Pilots
Pilot Profile
Ralph Senn
Champaign, IL
Ralph (Ralph Tomato) is the better half of the two world famous Flying Tomato Brothers ( who’s Joe? ) Commercial pilots and instructors of balloons and fixed wing aircraft since 1974, the tomato brothers (age 28) fly the tomato balloon, the first special-shaped balloon ever licensed in America, over their Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan restaurants in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, & Texas. With over 4000 flight hours, the the tomato brothers are skilled at safely executing high wind take-offs and landings, since much of their experience is ballooning over Big Ten football games on windy afternoons. Ralph & Joe are honored to be the longest continuous attendees of The Great Forest Park Balloon Race (45yrs.), and to often be selected as the Hare Balloon.
(….sent Mom lots of Ralph & Joe photos ‘ bout 4 or so years ago. Might you find them to use in the program?)
