KEY TAKEAWAYS
Michael Glen, the world's first paraplegic hot air balloon pilot, flew this weekend in Sandy.
Paralyzed since 1996, Glen achieved his dream of becoming a pilot in 2006, inspiring many.
He encourages others, saying, "Anything's possible," as he continues flying nationwide.
SANDY — The 18th annual Sandy Hot Air Balloon Festival lit up the Utah sky this weekend with vibrant colors and soaring spirits. Among the pilots who participated, one stood out — not just for his skill, but how he got here.
Michael Glen, a Mesa, Arizona, native known as "The Rolling Pilot," took his first ride in a hot air balloon when he was just two weeks old.
After a devastating car accident in 1996 left him paralyzed from the waist down, Glen set a goal to become a licensed balloon pilot. In 2006,