David Adler
Up, up, and away
A commercial hot air balloon pilot and instructor based in Yuma, Arizona, Adler’s journey into aviation was sparked at age 14 when he won a balloon ride in a raffle. That single experience hooked him for life, and today, the self-proclaimed “social butterfly” has turned that initial spark into a career dedicated to sharing the magic of lighter-than-air flight with everyone from students to paying tourists (see “Balloons on the Brain,” February 2025 AOPA Pilot).
Unlike fixed-wing or rotor-wing aviation, a balloon pilot only needs to earn their commercial certificate to begin instruction. Adler says the mechanics of flight are something accessible to many. “It’s one of those things where I like to say, anyone can fly a balloon,” Adler says. “You put heat in, the balloon goes up, you don’t put any heat in, you let it cool, it will slowly start coming down again. If you want to keep it at altitude, you just give it some short bursts of heat, and it will stay at equilibrium, it will stay at the height you want.”
It takes a dedicated crew of about 10 people to prepare the balloon for launch and pack it away at the end of the day. In a community where finding reliable help for early morning launches can be a challenge, Adler jokingly refers to it as the bane of his existence; he keeps his team motivated with the promise of breakfast and lunch.
Adler began his journey by purchasing a 65,000-cubic-foot balloon for his private training, eventually moving up to a 90,000-cubic-foot model for his commercial work. Today, his primary vessel for commercial operations is a massive, light blue 105,000-cubic-foot balloon that features two large 3D teddy bears on each side and can accommodate Adler plus three passengers.
When he isn’t operating balloons for his own business or pleasure, Adler works as a contract pilot for Endeavor Ballooning, based in Bozeman, Montana, where he handles some of the company’s special-shape balloons.
“I’m always excited to share something new with new people every single day,” he says. Looking ahead, he plans to continue his commercial rides and contract work, ensuring that the love of ballooning he discovered as a teenager continues to reach heights. 
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