon Name: Uncle Leo
Ben was born and raised in Columbia Missouri where the U.S. national championship hot air balloon races were held in the late 1990’s. Ben had always found interest in balloons because many pilots have been in the area since the nationals. Ben and his family would chase and help pack away balloons when they would see balloons flying. Eventually Ben went on a ride which led to him helping with local pilots and eventually started to train to be a pilot himself. Ben has been flying balloons since he was 13 and been a pilot for 5 years with over 200 hours in balloons and countless of hours crewing for other balloons. He has flown in events in Iowa, New Mexico, Florida and Missouri. Ben also enjoys building balloons as he flies two balloons that he sewed entirely by himself.
