July 20, 2025
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Balloonist to drift into Guinness World Records

By SARAH BROWN
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Chief Pilot Andrew Holly of Exclusive Ballooning, Aerial Marketing Worldwide, has piloted balloons for high profiled clients all over the world. Here, he stands in Creston prior to launching his flight, which would mark his 47th consecutive state this month. (Contributed photos)

Andrew Holly of Bristol, England, may drift into the Guinness World Records with the help of a few Crestonians.

On an average day, Holly, chief pilot and operations director of Exclusive Ballooning, operates branded hot air balloons for high profile clients from around the world. But, in February, Holly and his team temporarily closed shop and set out to crush a hot air ballooning record. Their goal: to fly all 48 contiguous U.S. states in the fastest time during a calendar month.

“I’ve always wanted to roam America with a balloon in the truck,” the 42-year-old Holly said in a blog. “Road trips in the U.S. are so much fun and the option to stop off and meet up with balloonists along the route and see as much as we can from the air is fabulous.”

Holly’s adventure started Feb. 6 with the team taking their first flight from Louisville, Kentucky. Their route was completely dependent upon weather, launching and landing their balloon daily from different locations — such as Cadillac Ranch, Texas, Meteor Crater, Arizona, Temecula, California, Las Vegas, Nevada and Billings, Montana — the American landscape showcased it’s diverse terrain and weather.

On March 13, Iowa became the 47th state for Holly and his team to check off the list when Holly fllew in Creston.

Roger Saxton of Creston was at McDonald’s when he saw the large red balloon in the distance as it was preparing for take off from Creston Municipal Airport. He decided to check out the launch for himself. They asked Saxton to be a witness for the Iowa leg of their record attempt.

“It was just a really neat experience,” Saxton said. “We talked and they were so professional ... friendly.”

Saxton joined the chase crew and followed Holly’s team as they flew across Creston, landing on a the farm of Greg and Stacey Buxton.

“One of the most enjoyable flights of the whole trip tonight,” Holly wrote on his blog of the flight. “We had driven 700 miles since dawn in order to make it to western Iowa and a chance to fly tonight. Turns out it was an effort worthwhile as the low clouds cleared and the rain moved away just as forecast and we were left with a wonderful evening.”

As of Monday, Holly and support team departed and landed from their 49th state — Alaska — which brought their total flying time to 39 days and 10 minutes, a new record.

To read more about Holly and his world record attempt, visit www.flyeverystate.com.