Our company

Winds Aloft Aviation, Inc. (Dba/ Miami Balloon Rides Dba/ RideABalloon.com) is a local, family owned and operated hot air balloon company. We offer sunrise flights throughout the year, weather permitting. Winds Aloft Aviation takes pride in offering a high level of customer service and values your patronage. Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. 

Winds Aloft Aviation, Inc. is part of the Cameron Balloons US dealer network. Cameron Balloons are famous throughout the world for their quality and durability. If you’re interested in a hot air balloon as an advertising medium, we can help. We also offer tethered balloon rides which can provide entertainment for groups during  special occasions or corporate events. Tethered rides can be arranged at any suitable outdoor location.

Click here for tethered rides  or click here for advertising

Your Hosts

Carlos & Michelle Zuniga are here to provide you with an exciting and memorable ballooning adventure. Please join us and "Experience the Magic of Flight" in a majestic hot air balloon.

Carlos Zuniga began flying powered airplanes at age 14 and followed his dream of becoming an airline pilot. Aside from flying light aircraft, balloons and gliders, he also flies for a domestic and international passenger charter airline as first officer on the Boeing 737-800.To date he has accumulated over 12,000 hours of flight time in all types of aircraft and holds an FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, a Flight Engineer Certificate and is a highly experienced FAA Certified Flight Instructor in powered aircraft, gliders and balloons. Carlos is also an FAA Safety Team member with the Miami Flight Standards District Office (FSDO-19). Through the FAA Safety Program, he promotes general aviation safety in South Florida. 

Michelle Erickson-Zuniga took on the difficult but rewarding task of being a mom after a brief career as a flight attendant for a major airline. Michelle handles administrative duties at Miami Balloon Rides, she is the backbone of our company and without her none of this would be possible. Chances are that when you contact us for information or to make a reservation you will be greeted by her friendly voice and disposition. Michelle is a very experienced balloon crew person; she can answer any questions you may have.

Together, the Zuniga family has traveled all over the United States attending balloon events, making friends along the way and experiencing the beauty of our country from a hot air balloon. Ballooning has also taken us to Canada and Europe, where we have had the opportunity to fly over unique areas and meet friendly people.

The people that work with us

Last but not least, we would like to acknowledge the dedicated pilots and ground crew that work with us. A sincere thanks to these special folks for their help in making our balloon ride operations possible.   

Pilots

Mark Kersten has been around balloons since his early teens and has a great deal of experience as a balloon pilot.  Mark has flown for several ride operators in California and Nevada and works in the restaurant industry. Mark is one of a few rated Gas Balloonists, having obtained his Gas Balloon rating in Germany several years back.  We welcome Mark back  to South Florida as a friend and fellow balloon pilot.

Joseph Hamilton is a highly experienced balloon pilot and also an airline pilot. Joe has flown balloon in the United States and Canada and has a diverse flying background. Joe’s family has been ballooning for over 25 years in the Boston area. We welcome Joe to our team!

Jean Francois Busque is a very experienced ride balloon pilot from Montreal Canada. JF has flown ride balloons througout Canada, the United States and France. JF also holds a commerical balloon pilot certificate in the United States, Canada and France. JF has been flying balloons for over 14 years and has over 1500 flight hours in balloons. JF has flown balloons ranging from 77,000 cubic feet (2 passengers) to 400,000 cubic feet (16 passengers). JF joins us for the winter flying season. Thanks for joining us JF!

Harold Graves is from Wisconsin and spends the winter in Miami with his wife Mary. Harold has been a balloon pilot for over 30 years and is well known and regarded in the sport of ballooning. Harold is a licensed commercial balloon pilot with over 1800 flight hours in balloons. Harold has flown in many competitive ballooning events, winning several of them over the years. Harold has been an inspiring mentor for Carlos in the sport of ballooning. With Harold’s help and guidance we have been successful in our ballooning activities. Thank you Harold and Mary!       

Ground Crew

Victor & Daniel

Thanks for visiting our website. We look forward to having you as our guests!

Please feel free to call or e-mail us with any questions

(305) 860-5830 or (305) 496-1297

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Balloon flights and tethers are weather dependent. All flights are early morning.Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. Restrictions may apply. Policies, procedures and pricing subject to change without notice.