Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival

Mike "Fire Marshall Mike" Nelson is from Fortville, Indiana. He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico near another large hot-air ballooning event. He has been a licensed balloon pilot for 9 years and has 540 hours as pilot-in-command of a balloon. He is a Heavy Equipment Diesel Mechanic.

His balloon naming was a family effort. They all wrote possible balloon names on the refrigerator and eventually picked "Midnight Racer". He will be bringing two envelopes this year and will be flying both Midnight Racer & Tickled Pink.

This will be his 9th year participating in the event. He is married to his awesome wife Keely and has four children; Brittany, Olivia, Lita and Mikey. His website, Ballooning 4 Education, was created to promote the science of ballooning and flying in general to get the younger generation involved in flying.