San Angelo’s resident hot-air balloon pilot, Joe Heartsill, was recently inducted into the U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame for his achievements in the sport of hot-air ballooning.
Joe is getting ready to travel to Szeged, Hungary, where he will represent Team USA this September at the 2024 World Hot Air Balloon Championship. He will compete against more than 120 of the best pilots in the world in the Sept. 8-14 championship hosted by the World Air Sports Federation.
Joe has been flying balloons locally over San Angelo and across the globe for many years, according to information his family provided to the Standard-Times. Heartsill is recognized in the ballooning community as being a pioneer on the competitive side of hot air ballooning.
The National Balloon Museum's hall of fame inductions took place July 28 during the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa.
"Joe’s stellar career as a competitive pilot include multiple National Championship wins, a World Championship, and multiple other global championships," according to USA Ballooning .
He qualified to represent the USA at 15 of the last 17 World Championships — "an incredible mark of elite consistency," according to USA Ballooning.
Joe has been ranked as one of the top pilots in the nation and the world. Joe has won the U.S. National Championships five times and secured the coveted title of world champion during his journey.
The love of the sport has taken him as far as Dubai, Australia, Japan, Brazil and many different European countries, according to his family.
Heartsill’s most memorable flight was flying over spectacular Niagara Falls, his family said. Hot-air ballooning has always been a family affair for Joe, traveling with his wife, Nancy, and their three children, Lucas, Kate and Rhett Heartsill.
This year's World Hot Air Balloon Championship is special because Joe will be flying alongside his sons who are both pilots competing on the USA team as well, his family said.
Nancy and Kate will also attend as part of the chase crew where they will be navigating and directing from the ground. The family hopes to bring home the gold for the United States.
Joe has dedicated his Hall of Fame induction to Nancy for her endless support in his ballooning adventures and for being “the best crew chief in the world,” his family said.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Team USA: Hall of famer from San Angelo headed for world hot air balloon competition
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