Ryan flies his balloon “Purple Haze” that be built himself while in college. He grew up in Albuquerque, was born into a ballooning family and is now a second-generation commercial pilot. Ryan has flown many corporate balloons including the famous REMAX balloon as well as for several ride companies. He went to school for Meteorology at the University of Missouri, and now works as a Weather Specialist for a private aviation company in Cleveland, Ohio.