Bob Martel of Sterling, MA is a commercial balloon pilot with 22-plus years aloft. Bitten by the ‘ballooning bug’ in 1968 when a balloon landed in his neighborhood, he pursued the passion after military service, purchasing his first balloon, Harmony, in 2004. Over the years Bob has organized a balloon festival, operated a ride business, and flown a corporate program for a regional bank. He now flies Dream Weaver at New England festivals, and locally, based out of Minuteman Airfield in Stow, MA — with his Dream Team, and his wife, Lori, also a private LTA pilot, keeping him safely anchored to the ground.