Ronald L. Centers, president of Michigan Balloon Corporation, started ballooning in the spring of 1976 and has logged more than 5,000 hours in balloons, thermal airships and airplanes, giving him the distinguished reputation as one of the country's most experienced hot air balloon pilots. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Ron majored in Communications Arts and Sciences, and is an accomplished actor and director. It was during an acting job in Jones, Michigan at a “turn-of-the-century” theme park that Ron got his first taste of lighter-than-air-flight. By the summer of 1976, he was operating the park's own hot air balloon, making daily ascensions, and exposing thousands of people to the thrill of hot air ballooning. Ron later became a corporate pilot with the Anheuser-Busch fleet of hot air balloons, flying the Budweiser, Natural Light and Busch Beer balloons throughout the country. Other clients included Black Angus Restaurants, Westinghouse Elevator Division and Parkay Margarine. In 1981, Ron returned home to Southwest Michigan and formed SKY SPORTS, INC., giving rides and lessons, and providing sales and service in both balloons and ultralights. His company provided aerial promotions for area businesses including Kellogg's, Standard Federal Bank (formerly First Federal Savings) and National City Bank Corporation. As a natural growth and progression, in 1985, SKY SPORTS, INC. changed its name to MICHIGAN BALLOON CORPORATION with the delivery of a 160,000 cubic foot MICHIGAN balloon. This flagship of the corporation is the largest commercial balloon in the area. In 1986, Ron was selected by the Federal Aviation Administration to be a Designated Examiner for hot air balloons, issuing pilot licenses to new pilots upon their satisfactory completion of a flight exam with him. In 1988, MICHIGAN BALLOON CORPORATION was granted a license to repair all makes and models of hot air balloons. MICHIGAN BALLOON CORPORATION is currently one of the largest commercial balloon operations in the country. It offers pleasure flights, corporate aerial promotions, flight instruction, and FAA certified balloon inspection and repair. Ron's career in ballooning has taken him to many exciting and prestigious events across the country, most notably, the Boston Marathon, the Super Bowl, the World's Fair in Knoxville and for three years, the Indy 500. He was also one of forty select pilots from across the nation invited to participate in the 1980 Winter Olympics by flying his balloon over the stadium during the opening ceremonies. In 2001, Ron flew a Russian built hot air balloon over the North Pole. |