SENIOR CREW CHIEF- CORY MILLER


Hi, my name is Cory Miller and I am the Crew Chief for I'll Fly Away Balloon Adventures. What does a crew chief do you may ask? I am responsible for all ground operations of the balloon, including getting crew at different events, picking up passengers and briefing them, and training the crew on the safe operations of the balloon. My number one goal is SAFETY on the balloon please if you have any questions ASK ME.

I started ballooning in 1991. My dad and uncle, who are avid photographers went to an event in Salem. After the event, the ballooning season was pretty much done for the year, but they could not wait to get out the next year. The next year rolled around and my dad convinced me to get out of bed at dark thirty to go help set up a balloon. I decided to go not knowing how I would like it. Well I loved it!!! I met a pilot- Christopher Locatell, who took me under his wing and showed me the ropes of ballooning. I went all over the northwest for several years chasing balloons. In 1995, my dad bought I'll Fly Away from Art Circo and I have been helping him ever since.

There was a lot of learning that took place those first couple of years. I had never drove chase so I had to learn that and also had to learn how to back a trailer. Not very fun at first. But I learned and have mastered both traits of ballooning. I have almost 600 crews on different ballooning systems from smaller balloons to special shapes including the Energizer Bunny, which everyone should do at least once in a lifetime. Every pilot has taught me something different on each of the systems. Some I still use today and train our crew with.

When I am not crewing for a balloon, you can find me at different balloon festivals with a camera strapped around my neck. I enjoy photography and love taking pictures of different balloons. I have had many published in different newspapers and I pride myself in the quality of pictures I take. I currently am using a Canon 40D for all my photography.

I have been honored to be elected as President of our local balloon club.

If you have not checked out the balloon club, make sure that you take the time to check it out. This is a great place to learn more about ballooning in general, but also will give you the information you need for upcoming events. I am going to try to make it more family and crew orientated this year, so if you thought it was not for you in the past, check us out again, I think you will like the new look. The cost to join the club is only 20.00 a year so take the time and join today.

My wife Christina and I were married on August 1, 1998, during the Balloon rally held each year in Albany Oregon. We have two daughters Julianna and Meyghan, both are avid balloonist. The girls can be found at many rallies in the Northwest, "chasing PaPa" from the comfort of the Suburban. This year at the Tigard Event both girls went for a tethered ride in our balloon.  We were able to get all four of us up in the balloon during the Walla Walla Balloon Stampede 2008.

Thank you for taking the time to find out more about me. If you see me on the field stop and say hi. Also, I look forward to working with you as crew someday as well.

Howard Reid- Crew Chief Boise Operations

 My name is Howard Reid and I am the Crew Chief for the Boise based I’ll Fly Away Hot Air Balloon Adventures. I am a retired air force officer with over 6,600 flight hours. I’ve flown as far north as Thule, Greenland, as far south as Rio De Janeiro, as far to the east as Karachi, Pakistan and as far west as Bangkok, Thailand. After my military retirement I worked for ten years as an aircraft systems instructor for Horizon Air in Portland, Oregon. While at Horizon I became interested in ballooning through a co-worker and started crewing in the summer of 2000 at Maupin, Oregon. I moved to Boise in 2006 and started crewing for I’ll Fly Away in 2007. Howard's experience and knowledge are a valuable tool to our operation.