User:DWBristol

J.T. Head III becomes youngest Pilot in the World at only 8 years old.

On July 10th 2020, J.T. Head III of Cleveland, Georgia USA, at only 8 years old took off Solo in a custom built Hot Air Balloon and became the youngest pilot in the world.

J.T. Head III flew to a height of 400 feet above Bristol Field located in the beautiful Sautee Valley in Northeast Georgia USA. The flight lasted 20 minutes. In observation were JT's Parents Tarp and Desiree' Head, Friend and builder of the Record Breaking Balloon - David Bristol, Martha Bristol (Balloon Enthusiast and Land Owner) and Anna Robertson Bennett (US Census Worker)

The Previous record was held by Bobby Bradley of Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2011 at age 9. Bobby is the son of World Record Gas Balloonist Troy & Tammy Bradley of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Balloon was custom built by family friend David Bristol of Sautee, Georgia, balloon builder and Airline Pilot with American Airlines. The small balloon is only 25,000 Cubic Feet in Volume and the entire craft weighs just 150 lbs. Because the weight is less than 155 lbs the balloon flies under Federal Aviation Administration CFR Part 103 flight rules and does not require a license to fly.

Heights come naturally to J.T., having grown up in a ballooning family. His mother, Desiree Head, has flown in balloons for 30 years, and his father, Tarp Head, has been piloting them for 45 years and owns Head Balloons Inc., a hot air balloon manufacturing company. J.T. took his first flight as a passenger at just two weeks old and has traveled to balloon events all around the world with his parents. He prepared more than four years for his record breaking flight by flying a radio controlled model balloon as well a computer based flight simulator as well as receiving flight instruction from his father and David Bristol in full sized hot air balloons.

In addition to being a Professional Balloonist when he grows up, J.T. also wants to become a Professional Soccer Player.