Meet the Pilots

Pat Harwell is an 20-year balloonist, with 2,400 hours flight time in hot air balloons. Pat and Susan are both world record holders. He is the 3-time Louisiana State Ballooning Champion and 2-time Southeast Regional Champion.

Besides being ranked in the Top 20 balloon pilots in the country, he is the most senior and most experienced balloon pilot and northwest Louisiana. He also flies powered parachutes from his private airport at Bluebird Hill.

Susan Harwell is a 20-year balloonist and prior world record holder for longest distance flown by a female in a 64k balloon. She placed 2nd in the North American Balloon Championship (1996). She was the first female pilot in North Louisiana.