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08/28/08

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The Wicker Clan believes in Friends Fun & Flying for all.  Many times our crew, sponsors and friends span over four generations.  Hot aire ballooning has been around for over two hundred and twenty years and has come to one of the best family sports. Below are pictures of pilots, crew and balloons associated with the Wicker Clan.

Sunshine's Ride ~ Pilot Kevin Cloney CLTA

Sunshine's ride is the first of the Wicker Clan balloons.  The name comes from the affectionate nickname of Kevin's "airboss", Eileen.  It was the logical choice for  the colorful balloon system that paints the sky at rallies and fun flight around the world.  Sunshine's Ride has been a part of history in many ways. 2000 she become a record holder in the Guinness Book of Record as a part of the largest balloon rally in the world.  Also a record holder as part of the largest Mass Ascension of hot air balloons. She was part of the First Albuquerque Aloft in Albuquerque New Mexico.  She is a member of the Official Dawn Patrol

Eagle View ~ Pilot Jerry Guziel PLTA

  • Eagle View owned by Jerry and Karen Guziel are founding members of the Wicker Clan
  • Jerry is the first out of state member of the Wicker Clan with homes in Chicago, IL and Edgewood, NM

 

Fahrfrumworkken ~ Pilot Jim Martin PLTA

Jim was looking for a light and fun name for his balloon when he decided that Far From Working best described how is was feeling while he was flying.  Jim has been crewing since 1973 and earned his pilot's certificate in November 2003.

 

Good Grief ~ Pilot Gregory Garcia  PLTA

Gregory has been involved in balloon since the early 1980s.  In addition to having earned his hot air balloon pilot's certificate also flies gas balloons.

 

Miss Guided Angel ~ Pilot Sam CeDeBaca PLTA

Sam was born in New York city in 1958 and married Johnna years later.  Along with their two daughters, Amy and Jacque, Sam has enjoyed flying Adams balloon. In 1999 he purchased Angel del Sol from Bob Woodall and currently flies Miss Guided Angel.

 

Trillanes Flying Garden ~ Pilot Mark Trillanes PLTA

Trillanes Flying Garden, TFG, is a custom designed balloon that reflects the free spirit of Mark and Elisa Trillanes.  Mark and Elisa have been involved in ballooning most of their lives flying both in the United States, Mexico and Europe.  As professional real estate brokers and property managers of the Trillanes Agency they meet and share their love to new and old visitors alike.

Sucker Hole ~ Pilot Murray Conrad PLTA

Murray started flying in 1998. His first balloon was a 1973 "Iron Bucket" Raven. As a descendant of the Scots, his mother's name was Milligan, he and his wife Jewel and daughters, enjoy flying throughout the state at various rallies. In 2002, at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, he grabbed an envelope containing money off a pole during competition and used that money for a down payment on a 2002 Aerostar balloon named "Sucker Hole"

Blair's Affair ~ Pilot Paul Blair PLTA

Paul is from Portales, NM and flies in the land of the "sporting landing."  Paul got involved in ballooning in the 1980 and currently with his wife and Crew Chief, Becky, they fly most weekends "weather permitting."

 

Bounce II ~ Pilot Judy Nakamura PLTA

Judy enjoys flying most weekends and attends rallies throughout New Mexico. Bounce was the logical name for her first  balloon as it needed some bounce to take away the smell of being in storage too long.

 

Enchanted Angel  & Angel Twist  ~ Pilot Michele Angelucie PLTA

Michele is the second Adam's pilot in the Wicker Clan. Based out of Los Lunas, NM she loved to fly the "bowl" with friends and family. 

Mixolydian Dream Pilot  Jeffrey Ashworth CLTA

Mixolydian is a Jazz term and what an appropriate name for an accomplished musician.  Jeff was raised in a ballooning family with both parents being pilots. His involvement in the sport as a child in the early 1970s lead him to be a volunteer official at AIBF for many years.

 

Brilliant ~ Pilot Mike O'Neill CLTA

Mike's first balloon was a 140,000 cu. ft. commercial ride balloon.  Needless to say Mike entered ballooning in a big way.  Brilliant is a much smaller balloon used for fun flying locally and at rallies everywhere.

 

ErLee Raiser ~ Pilot Bill Lee CLTA

Bill is responsible for bringing ballooning to the Gallup, NM area as an organizer of the Red Rock Balloon Rally.  Over two decades later the rally has grown to nearly 200 balloons.  Bill and his wife, Jennifer, are early risers any time they can fly.

South West Sunrise ~ Pilot Cory PLTA

South West Sunrise is Cory's second balloon after his first was stolen at Balloon Fiesta in 2006.  A duplicate of his original balloon this Cameron balloon flies most weekends in the Albuquerque area

 

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This site was last updated 08/28/08