When asked "How did you get into ballooning?", Michael responded "Well I was born into it. I was named after Mike Adams since my father was one of his greatest friends. My mother would actually hold the throat of the balloon open while hold me in one hand as an infant. I even remember watching from the chase vehicle as this beautiful balloon rose to life (I was far too afraid of the burner to stay outside) and I knew I was HOOKED. Then at age 4, I finally was out helping set up inflations, and that same year had my first balloon ride in my Father's Adams Pop Top at a festival in Dansville, New York. As soon as we landed, I looked up at my father and said Can you teach me how to do this? So then I began to study Adams balloons more and more, until I knew almost all there is to know about them. At the time that my father's old balloon retired, we were having our new one shipped to us from Atlanta, and we needed to get a balloon in case our new one didn't make it in time for a festival coming up, so we asked a friend of our who had crewed for us if we could use his Adams. Well, he had just bought a Harley Davidson Motorcycle, and had no more time for ballooning. So he said I love you guys so much, you can have it! Well, you can't sell an aircraft for free, so my father ran in and got a BRAND NEW $2 bill, and wrote "Deal of the Century" at the top. So BAM! A 1981 75,000 cubic Foot Adams Pop Top complete system was just GIVEN to us! AND we had a new one on its way! So my dad took us all out to a field and put the $2 balloon up to see what we thought. I was Amazed with it, and Dad told me "Son this balloon will become yours when we start your instruction". Well my instruction started at 10 years of age standing on a milk crate in order to touch the burner! Now after that, we had wanted to name my balloon something more creative. It had been named "This End Up" due to Mike Adams adding his own personal touch of humor at the top, and we thought it was time for a new name. My balloon had three owners including us, and the first owner had flown in heavy winds, and had to take it down in a farm, and there was a wire fence with "OH NO" written all over it, he took the top out, but the wind just pushed it onto the fence! 103 panels were replaced, and there is still over 50 patches in it as well. So I named it Patch Adams! It works so well! So I am currently busy with my instruction, and should have my check flight coming up soon enough! Ill keep everyone informed!"

Gotta love that spiral

Sunlight Flight

High above the Pitts, NH

Michael's first takeoff at a balloon festival

Mike and Paul DePew at The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Painting of Patch Adams by Michael's High School friend Sarah.

He has flown in the High Hopes Balloon Festival, Pittsfield Balloon Festival, New York State Festival of Balloons, Raymond Hot Air Balloon and Fun Festival, the High Hopes Fun Fest, and the Albuquerque International Balloon fiesta.