Ernie Lee, Hot Air Balloon Pilate Extraordinaire, Has Died

Remember the Re/Max hot air balloon? That was one of many hot air balloons flown by Ernie Lee, who started flying hot air balloons in 1974. If you spotted a hot air balloon in Toronto, it was likely piloted by Ernie. I just learned the sad news from Jeremy Hopkin that Ernie died today.

Here's a little more about Ernie.

Not Just Hot Air! 's chief pilot, Ernie Lee, started flying hot air balloons in 1974. Over the years he has flown corporate, passenger and special shape balloons for a variety of balloon companies.

Starting with the Re/Max balloon in 1980, Ernie went on to fly for Yellow Pages, Pizza Pizza, Ericsson, Enbridge Consumers Gas and Labatt's to name just a few. Ernie's illustrious career has had him flying not only in Canada, but the United States, Holland, Germany, Belgium and France.

During the summer of 2001 Ernie spent a few months flying for A3 Ballon Passagiersvaarten BV in Holland where he was flying the largest passenger balloon in the world - 415,000 cubic feet - capable of carrying 30 passengers and 2 pilots!

For the summers of 2008, 2009 and 2010 Ernie has been in Europe with Not Just Hot Air!'s T-Rex special shape balloon attending various festivals in Holland, France, Belgium, Germany and Italy.

Jeremy tells me he'll write more about Ernie and I'll post that piece here when it's completed.