SCI Superstar: Michael Glen

Gravity is our worst enemy. Heavy legs, heavy chairs, heavy everything. Don’t you sometimes just want to float up, up and away? This is why Michael Glen went on to become the world’s only licensed paralyzed hot air balloon pilot after his injury.

From an upbringing that melded him into the solid man he is today to sharing his ballooning skills with others with disabilities, here is the fascinating back-story of the hot air balloon man, the man known as the “Rolling Pilot.”

Why He’s Fearless

Michael was born into a family that lived and breathed hot air ballooning. When you live in a warm flat state with minimal trees like Arizona, hot air ballooning is made for areas like this. Sadly, in 1996 at the age of 21, he was in a truck accident, breaking his back at T11-12. Afterwards, he tried to get his student license for hot air ballooning within a year of his injury, but the FAA turned him down because of his disability.

Since he doesn’t take “no” for an answer, Michael went back and practiced, perfecting all of his hot air balloon skills. And finally in 2006, in his balloon “Elevation” (named for elevating him out of his wheelchair), he became the first and only paralyzed hot air balloon pilot in the world. Michael was also married for several years to an avid balloonist.

When in the air, Michael operates the balloon like anyone else, except sitting down. He uses a two-seater basket, a seatbelt, and he can take up one person at a time. Michael tries to fly around 50 hours a year, which is more than the average ballooner. His favorite place to fly is in Rush, Arizona because of the canyons, and he’s flown his balloon in 30 states.

What’s next?

Michael has also done motivational speaking, and was an ambassador for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. He really made a difference as well for many years with his nonprofit, Michael’s Dream, where he helped take other wheelchair-users up into the skies. He next wants to try flying glider planes; a goal he has had for years.

Michael currently works fulltime as a manager at a travel agency and lives in Chandler, Arizona.

— Follow Michael on Instagram