If you've ever looked up and spotted a 100-foot KONG drifting across the sky, you've seen the work of Jerry Copas. After more than 40 years and thousands of flights, he's the pilot keeping the KONG hot air balloon aloft.

Q: How did you become a hot air balloon pilot, and what drew you to it in the first place?

A: “As a kid, I always liked things that fly. If you don't live near an airport, a kid can't get up close to airplanes or helicopters, or meet the pilots who fly them. Balloons, on the other hand, do not land at airports. Rather, they land on farms, parks, schoolyards, etc. As a result, the balloon pilots and crews are easily accessible to inquiring young minds with lots of questions, like me!

Ballooning was starting to get very popular when I was a kid growing up in Indiana, so I talked myself onto several ‘chase crews,’ got to meet the pilots and crews, and worked my way to the top, so to speak. Soon, I was invited on board, and that first flight was all it took! I started ballooning lessons while in high school, earned my pilot's license at age 19, and I've been up in the air ever since. 

I've flown balloons all over the world: Swiss mountains, Arabian deserts, the Australian outback. My wife of 40 years is also a balloon pilot, as is our only son (also a captain in the U.S. Air Force!).”

Q: What goes into flying a balloon shaped like a KONG? Does it handle differently from a standard envelope?

A: “The KONG balloon is indeed a different animal! Standard-shaped balloons look like an inverted raindrop: fat at the top, tapered at the bottom. This is the most efficient shape for a balloon. The KONG balloon is exactly the opposite of that formula! Fat at the bottom, tapered at the top. It is referred to as a ‘special shape’ in the balloon biz.

The most obvious result is a heavier envelope. The KONG balloon weighs 470 pounds (and that's just the fabric part). Standard balloon envelopes tip the scales at around 300 pounds. To lift all that extra weight, the KONG balloon has a greater volume than most balloons, around 120,000 cubic feet of hot air, compared to 70,000–90,000 cubic feet for ordinary balloons. The KONG is also taller than most ordinary balloons: 100 feet vs. 70 feet. 

Taller, heavier, and bulkier means the KONG balloon handles much differently. We require lighter winds for inflation, larger fields for take-off or landing, and more help when it comes to packing up. It climbs a bit slower, descends not so fast, and demands more reaction time when receiving input, like adding heat with the burners or discharging heat with the vent.”

Q: Walk us through a typical flight day, from the pre-dawn wake-up to the landing.

A: “Balloon flying is very weather-dependent. Light winds, clear skies, and stable air are a must. These conditions are best found at two times per day: the first two hours of daylight and the final two hours of daylight. Midday conditions are rife with challenges. Strong winds, unstable air masses, and invisible thermals are the perils of operating a balloon in the middle of the day. This is why you never see balloons flying at noontime. This is also why we wake up SO early!

On a typical flight day, I am up a couple hours before sunrise, checking weather, coordinating crew, plotting flight paths. We prefer to launch right at sunrise; most flights last about an hour. After take-off, the Fetch Team springs into action, pursuing the balloon over city and country, trying to be nearby when I choose the site for our landing. After securing permission from the property owner, we deflate and pack the balloon, share a bit of champagne, and return everything to the trailer before heading back to the launch site. 

After breakfast, we must refuel the propane tanks, tidy up the van, charge radio batteries, restock coolers, etc., then begin checking weather for the evening's ballooning activities. If, for instance, winds are too fast or clouds are too low for a safe flight, we may settle for a static display instead. This means inflating the balloon and keeping it safely tied to the Fetch Van. Naturally, in the event of rain, thunderstorms or lightning, the KONG balloon stays in the trailer!”

Q: What's the best reaction you've seen from people, especially kids or dogs, when the KONG balloon floats overhead?

A: “LOTS of barking! During a flight, it is very quiet on board the balloon (save for the few seconds I have to fire the burners). In the basket, we can easily hear noises coming up from the ground below: people shouting, horns honking, birds chirping, etc. But the barking dogs? That's a true phenomenon. We hear them everywhere! I often wonder what they're thinking when they see us flying over.

Of course, our two-footed fans love seeing the KONG balloon too. Everyone is very surprised to see a 100-foot tall replica of their dog's favorite toy landing in the local park or schoolyard. Of course, not everyone knows it is a dog toy. Non-dog people have asked us, ‘Is it an ice cream? A big piece of candy?’ A little girl in Albuquerque thought it was cotton candy! 

Real KONG fans know exactly what it is, and they actually seem proud to come up and tell us, like they're part of an exclusive club. But I'd say the most fun are all the people who show us photos of their dogs and tell us about the wacky things their dogs do. People LOVE telling all about their dogs… just ask them!”

Q: What's the most memorable or unexpected moment you've had in the air?

A: “Once, years ago, I landed on a farm, and the farmer and his big dog came up to the basket for a look. While the farmer and I were chatting, that dog went to work chewing the leather trim off the bottom of my basket. When we finally noticed, he'd done quite a bit of damage! A costly repair! I wish I'd had a KONG toy for [that dog]!”

Q: If a dog could ride along, which one would make the best co-pilot, and why?

A: “I've known a few balloonists who would fly with their dogs. One guy had a little square "window" woven into the wicker near the floor, so his short dog could see out while flying. Said he liked to bark at the birds. Another pilot liked to take along his Great Dane. I can still see that huge dog sitting on his haunches, with his front paws hanging over the rail, just watching the world go by!

My son and daughter-in-law routinely bring their dog Barley out ballooning, but I'm not sure Barley has ever flown. Barley was a pound pup, an Oklahoma cattle dog, quick and nimble and full of energy. She could be liable to jump right out if she saw a stray cow down below!”