Reviewed by: Lacey Muenstermann
3 Alabama hot-air balloon pilots share their love for decades of flight, friendships + community in Decatur
Reading time: 8 minutes
Spirits stayed aloft and laughter fueled the afternoon despite windy conditions that kept crews from standing up any balloons for last week’s preview to the 48th annual Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic. The festival is set for Memorial Day weekend, this Saturday and Sunday, at Point Mallard Park in Decatur.
While we were disappointed not to see any balloons, we left with something even better—great stories and inspiration from balloon pilots about how keeping the right attitude is just as important as maintaining the right altitude.
Read on to hear unique insights from three North Alabama balloon pilots about their favorite flights, friendships and connections.
Ken Garner: Flying ‘the fastest man alive’ over Decatur
As far as we know, only two people have taken “the fastest man alive,” Gen. Charles “Chuck” Yeager, on his “slowest flights ever”—aboard hot air balloons. Decatur’s Ken Garner is one of them.
One of the greatest pilots in history, Yeager was the first man to break the sound barrier in level flight in 1947. He attended Decatur’s annual balloon jubilee in 2003 to accept a lifetime achievement award, and Garner was his local guide.
A former fixed-wing pilot, Garner was one of three men who trained to pilot Decatur’s city-owned balloon in 1986, so he also got to take one of the greatest pilots of all time up for a balloon flight. As they glided over the North Alabama landscape, Yeager challenged Garner to land the balloon at Priceville’s then-new town hall.
“The pavement was nice, shiny and black coming up through there. And Gen. Yeager looks at me and says, ‘Ken, that looks like a runway over there. Reckon you can hit it?’ And I was like, I don’t know what I’m going to do, but every damn thing I can to hit it.
“So I dropped down and took just a little bit of a right turn, and I centerlined right there. And the crew was sitting there waiting. He looked at me like, You did it, didn’t you? He was impressed with it.”
Balloon Pilot Ken Garner
Mike Wahl: From student to teacher
Decatur-based balloon pilot Mike Wahl was another of the three who initially trained to fly Decatur’s balloon. Wahl and his wife, Cathy, watched the first jubilee’s balloons fly over from their position in a speed boat on the river, and he joined the planning committee soon after. After becoming a pilot in 1986, he began sharing the joy by training others.
Over the decades, he’s flown over 1,200 flights across the country, including New Mexico, Illinois, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas and, of course, right here in Alabama. He’s quick to credit Point Mallard as one of the best venues for it, too.
Wahl says he never thought he’d be part of the event committee for so long. Its longevity and camaraderie have kept him, and the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic is now one of the longest-running events of its kind in the nation.
“Part of it is that we’ve got about a third of our people to come out have used this weekend as reunions, and they come out here to picnic and everything else, because usually it’s good weather to come out and do it, even if balloons don’t go up. The balloons are the big added part to it.
“But we’ve got bands, we’ve got food, we’ve got things going on—so they come out. It’s a free weekend. It’s right after school. How much better can it be?”
Balloon Pilot Mike Wahl
Clay Turner: New heights + honoring friends
Clay Turner was one of Wahl’s students and earned his pilot certification in 2016. During the 20 years before, he’d been part of crews and on the jubilee committee. You may be surprised to learn it took him almost that long to go up in a balloon because of a fear of heights!
He says it’s worth taking on the fear for the view and perspective, which always feels as fresh as his first ride up around 2009.
“It was an experience all its own. I’ve never seen Decatur from there—or anywhere else as far as that goes. Once you get up yonder, it’s so peaceful. And [it’s about] everything that you can forget about for a moment in time, all the hatred and anger that a lot of people have. It’s just so peaceful just seeing what a beautiful world we’ve got.”
Balloon Pilot Clay Turner
Turner’s family and friends knew of his enthusiasm for ballooning and his dream to own one. One of them, Bob Mizzel, left him a life insurance policy specifically for it. He found a balloon formerly sponsored by Sonic, with scrambled letters that now read SINOC.
He says he calls it a misfit, considers himself “a flying misfit” and his crew “the isle of misfit toys.” He chose the same registration number as TWA Flight 847, which was hijacked in 1985. A Navy diver, Robert Stethem, was killed in that incident. Turner chose the number to honor another friend who’d passed away, Don Smith, who’d also served in the Navy.
Friendships, flights + fun
Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic Committee President Deb Miller of Corner says she got interested in ballooning about five years ago after attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. She then learned we have a great one right here in Alabama and joined the volunteer group.
Miller says the most special thing about our event is how it is volunteer-led and free to attend.
“We don’t have any paid staff, and it’s an all-free event. There’s never been an admission charged, and this is our 48th year. The
original organizers saw it as something that would be a gift to the community and promote tourism in Morgan County and Decatur. They didn’t want there to be an admission charge, just something free that families could come and enjoy.”
Deb Miller, Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic Committee President
A few facts about the jubilee today:
- Around 60 pilots from 20 states show up for two days of competition.
- The Alabama Legislature designated Decatur the “Ballooning Capital of Alabama.”
- The Southeast Tourism Society named the jubilee a Top 20 Tourism Event for the Southeast.
Got the ballooning bug? Get involved!
Garner says the committee welcomes people to come out to the jubilee first, and if you enjoy the events, help keep it going by volunteering.
“If you look at the average age of our committee, it’s probably in the mid-60s. We welcome more folks and would love some younger people to join. Join our Facebook group and contact us there or through our website. We usually take a little break from monthly meetings right after the jubilee and pick back up in July or August, always on the first Monday of the month at the Decatur Morgan County Tourism Visitor Center.”
Balloon Pilot Ken Garner
Meanwhile, here are more details about this weekend’s Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic and where to find the committee online!
- What: Hot-air balloon races, car show, fun flights, live music, balloon glow, tractor show, arts + crafts, fireworks + more
- Where: Point Mallard Park, 901 Point Mallard Cir SE, Decatur, AL 35601
- Pro Tip: DO NOT allow your GPS to take you on any route getting there other than going straight along Church Street to Point Mallard Drive. This will keep you out of residential areas + blocked streets.
- When: Saturday, May 24, 6AM-9ish | Sunday, May 25, 6AM-10ish
- How Much: FREE
- Pro Tip: Bring cash for snacks + the arts + crafts show
- More Info: Facebook | Website
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