In 1990, a friend invited Erwin and Ellen Dressel to help crew for his hot air balloon. From that moment they were hooked. In 1995, Erwin purchased a balloon and began piloting. In 1998, Erwin received his FAA certification as a Commercial Pilot for Hot Air Balloons. Ellen is crew chief and, with the help of several volunteer crew members, provides continual ground support.

Together, Erwin and Ellen Dressel attend frequent balloon seminars to stay current on safety equipment and procedures. The Dressels keep their flying skills top-notch by participating in local balloon competitions. They have traversed the skies from Glens Falls, New York south to Readington, New Jersey and west  to Dayton, Ohio. They are members of CLAS (Connecticut Lighter than Air Society) and enjoy the camaraderie of the ballooning community. 

Both the balloon and basket are inspected every 100 flight hours or once a year by an FAA certified balloon service representative following a comprehensive checklist authored by the balloon manufacturer, Lindstrand, and certified by the FAA. 

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